Boating Industry

January 2014

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/// Market Trends /// One of the primary benefits of jet propulsion is the compact drivetrain, as well as the safety and improved access for water activities off the transom. make it even easier, all they have to do is turn the steering wheel like they do in their automobile." Rotax Jet Propulsion As BRP remains in the market — minus its SeaDoo jet boat production — the company intends to continue its investment in research and development to keep its Rotax Jet Propulsion system at the forefront of the industry. "While we cannot comment on specific development projects, we can say that we have an R&D team dedicated to the Rotax Jet Propulsion business and that we intend to maintain our position as the technological leader in the market," said BRP in a statement to Boating Industry. The company sees that ongoing investment in innovation as a key selling point that has helped the Quebec-based company quickly attract interest from former competitors in the marine industry. "The fact that we at BRP have designed the entire Rotax 4-TEC Jet Propulsion system as a system sets it apart from most other offerings," the company said. "The Rotax 4-TEC engine 36 | Boating Industry | January 2014 P32x38-BI14JAN-MarketTrends.indd 36 was designed as a marine engine to work only with jet propulsion. We did not 'marinize' a car engine nor did we adapt a jet pump to work with an 'off-the-shelf' engine. Our entire system was designed by us to work together in the smallest possible package to maximize the available space in the boat." Its setup is currently the only complete line of C.A.R.B. 4-Star-rated jet systems on the market, covering its range of 150-, 200- and 250-hp jet powertrains. Each option is also available with CE certification for international markets, and the company cited the advantages of its closedloop cooling system that keeps "raw" water from ever being inside the engine, which aids in salt water performance. The company said its drive-by-white — Intelligent Throttle Control (iTC) — system is a significant asset that enables Cruise, Ski, ECO and Docking modes that make the system easier to use and, in some cases, more fun to drive and ride behind than comparable jet boats. The appeal of jets Jet aviation technology was a watershed moment in history, encapsulating the advanced technology, modernity and upward mobility that, for a time, only America could offer. In the marine world, jets have always promised exciting performance, sharp handling and a more compact drive system that allows better access to the transom, especially important as recent usage surveys show boaters spending more time than ever parked in the water and having fun off the back of their boats. While RBH has recently focused on making its sterndrive product more youthful, Lambert feels Scarab customers are going to take that mindset even further with its colors and design appealing to an even younger demographic. "I think Scarab really takes it to another level where it really is not only graphics and color schemes, but the lines of the boats, the layout of the boat," Lambert said. "It all really targets a group of people that we believe may not have considered a sterndrive boat in the past." www.BoatingIndustry.com 12/18/13 10:06 AM

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