Personal Watercraft Illustrated

[Trinity Composites]

Special thanks to PWI for their interest in the new hull. I've talked to many guys who haven't heard of PWI. Check them out and subscribe to support a great magazine.
http://www.personalwatercraft.com/

 

[Don 79 TA]

nice
looks sharp too

 

[SkiNaked]

Good magazine. Love the Blowsion add for Mason's future on bottom right of the last photo. Those guys at Blowsion are awesome at giving back those who make our sport great.

 

[cambo au]

awsome stuff i just wish that whoever they use to bring the mag into australia would be more consistant it is at the news stands then dosnt appear for ages then it appears again friggin annoying esspessially with articles like this

 

[Midlake Crisis]

Cool mag. I got it as a gift and expected nothing but couches. They have had substantial standup & freeride content in every issue so far.

 

[ATS_Aaron]

I guess I should renew my subscription just to support the hobby...but I picked up an old copy of SPLASH magazine off Ebay last year. I have spent more time reading and re-reading that 1 issue than I spent with a year of PWI.

Their Project Ultra 250 couchfest...started because they swamped the motor and weren't smart enough to pull the plugs, turn it over a few times, install new plugs and restart it. Their tear down photos and story revealed NO damage from water ingestion...just corrosion from letting it sit with water in the engine for an extended period.

Where is Reader Rides?

Where are the how too articles?

Where is the vintage ski resto-mod articles?

It just seems like it could be so much better. Half the members here on the X write better articles/stories/build-ups.

 

[CoreyLKN]

I had a year subscription and it wasnt bad, id prolly renew if i had the money. I just read the matrix article the other night at B&N and it was great! Amazing ski!

 

[FreestyleFreak]

heck yea,kick ass article i got myne that other day.Awsome work bobby!

 

[Midlake Crisis]

True that

It just seems like it could be so much better. Half the members here on the X write better articles/stories/build-ups.

I agree with that. At least they do give some attention to the kind of skis and riding that most of us on here are interested in. It is what it is, but it is not going to replace the X any time soon.

 

[jetskiier]

Looks like the content has changed a lot since last year when I let my subscription lapse.

 

[MADMAT]

Looks killer! My last copy was cool too....a lot of TC rippin it up. I just buy them at the grocery store when I see them.

 

[Rustymuscle]

Their Project Ultra 250 couchfest...started because they swamped the motor and weren't smart enough to pull the plugs, turn it over a few times, install new plugs and restart it. Their tear down photos and story revealed NO damage from water ingestion...just corrosion from letting it sit with water in the engine for an extended period.

Yes, Copperhead. There was substantial damage to the engine, as we hydrauliced the engine, that is, the water compressed in the cylinder chambers, which distorted three valves, shifted two valve guides, and played basic hell with the valvetrain. The stalling of the reciprocating assembly also hazed two bearings.

And you should've seen the supercharger. While many PWC-enthusiasts are really "gear heads," I've had a lot of experience with Roots-style blowers. The twin rotors had binded thanks to the added internal pressure (due to the water injested via a "cold air induction" system), and had locked and ground the pressed-seal bearings into pulp.

Where is Reader Rides?

Found in every issue. In fact, we give prizes for each month. As of right now, we've given away $1,100 in gifts to winners of our monthly "Showboating" section.

Where are the how-to articles?

Here's where your argument falls off. Each and every issue features some of the most in-depth technical articles in the sport. Yes, they're mainly sit-downs, but as the market is 95% "couches," building a ski wouldn't really do the majority much good. Plus, we wouldn't do anything any one of you guys have done before and probably better.

Where is the vintage ski resto-mod articles?

I got my hands on an '88 550 and while many aftermarket companies sounded interested to participate, NONE OF THEM CAME THROUGH. It was sad to learn that so many people were happy to give lip service but never actually follow through...

It just seems like it could be so much better. Half the members here on the X write better articles/stories/build-ups.

Putting the majority/minority argument aside, I agree, there is a lot of innovation and performance occuring in the sport outside of the pages of Personal Watercraft Illustrated. That is why I come here, go to Daytona, and talk with all of you.

