Anyone back flipped a runabout yet?

[Gamerse]

I keep searching all over the internet, but all I can find is stuff about who is going to start nailing doubles on a jetski. For all those reading who have question about the title, anything that you sit down on, (arguably) is not a jetski, it is a runabout. The 3D is really not either, (again, arguably) as it is to damn heavy to be a jetski, but technically you can choose to stand on it. Hmm, who also had that concept, ohhh yea, kawasaki made this thing called an X2, except, well, it can backflip, barrel roll, and just about anything a jetski can do.

Anyway, I've been trying to find a video of someone backflipping a runabout for years now. Surely in the wide world of redbull, someone has done it.

I know it is kinda pointless, because what other tricks can you really do on one? Its like streetbike tricks VS X games freestyle. In the end, we all know which one is more entertaining. That, and the guys in the dirt can do almost all the tricks the street guys can. I know runabouts are built wrong for it, especially the newer skis, but maybe an X4 or HX? I think it could be purpose built to pull off some tricks.


Anyway, I have alot of love for the runabouts, mainly because I've never had a chance to own a jetski. Also because I like the motorcycle on the water feel, just wish it felt a little more like a dirtbike some times.

I'm just daydreaming. If anyone has a lead, let me know.

 

[Dr Honda]

I'm not sure what you are asking, since a "Runabout" is a small boat hull. (like your Sportster)

 

[Gamerse]

I don't know what else to call them then, seated PWC maybe? JetSkis are something you ride in a standing position and have no seats. Seadoos were first known as "water scooters". http://www.personalwatercraft.com/manufacturers/pwc-2-passenger-runabout.html I'm not the only one that uses the term, so I don't know. Kawasaki brands everything with "JetSki" because it is their trademark. Much like Bombardier's is SeaDoo, yamaha's is Waverunner, Polaris made Polaris, Arctic Cat branded Tigersharks, which were niether tigers, sharks, nor artic cats.....

Has anyone seen a video of someone backflipping a PWC with with a seat. I don't know how else to ask lol. I figured I'd ask this section, because well, seadoo doesn't make jetskis, and everyone knows 2 stroke guys have less fear of flying.

 

[Gamerse]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwiLoXoNqPs&feature=related Anyone know this guy? I'd love to pick his brain. It's not a backflip, but I guess it shows why freestyle runabout never took off. The tricks can't maintain momentum, and most are technical. None of them involve air. The barrel roll is pretty cool though. Makes me wonder if his hull maybe has extra weight to help it roll upright.

P.S. If a mod cruised through, please move this to off topic. I don't think anything constructive will come out of this thread.

 

[Dr Honda]

I don't know what else to call them then, seated PWC maybe?

Just call it a "Sit-down PWC."

As far as "Freestyle"... even the small skis are too heavy to control when they fly.

 

[Thumper3322]

JetSkis are something you ride in a standing position and have no seats.

Agree... Jetski are the standup machines... and only that. I hate when people call my seadoo a jetski... I have a seat damn it and proud of my lazy ass sitting on it!! I'm sure jetskis have a better capability of flipping than a seadoo... they can do some cool tricks, but to me... still not worth it.

 

[Dr Honda]

Agree... Jetski are the standup machines... and only that.

I know it's all semantics... BUT....


Nope... "JetSki's" are any watercraft that Kawasaki builds. But... like anything in this world... the first people to grab a market are the people who get the name recognized.

Examples......

1) a "Crescent" wrench. The real name is a open-end, adjustable wench. Crescent tool Co made the first one.

2) "Vice-Grips". The real name is adjustable, locking pliers.

3) a Pepsi (or coke). Real name, Cola.

And there ar a 100 more I could list.

A "Runabout" is a boat. a PWC falls into 2 categories. "Stand-up" and "sit-down." There have been a few hybrids like the 3D, X2, And wave Jammer, but I digress.

OK... I know Bombardier/seadoo made the first publicly available PWC... but it was in the late 60's, and they only did it for 2 years. THEN... Kawasaki started production in '74... and didn't stop. Seadoo eventually saw that there was a market for a PWC... and they brought out the first real "Sit-down" PWC in '88. The X2 came out in '86... and it was pimpped as a 2 person sit down ski... but there is no way you are going to get two adults on it.

As a final FYI... the 500 Wave runner came out in '87... so even Yamaha beat Seadoo to the "Sit-down" market.



Anyway... this is why we all ride "JetSkis"... and not another name for our toys. (Kawi was first to market with a product people wanted)

 

[Thumper3322]

Anyway... this is why we all ride "JetSkis"... )

Nope Seadoo or PWC... jetski TO ME is still a standup. I'm old school. :hurray: I just find when you talk to people that don't know much about pwc in general, when they say jetski I never have an idea if they mean sit down or standup, when if simple reference to the particular name (jetski standup, everything else is sit down) would make the start of those coversations much simplier lol. Just my thoughts on that it, but I know what you are saying Doc! :thumbsup:

 

[Dr Honda]

You dare defiy me !!!!!! You're BANNED !!!!! :cheers:

Sorry... I thought it was funny.

