Sarah Holland
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (July 01/02) - The latest generation of watercraft are ready to tear around the lakes this summer.

Whether you want to zip around on a jet ski or take the gang out for a boat ride, your choices are as vast as the Northern landscape.

This year Bombardier has some new technology with its Sea-Doos. The first Sea-Doo four-stroke engine is embedded in the new GTX 4-TEC jet ski. The company says the four-stroke has fewer emissions and better fuel efficiency.

The 155-horsepower machine also has orbital direct injection, a fuel injection system that the company says allows a chokeless start-up and, again, is more environmentally friendly.

Another new invention that comes with the GTX 4-TEC is off-power assisted steering (OPAS).

Usually a rider can't steer a jet ski without using the throttle. With OPAS technology, dual rudders are deployed so that a rider can steer without power.

The Sea-Doo learning key is a useful tool for the less-experienced rider. Available on direct injection, four-stroke models, the learning key enables the jet ski's RPMs to be limited. This RPM ceiling keeps the top speed to a designated number and gives a new or young rider more control over the machine.

The power behind the watercraft

The GTX 4-TEC has a seating capacity of three, a length of 130.4 inches, width of 48.1 inches and height of 44.1 inches.

Sea-Doo's line of jet skis includes eight designs besides the GTX 4-TEC.

Evinrude introduced its new direct injection outboard motors this year.

The company says its Evinrude 200 motor is light, weighing in at 512 pounds.

The Evinrude 225 has a top speed to 82.5 km/h and acceleration of zero to 40 km/h in 5.88 seconds.