The PWC Build Series · Presented by Ride Engine
The PWC Build Series: Philip’s Sea-Doo FishPro Trophy
Welcome to The PWC Build Series, presented by Ride Engine. In this series, we take a closer look at unique personal watercraft and the people who equip them for a specific purpose. From fishing and exploration to tow sports and search and rescue, every PWC build tells a different story.
For our first rig presentation, we are featuring Philip’s fully equipped Sea-Doo FishPro Trophy, protected and stabilized by a Ride Engine Pro Collar Plus.
A PWC is fast, easy to launch, economical to operate, and capable of reaching places that can be difficult to access with a larger boat. Philip’s build demonstrates just how capable a personal watercraft can become when every component is selected for a specific purpose.
This is not simply a FishPro with a cooler and a few rod holders. It is a compact fishing machine, thoughtfully equipped with nearly everything Philip needs for a serious day on the water.
Philip's FishPro Trophy · Build Highlights
A Compact Platform With a Serious Fishing Setup
The Sea-Doo FishPro Trophy already provides a strong foundation for fishing. Its extended rear platform creates useful working space, while Sea-Doo’s modular accessory system makes it possible to organize fuel, tackle, rods, and the day’s catch without turning the watercraft into a cluttered mess.
Philip’s setup carries 10 rod holders, giving him room to organize several rods while keeping them accessible. At the rear, he uses a Sea-Doo cooler with a livewell, along with additional Sea-Doo fuel caddies that extend his range for longer days and more distant fishing spots.
The Ride Engine Pro Collar Plus complements this compact layout by adding stability around the PWC without occupying valuable deck space. Everything remains organized and accessible, while the machine stays quick, maneuverable, and easy to launch.
That combination captures one of the biggest advantages of fishing from a properly equipped PWC: everything has its place, but the machine remains small and highly capable.
Dual Garmin Displays and Two Sonar Systems
The electronics are where this build becomes especially impressive. It is equipped with dual Garmin ECHOMAP UHD2 92SV chartplotters, positioned so important navigation and sonar information remains visible while Philip is underway or actively fishing.
The first system uses a Garmin GT56UHD transducer for traditional CHIRP sonar, ClearVü, and SideVü imaging. This provides a detailed view of the bottom, underwater structure, and what is happening on both sides of the watercraft.
The second system is Garmin LiveScope Plus with an LVS34 live-scanning sonar transducer. The LiveScope transducer is installed on a deployable and adjustable pole along the side of the PWC. This allows Philip to aim the sonar independently and observe fish, structure, and lure movement in real time.
Having both systems available provides two very different perspectives. The GT56UHD offers a broader underwater picture while moving and searching, while LiveScope can be directed toward a specific target when it is time to fish.
It is a level of electronics more commonly associated with a fully equipped fishing boat, packaged onto a personal watercraft.
Controlling Speed While Fishing
Speed control is another important part of the setup. The Sea-Doo cruise control system helps maintain a steady pace without requiring constant throttle input. This makes longer runs more comfortable and helps Philip maintain consistent control while positioning the PWC or working a fishing area.
On a small platform, every feature that reduces unnecessary movement or distraction matters. The goal is to spend less time managing the machine and more time concentrating on the water, the electronics, and the fish.
Added Stability With the Ride Engine Pro Collar Plus
One of the most important components of Philip’s build is the Ride Engine Pro Collar Plus fitted around the Sea-Doo FishPro Trophy.
Designed specifically for personal watercraft, the inflatable collar adds lateral stability and supplemental buoyancy while providing protection around the sides of the machine. Its model-specific shape follows the PWC closely, preserving the performance and maneuverability that make a personal watercraft so useful.
That additional stability is particularly valuable for fishing. Casting, standing, reaching for equipment, handling a fish, checking electronics, or moving around the seat can all shift body weight away from the centerline. The Ride Engine Pro Collar Plus makes the PWC feel more planted and forgiving during those movements.
The collar also incorporates multiple semi-rigid handles around the watercraft. These provide useful handholds when moving around the machine and can help with boarding from the water.
Just as importantly, the Pro Collar Plus does not take away the responsive handling that makes a PWC fun. It supports the way Philip uses his FishPro, as a compact working platform where stability, protection, and confidence matter.
A serious fishing PWC still needs to feel like a PWC. Philip’s build adds capability without sacrificing the compact size, access, and maneuverability that make the platform so useful.
Why Fish From a PWC?
The biggest appeal is freedom. A fishing PWC can be launched quickly, stored more easily than a boat, and operated by one person without a large crew or complicated preparation. It can cover water quickly, work in relatively shallow areas, and get close to shorelines, reefs, and structures that may be less accessible to a larger vessel.
There are tradeoffs, of course. Space must be managed carefully, weather conditions deserve serious respect, and every piece of equipment needs to be securely mounted. Stability also becomes increasingly important as more fishing equipment is added and the rider begins standing, casting, reaching, and moving around the machine.
This is precisely where the Ride Engine Pro Collar Plus becomes more than a visual addition. It helps expand what Philip can comfortably do from his PWC while maintaining the compact size, speed, and access that attracted him to the FishPro Trophy in the first place.
One PWC, Built for a Purpose
Philip’s Sea-Doo FishPro Trophy combines additional fuel capacity, a cooler with a livewell, 10 rod holders, dual Garmin displays, GT56UHD sonar, LiveScope Plus, cruise control, and a Ride Engine Pro Collar Plus.
Every component has a purpose. Together, they transform the PWC into an efficient and surprisingly complete fishing platform.
The electronics help Philip find and understand what is below the surface. The storage and fuel systems allow him to stay organized and travel farther. The Ride Engine Pro Collar Plus adds the stability, protection, and confidence needed to make better use of the entire setup.
Philip’s build makes it easy to understand why more anglers are looking at personal watercraft differently. A PWC will not replace every fishing boat, but for someone who values speed, simplicity, access, and a direct connection with the water, it may be one of the most exciting ways to fish.