It just goes to show... once someone gets a name in their head... it's hard to change.

 

[Seadoobuddy]

Excuse me as I go "Scotch-tape" my "Kleenex" together so I can "Xerox" a picture from my "Kodak".

 

[Dr Honda]

excuse me as i go "scotch-tape" my "kleenex" together so i can "xerox" a picture from my "kodak".

exactly !!

The one example does go one step deper though. Xerox even invented the name. the real name is Xerographic Reproduction. So they even got their name into the generic form.

 

[Minnetonka4me]

OLOL

Back on topic....there are people who have backflipped XPs on the ocean. Pretty sure Chantra over at pwctoday.com has.

I am hoping my brother and I have the chance to be the first to do it off boat wake....double up to be exact. I have yet to have the chance to set something up where I have a rescue boat there in case something goes really bad.

Outside of that...here's the money shot I got!

 

[Dr Honda]

OLOL


I am hoping my brother and I have the chance to be the first to do it off boat wake....double up to be exact. I have yet to have the chance to set something up where I have a rescue boat there in case something goes really bad.

Post a vid of the attempts. :thumbsup:

 

[Minnetonka4me]

You know it....even if we cant land it...its still great video.

 

[Seadoobuddy]

I clicked on the pic in post #12 but i could only see 2 pics ...no video.
It took me to another site.

 

[Gamerse]

Well, this went somewhere, sorta rofl. In the beginning, I just wanted to make sure I didn't get a thousand "yea, any chode with a stand-up" can do it these days. Even though every kawasaki has JetSki printed on it, the first kawsakis are the ones that spread the term for stand-up machines. With Yamaha's larger distribution network, the poor sit-down class was stuck with the coin "waverunner" most everywhere you go. I did mention seadoo marketing the first sitdown in 67 as the 68 (which almost bankrupted the company becuase they had to recall every one of them) the final model being produced in 69, however, their promotional materials refered to them as "water scooters"! Can you imagine, water scooter! "Hey girl, Ima get the crew togather, we're all goin down to the lake to ride our water scooters......heh, heh, owleright!"

Thanks for the lead Minn

I'll check it out. Good luck with your brother on the back. I have fond memories of being the deadwieght on a waverunner 500 back in the day. It was the only way 2 85ish lbs kids could get one of those vertical off the barge wake back in 89.

I figured an X4 would be close to the perfect machine for the job. I may have a chance to snag an HX, but I don't know if they will tail stand like the X4s.

The 1100 ZXI I passed on to my brother will not. It refuses to get anywhere close. I have to 180 at least 48mph, which is similar to attempting not to launch from a catapult.

Just curious, do the X4s tend to right themselves after a roll?

 

[crisso]

There is guys riding some "little jet boaty type things that they stand up on" at Seaworld on the Gold Coast,Australia and one guy does a backflip,lands it and straight away does another and another.He can do them one after another and only hits the water enough to blip the throttle and flip again.He does corkscrews.he even does a backflip off a jump and lands no hands on.they are riding there full time and do daily shows.They are from the U.S.

 

[crisso]

I think the brand of them is a Yamasakidoodoo

 

[Seadoobuddy]

Maybe it's Kawamamadoski

 

[Minnetonka4me]

Kawi-doo and yama-doo's are common...even a few hydro-doos. I think its funny the motors known for ugly meltdowns (951s, and kawi 1100s) are what these guys are shoehorning into their GP skis. Guess they know how to make them reliable...



BTW I go waterskootering all the time...lol

 

[Seadoobuddy]

gamerse - What was wrong with the 68 model in that they had to be recalled.....for repairs ???

 

[Minnetonka4me]

Good question...from all the pictures it looks like it was because they had not invented the life vest!! LOL






DR. Honda.....I think you need to make up some of those aqua scooter stickers!!!

 

[Seadoobuddy]

1969 Seadoo



Posted 17 January 2010 - 07:27 PM
Ski-doo recalled all of these because they had a nasty habit of blowing up...literally. There was no fan or venting in the bilge, so any gas fumes stayed in the bottom of the craft. Gas fumes are heavier than air so unless there is a fan to vent them out, they don't go anywhere. There were two main causes for the explosions. The first was point ignition, which if the stator side of the engine wasn't properly sealed was a source of spark. The other was the recoil. The earlier Bombi recoils used the metal cup with the internal splines and the metal recoil pawls. Another source of spark if the pawls skipped across the splines. All fun and games until someone loses an eye............. <_<

Sorry it should read 1968 not 1969

 

[Dr Honda]

]DR. Honda.....I think you need to make up some of those aqua scooter stickers!!!

I'll see what I can do. :thumbsup:

 

[bigJake]

Excuse me as I go "Scotch-tape" my "Kleenex" together so I can "Xerox" a picture from my "Kodak".

damn son, if you're tapin booger rags together and reusing them then you're spending way too much money on your bombardier stidown pwc. just wipe your nose on your sleeve like the rest of us. never heard such a damn fool idea as tapin booger rags together.

hmm, hey sis, toss me that there duct tape.