WaveRunner

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

WaveRunner is the trademarked name of personal water craft (PWC) produced by the Yamaha Motor Company, but the term "waverunner" has become a generic name for all types of personal watercraft. Another popular name for a PWC is called a Jet Ski.

In 1987, Yamaha introduced the sit-down WaveRunner and the stand-up WaveJammer, and in 2002 introduced the world's first four-stroke high performance PWC.^[1] Yamaha continues to manufacture both two stroke and four stroke models, as well as supercharged and naturally aspirated models.

Using nanotechnology, Yamaha engineers were able to create a high-strength, lightweight material called NanoXcel. This material is exclusive to Yamaha and allows making the hulls and decks of select models 25 percent lighter and improving durability- significantly improving the power-to-weight ratio, responsiveness, acceleration and top speed. Yamaha is also the only manufacturer in the PWC industry with full-scale high-compression molding capabilities. ^[2]

All WaveRunner models have Yamaha's trademarked Visibility Spout: A waterspout from the rear of the craft that improves the watercraft’s conspicuity.

WaveRunners are also popular with ocean-based lifeguards and rescue squads.

Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation manufactures WaveRunners for the North American market in Newnan, Georgia. ^[3]

The WaveRunner is also featured in an eponymous arcade racing game of the same game by Sega. The game itself consists of a cabinet in which the player controls a simulator that resembles a real WaveRunner and must move the handle and tilt the seat in order to move the watercraft. Unlike similar titles, WaveRunner is more of a straight racer in vein of other Sega Model 2 games, instead of focusing on tricks and stunts.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Please help improve this article or section by expanding it.
Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. (May 2007)