This magazine is for all PWC enthusiasts. If you've got comments, questions, or suggestions, heck, even potential future content, call or email me. I'm easy to get a hold of and always interested in what people have to say.

Sincerely,
Kevin S. Shaw
Editor
Personal Watercraft Illustrated
editor@watercraft.com
714/751-7433

 

[Midlake Crisis]

There ya go!

If you've got comments, questions, or suggestions, heck, even potential future content, call or email me. I'm easy to get a hold of and always interested in what people have to say.

Sincerely,
Kevin S. Shaw
Editor
Personal Watercraft Illustrated
editor@watercraft.com
714/751-7433

A mag is never going to replace a forum like this, but PWI is already a good mag headed in the right direction, and with an editor with an attitude and accessibility like this it will just keep getting better.

Some of you guys that have written the build threads or uber posts that the rest of us have bookmarked and refer back to over and over should edit them up and submit them for publication.

 

[jetskiier]

This magazine is for all PWC enthusiasts. If you've got comments, questions, or suggestions, heck, even potential future content, call or email me. I'm easy to get a hold of and always interested in what people have to say.

Sincerely,
Kevin S. Shaw
Editor
Personal Watercraft Illustrated
editor@watercraft.com
714/751-7433

Did you ever look into 'revising' the Canadian subscription price? I would subscribe this afternoon if it didn't work out to $12+/issue. Most other magazines still give the discounted (50-75% off newsstand prices) rate to Canadians, but charge an extra $10-15 for additional postage.

 

[Rustymuscle]

Did you ever look into 'revising' the Canadian subscription price? I would subscribe this afternoon if it didn't work out to $12+/issue. Most other magazines still give the discounted (50-75% off newsstand prices) rate to Canadians, but charge an extra $10-15 for additional postage.

Sadly, nothing much is going to happen soon in regards to international subscription prices. Well, almost...

I'm cooking up a pretty cool situation that will help keep Personal Watercraft Illustrated at the top of the heap. Much like our big brother publication, Cycle News, we're exploring an online edition. This will be the same exact magazine as you get in print, but during the "off season" months, will also offer a shorter interim-month issue exclusively online.

Yup, we might be going back to 12 issues a year.

Here's the deal: There's going to be two types of subscriptions, the Complete Package which has both the print and online edition access, and the Online Only subscription, which - as you can imagine - is the online version of the mag only. Obviously, the online edition-only sub will be substantially less money (which is great for international readers) and our complete package will also be lower than the current subscription rate ($18.95).

Of course, nothing is set in stone right now, but it is looking very promising. The idea is to give PWI's readers the most, best PWC content imaginable at rates that are affordable.

God, I sound like a used car salesman...:icon16:

 

[ATS_Aaron]

Here's where your argument falls off. Each and every issue features some of the most in-depth technical articles in the sport. Yes, they're mainly sit-downs, but as the market is 95% "couches," building a ski wouldn't really do the majority much good. Plus, we wouldn't do anything any one of you guys have done before and probably better.

This magazine is for all PWC enthusiasts. If you've got comments, questions, or suggestions, heck, even potential future content, call or email me. I'm easy to get a hold of and always interested in what people have to say.

Sincerely,
Kevin S. Shaw
Editor
Personal Watercraft Illustrated
editor@watercraft.com
714/751-7433

Wow? I got called out. Haha. I'm impressed that you are on the X and willing to participate with us. I subscribed for 2 years.

BTW there is no easy to find subscribe button on your page. I ended up registering for the forums and then found the subscribe link that took me to the cycle news page and subscribed from there.

Aaron

 

[ATS_Aaron]

I got my hands on an '88 550 and while many aftermarket companies sounded interested to participate, NONE OF THEM CAME THROUGH. It was sad to learn that so many people were happy to give lip service but never actually follow through...

Good effort, and that sucks on the manufacturer's parts, but I do understand. 550's are dead. Obviously we all think the idea of a square nose restoration is a much better idea. I know that dozens of people here on the X have done it but many owners seems to find the X AFTER they purchase a stand-up and not before.

