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Extensive Definition
The Hydrospace is the world's first stand-up
four-stroke jet ski, or
personal
watercraft. It was introduced in October 2005 by Hydrospace
Inc. In 2007, Hydrospace Inc. changed their name to HSR-Benelli
following the acquisition of Benelli Motori (related to, but
unaffiliated with Benelli shotguns or
Benelli motorcycles). The company originated in Pöchlarn, Austria, with US
offices in Pompano
Beach, Florida. The
Hydrospace is a single-passenger stand-up watercraft which was
designed primarily for racing. Until 2008, the only model offered
was the "Hydrospace S4", with a retail price of around $15,000
USD.
The S4 is powered by a two-cylinder water-cooled
engine with a
displacement of 749cc, which is rated at 110 hp. The engine
is equipped with a turbocharger from the
factory. The S4 has a dry weight of 370 lbs. making it the second
heaviest stand-up ever made, second only to Sea-doo's 3D which had
a dry weight of 580 lbs.
Although touted as being the most advanced
stand-up ever manufactured, the S4 has been plagued with problems.
The S4 has had numerous recalls on various pieces of faulty
equipment. The hulls are also known to be of very lightweight
construction and will break under strenuous operating conditions.
The control handles are constructed of carbon
fiber, which is very brittle and known to break during
operation – a serious safety concern. The throttle cable is also
known to jam in the wide-open position, causing further safety
concerns.
In 2008, the newly formed HSR-Benelli released
new models of personal watercraft, including the first PWC powered
by a V6. The
Series-R Prestige and the Series-R Race Edition three-person PWCs
are both are powered by V6s, rated at 278 and 342 horsepower,
respectively.
2008 Model Line - S4 110 Horsepower - S4 Pro
Edition - Series-S Pro Edition - Series-S Naked Edition - Series-S
Race Edition - Series-R Naked Edition - Series-R Pro Edition -
Series-R Prestige - Series-R Race Edition