Standing Ovation

Personal watercraft have been around for about three decades, but it was arguably Kawasaki that got the wave rolling. The Japanese company's initial stand-up proved so popular that the title for its craft, "Jet Ski", has become the PWC identifying tag to aficionados and Joe Public alike.

Mention the term "personal watercraft" to anyone and you're more than likely to be met with a bemused look. But say "jetski" and the recognition switch is invariably switched on.

Stand-ups are aimed purely at the mega-adrenaline side of the sport, and this is amply demonstrated with the worldwide interest in racing. In the realm of racing, you'll see these tricked-up marine missiles reach speeds over 120kmh, which takes the art of hanging on to a whole new level!

That's not to disregard the production beasts, however, as they also pack a punch like Kostya Tszyu for the unwary and will reach over 100kmh. They are certainly raw and rugged, but the latest models are far more refined and user–friendly than the early-1970s originals. So for the uninitiated, they are nowhere near as daunting as they once were.

While the actions of a few irresponsible bastards almost ruined PWCs for everyone a few years back, the stand-up craft of the 21st century are beasts like no other. But they are very dissimilar to the out-of-control individuals who sometimes "control" them.

TAKE A STAND
Many people are put off stand-ups by the mere thought of riding them (particularly just getting on the plane), but patience and tenacity are required. It's just a case of learning the right technique to get going.

Admittedly, they can't be ridden as easily as the newer sit-down versions; but a novice can easily pick up enough to be able to motor gently at first, building their confidence before going on to trying bigger and better things.

Motoring around is one thing, but giving a stand-up a lungful of revs is inviting disaster for the uninitiated - as well as buckets of laughs for onlookers.

Like family-orientated PWCs, new-age stand-ups are very economical. They boast the latest in two-stroke two-cylinder technology, and the intrusive noise of old has been slashed to astoundingly low levels. With these modern craft, it's a very angry person who will not appreciate them for the enjoyment they provide.

Kawasaki may have set the benchmark, but in recent years the competition and rivalry between the major PWC players has really hotted up. Solo sluggers have narrowed the craft's performance characteristics right down to a matter of buyer preference.

Sure, long-term solo pilots will argue the nuances; but for the majority, there is very little that splits them.

To prove this point, Trailer Boat grabbed the big three - a Polaris Octane, a Yamaha Superjet and a Kawasaki 800 SX-R Jet Ski - to see how they fared.

It would have been nice to test all three back to back, but unfortunately the 800 SX-R was a solo test at Lake Macquarie. For the other two, we had to head to the water playground of the Gold Coast in the middle of winter. 

DIFFERENT STROKERS
We took riders of varying experience along with two handy locals - Benn Archibald and John Allen.

The PWC trio is, unlike its riders on the test day, pretty similar in dimensions. Benn is a stocky, feisty nugget while John is a big bugger you wouldn't like to come across in a lighted alley - let alone a dark one! As for Yours Truly, I could pass for a roofing nail when wearing an Akubra...

The Kawasaki has a claimed dry weight of 159kg, while the Yamaha comes in at 134kg. The Polaris is said to be the lightest of all, tipping the scales at 102kg.

The 777cc Polaris also claims better figures in the performance stakes, boasting 100hp against the 781cc Kawasaki's 80hp and the 701cc Superjet's 74. They are all about the same length at 2300mm.

To the uninitiated, however, these figures are incidental - the power-to-weight ratio of all three PWCs will rattle your brain like a seismograph in an earthquake.

Instruments are minimal, and rightly so - there's bugger-all time to be checking detailed diagnostics when you're rocketing along.

Things happen a helluva lot faster than they do on a sit-down job, and it all starts on "boarding". Stand-ups are completely unstable when not under power. But it's not a matter of just standing on them and going, as they will sink - such is the crafts' lack of weighted buoyancy.

Don't panic, though: it doesn't take long to get the hang of it.

In shallow water you step aboard - similar to taking off on a single-ski beach start - as power is applied. It's a bit trickier after coming a "gutsa" in deep water, having to drag yourself behind as you gain power through judicious application of the throttle to get the stability to pull yourself up onto the deck!

The method can cause a bit of pain, as the axial-flow, single-stage jet-pump propulsion gives certain parts of the anatomy a real going over. The trick is to haul yourself up as quickly as possible without over-accelerating, or overbalancing and going in the drink again.

DANCE, SUCKA
Once underway, the fun really begins. At pace, you need quicker footwork than Michael Flatley to get the best out of the craft.

Novices tend to stand on the craft as if they're on double skis. That's okay in a straight line on flat water, but it's not the best way to attack a bend, as you're immediately off balance as you tip in.

Confident riding is a case of "switch foot", with your feet positioned as if you're riding a surfboard. The trick is to switch your leading foot opposite to the direction you're turning. This gives more balance and assists in "weighting" the craft for each turn.

Each of the three craft offers razor-sharp steering and engine performance, but to anyone who's entering the lifestyle, it all comes down to comfort and what suits you best.

If you're trying a stand-up for the first time, I'd recommend the calmest water possible, as chop will have you doing more cartwheels than a Catherine wheel. But if you want to get seriously fit, riding a stand-up for a couple of hours every week will have you muscled up like a mallee bull at breeding time.

A free fitness bonus also comes with more chop or swell, as your legs act as the shock absorbers.

Don't even think about the surf first up, as you'll end up in all sorts of shallow-water strife. If you're a big enough inexperienced idiot to think you could ride a stand-up out through a channel to the breakers, leave your next of kin a forwarding address - after an hour, you'll be spouting water like Moby Dick!

After a couple of days stand-up riding, whatever the brand, I guarantee that you'll wake up in the morning feeling more knocked up than a maternity ward. But it's as much fun as the activity that leads people to such wards in the first place.

Get out there and give yourself a flogging! 

PICKING A WINNER
It'd be cruel to leave you hanging without revealing which PWC we thought was a cut above the others. So which of the trio did Trailer Boat think took the cake?

Well, to tell you the truth, there's really only a bee's dictionary between them. I found the Polaris to be a better handler, but Simon at Brisbane Polaris does a little trick by fitting accessory sponsons as standard. These certainly make for sharper turning; but on each craft, manoeuvring has to be executed with confidence.

When you're not on full power and are blousing around with a knackered body, the Superjet has a tendency to porpoise a bit. The Polaris and Kawasaki dig in to turn and maintain a more constant line, whereas the Superjet has a tendency to want to flick you more on the exit of turns as it returns to the plane under power.

That's no negative, though, as the hull design screams for speed and just wants to take off. What is a negative is that the Superjet seems a little heavy on the juice - but this is compenstated by the 18lt fuel tank, which holds one more litre than the Kawasaki and the Polaris.

The Yamaha is more stable at rest and allows for easier boarding on take-off, but the Kawasaki has more deck space.

One gripe that was echoed by other riders was that the moveable steering pole on each of the craft made it harder to control them. We all agreed that an option to lock the 'bars in place - or at least dampen the movement - may help save energy through the chop and surf.

Also, as the pole moves up and down, it is easy to get "grabby" with the throttles, making for uneven engine response with the tendency to grip the bars. It's another anomaly that will surely disappear with more knowledge and comfort of each craft.

When all is said and done, I'd take either the Polaris or the Kawasaki - depending on the deal you can strike with the dealer. But whichever of the trio you choose, you're guaranteed to have a sensational time.