I think a SN SJ resto-mod series of articles would be a HIT. I think the key to a successful SJ article is to stretch it out as much as possible (within reason) and go in depth with each stage as much as possible. I don't think one issue with 2 before pics and 4 after pics will go off well. It really needs to be a how to, especially because the average price of a used SN Superjet is about the same as 1 trip to a dealerships service department.

1. buyer's guide
2. getting it back to life - maintenance stuff
3. cheap mods - milled head, impeller change, aftermarket exhaust installation, carb. tuning tips.
4. hull mods - basically re-turfing and foot hold installation
5. medium mods - like 701 conversion

I think in each article it's a good idea to mention cheaper alternatives, like for example in the foot hold article you could do a quick 1/4 page insert about foot straps or side lifter wedges. Basically say "If you are afraid to get down and dirty with fiberglass and resin then consider Dakine Foot straps." and show a picture of installed foot straps.

How do you judge which articles are a hit? Just from letters from readers? Or it looks like you have a new forum, hopefully you will get some feedback on there too.

Aaron

 

[jetskiier]

Sadly, nothing much is going to happen soon in regards to international subscription prices. Well, almost...

That's too bad. I can't speak for all Canadians and International customers, but I refuse to pay the highly inflated 'International' subscription price. I recently subscibed to 'Field & Stream' for an additional $10/year over their 'Domestic' rate, and would subscribe tomorrow to PWI if the premium was similar. I have subscribed to PWI for ~5 years, and the postage on the envelope the magazine came in was ~$1-1.50 per issue, which is maybe $0.50-$1.00 higher than the postage within the US, I do not see the justification in the $46 difference for subscriptions.

As has been previously stated, it is hard for a magazine to compete with the content of the online resources, and I personally will not be subscribing to the online version of the magazine, regardless of the price.

 

[Mark44]

p

Good effort, and that sucks on the manufacturer's parts, but I do understand. 550's are dead. Obviously we all think the idea of a square nose restoration is a much better idea. I know that dozens of people here on the X have done it but many owners seems to find the X AFTER they purchase a stand-up and not before.

I think a SN SJ resto-mod series of articles would be a HIT. I think the key to a successful SJ article is to stretch it out as much as possible (within reason) and go in depth with each stage as much as possible. I don't think one issue with 2 before pics and 4 after pics will go off well. It really needs to be a how to, especially because the average price of a used SN Superjet is about the same as 1 trip to a dealerships service department.

1. buyer's guide
2. getting it back to life - maintenance stuff
3. cheap mods - milled head, impeller change, aftermarket exhaust installation, carb. tuning tips.
4. hull mods - basically re-turfing and foot hold installation
5. medium mods - like 701 conversion

I think in each article it's a good idea to mention cheaper alternatives, like for example in the foot hold article you could do a quick 1/4 page insert about foot straps or side lifter wedges. Basically say "If you are afraid to get down and dirty with fiberglass and resin then consider Dakine Foot straps." and show a picture of installed foot straps.

How do you judge which articles are a hit? Just from letters from readers? Or it looks like you have a new forum, hopefully you will get some feedback on there too.

Aaron

All that info is right here on this site.

Mark44

 

[AdamOntario]

That's too bad. I can't speak for all Canadians and International customers, but I refuse to pay the highly inflated 'International' subscription price. I recently subscibed to 'Field & Stream' for an additional $10/year over their 'Domestic' rate, and would subscribe tomorrow to PWI if the premium was similar. I have subscribed to PWI for ~5 years, and the postage on the envelope the magazine came in was ~$1-1.50 per issue, which is maybe $0.50-$1.00 higher than the postage within the US, I do not see the justification in the $46 difference for subscriptions.

As has been previously stated, it is hard for a magazine to compete with the content of the online resources, and I personally will not be subscribing to the online version of the magazine, regardless of the price.

same here, I prefer a magazine, otherwise this site has more than enough info on the topic. BTW I am getting other us mags for same as us price.