As Sales Manager of Kawasaki Watercraft, I am thrilled to announce a major milestone in the Personal Watercraft (PWC) industry.
Today we are celebrating 50 years of innovation and ground-breaking performance with Kawasaki as they mark 50 years of the Jet Ski. In this article, Tom takes a brief look back at the history and development of Kawasaki.
Kawasaki introduced the first production stand-up Jet Ski way back in 1973.
The term Jet Ski is often used to describe any personal watercraft in the same way we often use 'Hoover' to describe any vacuum cleaner, but Jet Ski is a registered trademarked name highlighting the importance of this craft in its’ marketplace.
Today, Kawasaki is a powerful household name both in-terms of racing and recreational use, renown for exceptional products in the leisure market and paving the way for the past five decades of progress in advanced PWC.
Throughout the years, Kawasaki has established a basis for PWC’s, by developing and progressing their water-cooled engine packages to achieve propulsion through an impeller inboard of the machine, acting as a high-pressure pump as it forces water out rearward of the Jet Ski. This was seen throughout the late 1970’s, with the progression from the original mass production stand-up solo JS400 all the way through to the JS550 and 300 series in the 80’s.
By this time Kawasaki had taken another unprecedented leap forward and introduced their first two-person craft, appealing to an ever-expanding audience. The introduction of adjustable trim controls, which allowed the change of altitude of the Jet Ski to become similar to a high spec speed boat, propelled – or impelled (we see what you did there Tom) – Kawasaki forward in the industry.
Kawasaki did not fall short of revolutionary progressions and variations in the 90’s, introducing joystick steering, two and three-person seated Skis and the huge increase in engine power capacity. Not only that, but the first-four stroke Jet Ski was introduced to the world, entering the 2000’s with all new multi-seat crafts.
From outlandish concepts and outside the box thinking, Kawasaki has been at the forefront of water-craft technology and as of 2023 are continuing to show us their extraordinary developmental breakthroughs.
We are incredibly pleased to support Kawasaki and look forward to what they have to bring to the table for the next half a century!
Tom Pringle
Kawasaki Watercraft Sales Manager