Long ago, Kawasaki penned the JS440 as the ?dirt bike of the water.? And rightfully so. It was lightweight, agile, nimble and a whole lot of fun. But as current personal watercraft have evolved, grown and matured, so has the comparison. Today?s full-sized runabouts are supercharged, option-loaded, technological powerhouses, and so the stripped-down dirt bike analogy doesn?t quite fit.
Rather, many regard today?s watercraft to modern superbikes. And the comparison sticks. That?s why the release of a handful of computer-generated designs from Zolland Design AB are making such big waves. The design company?s renderings of Ducati-inspired personal watercraft ? replete with twin Ducati 1098 engines ? has gone viral, and frankly, we?re a little late on reporting on it.
Zolland?s interpretation of a possible Ducati-inspired runabout powered by dual 1098cc engines, would ?quite possibly become the world?s fastest jet ski? according to GT Spirit. Of course, the 1098cc four-stroke Ducati plant cranks out a respectable 160HP and 90.4lbs. ft. of torque, so paired with a second engine would equate 320 horsepower and 180.8lbs. ft. of torque.
That of course, would eclipse Kawasaki?s 310-horsepower output, crowning the theoretical watercraft the new King of Horsepower, even without the Ducati plants benefiting from the assistance of a supercharger like the 310X.
Aesthetically, Zolland?s design draws heavily from the traditional Ducati look and would definitely blur the lines between the PWC market and the sportbike lovers.