This is what Polaris is offering in the way of two-seaters for 1998: a big cc screamer, a production race boat and a versatile economy model. This is what it has in the three-seater segment: a luxury cruiser and an economy model.

Call it the survival of the fittest or a thinning of herd. Whatever the case, the 1998 Polaris lineup is certainly leaner and less confusing, featuring five models instead of a bloated eight, and then only the best five.

You've got to love the simplicity.

In an era when more never seems to be enough, Polaris has taken a step back and eliminated the fat from its lineup. No more mid-range models with similar performance but different bells and whistles. No more confusing engine packages or graphic differences. No more narrow niche craft. (Polaris said the Hurricane sport model will still be available, but production has been put on hiatus for this year.) What you see is what you get - five models, five price points, five levels of performance. Here they are.

The SLX Pro 785

Polaris shocked the watercraft world a year ago by introducing a full-blown race boat. The only difference between it and the modified models that populated race courses across the country was that it was stock.

The SLX Pro 785 is back with only a few minor changes, mostly to the fit and finish. In addition to new graphics, it will get a new stepped seat and marbled pads in the footwells. It's electric variable trim is also two times faster than the standard Polaris ETS, allowing you to set the trim down at start and get it back to level by the time the hull is up on plane, which isn't long with this boat. The bondline has also been smoothed out, giving the craft a smoother look. There's an improved hood latch and a number of improvements inside the engine which should improve durability and reliability, including stronger head pipe bolts, better fuel tank and collector mounts and improved cable and hose routing and mounting.

In addition, the SLX Pro will also benefit from a number of changes made to the entire line, including one-piece hand grips which are molded onto the handlebars so they won't turn, slip or slide off the bars, a new reversible throttle, an easier-to-read multi-function gauge with larger displays, a ratcheting fuel cap, and die-cast ride plates.

What hasn't changed on the SLX Pro is the performance. The craft will still be powered by a 779cc triple with monoblock head, Nicasil plated cylinders and its radical electronic exhaust system. Called the Polaris EEMS, the system regulates the size of the exhaust port with a sensor tied into the engine's rpm. A guillotine-like exhaust port valve slides up and down to increase or decrease the size of the exhaust port depending on the engine's rpm.

Other features of note include triple pipes (the pipes exit on the left side of the engine and wrap around the bow of the craft), and three Mikuni Super BN 44-40mm carburetors. The engine is rated at 135hp with a surprisingly modest corrected compression ratio of 7.0:1

Polaris uses it's standard Big Mouth pump with the 4-inch pump extension and the 3-blade stainless steel Swirl impeller to transfer the horsepower to the water.

The dimensions have also remained the same.Width (47.5 inches), length (108.5) and height (39.5) are identical, as well as weight (480 lbs.). Although its dimensions are the same the other two-seaters in the lineup, the SLX Pro actually runs on a much smaller hull with a much deeper V (24 degrees vs. 21 degrees on the standard SL hull). Two sets of lifting strakes on either side of the keel help get the craft up on plane quickly and provide additional lateral stability. A step is also built into the back side of the hull to provide a vertical surface to mount the standard hooked sponsons.

The SLX Pro comes standard with the improved Polaris Multi-Function Display, an LCD/LED gauge package that includes larger speedometer numerals and larger fuel and oil level indicators.

The SLXH

This is the SL1050 after a diet and makeover. The new deck, which is sleeker and more aerodynamic than the old SL deck, has helped shave 47 pounds off the craft. (Polaris has also redesigned a number of parts using composites to reduce weight, but the bulk of the savings comes from the new top deck.)

Other improvements from the deck include a new hood with a mono-shock which will allow you to open and shut the hatch with a single hand, a larger boarding platform, docking rings and a lower mirror position. In addition, the new ergonomically-designed seat has a separate back section that opens up to a new 1.5 gallon storage compartment. A glove box has also been added to the console, giving the SLXH three storage compartments on board. (The bow storage holds five gallons.) The hatch for the bow storage also features a fairing intended to deflect spray and wind.

