Sorry, long post. But I spent some time researching the whole “no more stand-ups?“ controversy so I could decide if buying another ski (or two) would be worth it. Here is what I know (your results may vary)…
SX-R 800, 2011 was last year. Due to emissions requirements, carbureted 2 strokes no longer comply. They didn't in the past since 2006, but manufacturers could use emissions credits from their 4 stroke skis to let the SX-R keep going until now. 2012 is the cut off due to nitrous oxide, carbon monoxide and other emission requirements.
SJ 701 2010 was technically the last year, but you can still get a 2011 and 2012 (if you can find one... I've been told only 50 made it stateside from Japan in 2011, don‘t know how many for 2012). 2011-2012 SJ's are sold as "competition only", have no warranty, and no longer have the emission stickers that are mandated for public use (i.e. non-competition use). Meaning that technically, if a water cop knows his regs and the laws, if he caught you riding on a 2011-2012 ski outside of an organized competition, you are riding an illegal watercraft not permitted on public (key word, PUBLIC) waterways.
HSR-Benelli S4 are still being produced, but there is no US distributor. You can buy new stand ups from them all day long from overseas. These boats (while not cheap) can be shipped from Australia, Austria, and several other distributors worldwide. See Benelli-group.com.
However, the future lies in the aftermarket now for stand ups. You can by an SJ or SX-R similar/mimicked hull, or complete stunt hull, from many different companies. Then buy a motor (usually hot-rodded) from DASA, X-Metal, Kommander, etc. Install the still widely available OEM drive/exhaust/etc parts, and have a ski.
So yes, OEM stand ups are done as of 2011 (2012 is when all carbureted 2 strokes no longer pass government emission laws to be produced anymore). The only 4 stroke stand up available is HSR-Benelli, but only if you can pay a good deal for shipping one in from overseas. Hopefully someone in the US will become a distributor soon. And I know some companies like EcoSport ES-1 started developing electric stand ups, but cost considerations for the battery technology probably will have those on hold for a while.
But if you are hungry for a 2 stroke stand up, your choices are 1) used, 2) build one from components, 3) pony up some serious $$$ for a Hydrospace. While the emissions laws state 2 stroke carbed motors can't be produced anymore (per se) as an OEM, there are no laws that say you can't still ride an EXISTING 2 stroke. Aside from eco-greenie exclusionary local laws and ordinances (Lake Tahoe, Lake Mead, so on) that prohibit 2 stroke carbed PWCs specifically, you can still ride your stand up. Just see choices 1, 2, and 3 for how to "get" one.
There is no law stating "Stand Ups" can't be produced, just the 2 stroke carbureted motors can't be. That is why the HSR-Benelli would still be legal to purchase post 2012. If an OEM developed a direct injection 2 stroke, or even their own in-house 4 stroke that met current emission laws, then say hello to the new Kawasaki SX-R 4 stroke, or Yamaha SJ 4 stroke. But given the current economy there is no impetus (in my opinion) for any OEM to design, develop, build and sell a 4 stroke stand up aside from HSR, which is using technology started and evolved from 2005 or so when they first came out. Then there is the little argument you'll get from freeride/freestyle riders about how 4 strokes can't/don't work for their style of riding, but that is somewhat moot since no one is out there trying to make an HSR S4 do double backflip no handed superman knick knacks in competition.
But one interesting issue emerges. OK, 2 stroke carbureted motors are no longer allowed per EPA Marine mandate (their timelines for phasing out 2 stroke carb'd motors are on their web page, and it is specific to types of watercraft like PWCs... there are other categories for larger boats, commercial interests, etc... hence why for the time being at least, people can still buy Evinrude direct injection 2 stroke outboard motors for example). But now A/M companies can build stand ups hulls. But what if they build a boat with a 2 stroke carb motor? Does that mean, just as for Kawi and Yama, that it is not permitted? We shall see. The ban on Lake Mead was specific in denying 2 stroke carb'd motors on their water, and if any more "new OEM" 2 stroke carbed motors were built as of MY 2012, then ALL watercraft would be prohibited on that lake (including the emission compliant 4 stroke sit downs). For those who want to call BS on that, feel free to look it up.
The EPA makes distinctions between PWC, outboard motors, diesel engines, commercial motors and boats, and so on. The elimination of 2 stroke carbed motors in PWCs is specific just to PWCs. That is why you can still buy an Envirude “2 stroke” outboard motor. When the issue of emission controls started, I think the EPA and the vested parties realized they could get more progress in the restriction and elimination of “non-compliant” motors by picking the lowest hanging fruit. An enthusiast community of only a few thousand stand-up riders pales in comparison to the outcry that would have been made if the EPA told the thousands and thousands of fishermen who use outboard 2 stroke motors that their choices would be eliminated by 2012 to 4 strokes only.
On a side note, the argument could be posed that 4 strokes are cleaner, but still pollute. This is true. And the EPA knows this. When they mapped the phase out manufacturing of 2 and 4 stroke engines for PWC, they did it based on the anticipated longevity of a typical motor as used in PWC applications. Water in the motor, corrosion, use and maintenance costs, and the point at which a typical owner would rather replace a PWC that continue fixing it. This has been calculated to be only a few years. Hence, the EPA believes that any current PWC motor will be out of use soon enough, and that continued restrictions and limitations of water based engines for PWCs with regard to emissions, will allow them to keep raising the bar higher. The only thing is, as this forum will attest, 2 stroke motors can be rebuild cost effectively until the sun burns out. As stated before, there is no law that prohibits an EXISTING 2 stroke motor from being used (except for those communities that exercise their local prerogative to prohibit 2 stroke PWCs).
See this link for more info on the emissions standards the EPA outlines:
http://www.epa.gov/nonroad/marine/420f04031.pdf