Last year, the SL1050 was one of the fastest personal watercraft on the market. The SLXH should be even faster this year, thanks mainly to the reduced weight, which has increased the horsepower-to-weight ratio because the engine and hull haven't changed.

The craft is still powered by a 1050cc, triple rated at 120hp. The oil-injected engine features a bore x stroke of 81mm x 68mm, with a compression ratio of 6.8:1. Fuel is supplied by three 40mm carb, with reed-valve induction and a performance tuned exhaust. Power is transferred to the water through the Polaris Big Mouth pump, with a 4-inch pump extension and stainless steel three-blade Swirl impeller for maximum thrust.

The SMC (sheet molded compound) hull also is the same. It features a 21 degree deadrise with single lifting strakes and aggressive hooked sponsons.

In addition, the SLXH will get the new molded hand grips, a reversible throttle, an easier-to-read multi-function gauge with larger displays, a ratcheting fuel cap, and die-cast ride plates.

The SLH

This is the entry-level model in the Polaris lineup, the craft designed for the recreational rider concerned with price, but it isn't just a entry-level model. It will also compete against the mid-range models from other manufacturers, both in terms of performance and features.

It is powered by a 95 hp, 701cc twin with case reed induction, a water-cooled exhaust and variable rate oil injection. It's similar to the 701cc engine found on last year's Hurricane sport model and the SL700 Deluxe, though with larger carburetors (40mm CDK) and Ocean Pro Vortex flame arrestors. The engine will turn the standard Polaris Big Mouth Pump, though unlike last year's SL700 and SL700 Deluxe, the SLH will get the 4-inch pump extension to improve performance.

The SLH runs on the same hull as the SLXH and uses the same, redesigned deck, though without the fairing. The new deck, as well as other weight reducing measures, have managed to shave 40 pounds off the SLH when compared with the SL700.

The SLH will not get a two-part seat like the SLXH, but it will have the 1.5 gallon under-the-seat storage to go along with the glove box and the five-gallon bow storage. The hatch on the SLH also has the mono-shock.

The SLTX

The name is the same. So are the hull and the engine. However, the SLTX has undergone a number of changes, most of them improvements to the fit and finish of the craft. Included in those changes are a new multi-function gauge with compass, a stronger hood with smoother lines, tighter fit, better latch and improved mirror mounts. Other changes include a new mounting for the gauge, simplified hose and wire routing, reduced steering play, softer seat protectors, a grounding point for the spark plugs, a new more ergonomic fuel knob, a second drain plug, a new, better fitting storage bucket and reinforcements around the tow eye. All the changes are small, but they do add up.

Still, what was good on last year's model has returned, including the deck and the deep V SMC hull. Power will again be supplied 1050cc, 115hp triple engine, with the Polaris Big Mouth Pump with 4-inch extension and 3-blade stainless steel swirl impeller transferring it to the water.

The SLTX has a two-part seat with under the seat storage, as well as a glove box and bow storage. Like the rest of the boats in the line, the SLTX also will get the new molded hand grips, a reversible throttle, an easier-to-read multi-function gauge with larger displays, a ratcheting fuel cap, and die-cast ride plate.

The SLTH

The SLTH bridges the gap between last year's SLT 780 and SLT 700. It will be powered by the same 95hp, 701cc twin found on the SLH, with the same deck and hull as the SLTX (though without the compass). The performance level should be even higher than last year's SLT 780 because of an improved horsepower-to-weight ratio, though price should come in somewhere between the SLT780 and SLT 700.

Like the SLTX, the SLTH has a two-part seat with under the seat storage, as well as a glove box and bow storage. Like the rest of the boats in the line, the SLTH also will get the new molded hand grips, a reversible throttle, an easier-to-read multi-function gauge with larger displays, a ratcheting fuel cap, and die-cast ride plate.