Jet Boat Rookie

[Toby Two-Bit George]

Greetings All,
I am Toby "Two-Bit" George.
I have been boating for years and finally decided to try the "jetboat" style. so I decided on small Used model from a dealer.
it is a 2015 Yamaha SX190 with only 60hrs.
One big question - will I need the thrust vector / lateral thruster kit?????
we are supposed to take delivery tomorrow, wish me luck.......

 

[fatboyroy]

Send pic of the jet, most owner upgrade, so chances are good you already have it

 

[jthackman]

congrats on the boat!
or maybe jerry whittle can make you a deal on a freshly removed used set.

 

[Thermobrett]

Sharp boat, very low hours for the age, looks like a good find. Any steering enhancement will be worth the money. I personally have cobra jet steering fins on my SX-195 and can say it was a great purchase and very inexpensive. Definitely reduced docking drama with the family ?

Below are my fins.

 

[ripler]

You don't need any add on steering aides, I had my Yamaha for 10 years and never felt like I wish I had them. It took me longer to get comfortable driving my V-drive than it did my Yamaha.

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

Get the most features and benefits available for that boat and add the super ultimate special AK deluxe with the mega fang plus added and it will rock your world on the water at all speeds and have a faster hole shot a smoother ride in chop and a cleaner wake for water sport activities NO ONE Has the systems that can do what Cobra steering does. 21 years of specializing in making jet boats steer and drivers smile no plastic parts Get spring loaded adjustable steering that fits your boat since you have NO rudder at all but you do have the 2015 nozzle I can make that boat handles at all speeds in forward and reverse even off power. excellent for rough conditions wind waves and strong currents water sport activities and novice guest operators. Only $239.99 for the steering system and if you want to add the mega fang plus it is only $84 .00 extra and it gives you improved REAL reverse control better stopping power and a mild power steering effect.
these have the rudder your boat does not but the nozzles are the same Also be advised that a single engine jet boat is the worst to try and drive with no add on steering. here is a video made by a customer who has a super ultimate ak-19 deluxe on his 19 foot boat when he tried it out for the first time watch how it carves at speed just try that with your stock boat and you will understand how big a difference super steering makes at all speeds also the plaining surface and the adjustments that let you decide the influence levels that suit your needs at all speeds. nothing else does that. And the super fins change their influence based on the position of the hull in the water so you just drive it and it does the rest. Also take note of how he made waves behind his trailer and then just drove right up to and on it through the waves. Here is a video provided by a very happy customer trying out his super ultimate ak-19 deluxe for the first time on his 2022 195s Yamaha jet boat and his... | By Cobra jet steering | Facebook

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

Drive a 19 foot boat like this customer does on his first try with his new super ultimate ak -19 deluxe steering Here is a video provided by a very happy customer trying out his super ultimate ak-19 deluxe for the first time on his 2022 195s Yamaha jet boat and his... | By Cobra jet steering | Facebook

 

[NeoBrew]

Greetings All,
I am Toby "Two-Bit" George.
I have been boating for years and finally decided to try the "jetboat" style. so I decided on small Used model from a dealer.
it is a 2015 Yamaha SX190 with only 60hrs.
One big question - will I need the thrust vector / lateral thruster kit?????
we are supposed to take delivery tomorrow, wish me luck.......
View attachment 192864View attachment 192864

I'd definitely recommend you give your boat a try for a season before you bother with steering enhancements. I found my boat way easier to handle than any boat I'd had before. The only real learning curve is that you need to always keep some power in at low speeds to maintain directional control. Without that thrust you have no effective form of rudder.

I eventually installed Lateral Thrusters and am very happy with them. I did not install them for steering though. I put them in to help when I am trolling. Without a conventional rudder or lower end unit, and the relatively flat bottom of our Yamaha boats the extra rudder really helps stop the boat from swinging in the wind so much.

 

[DonJohnsMusic]

Mine came with the Crobra’s and since I’ve never experience one without, not sure what to advise you. I’d go with what you got and if you feel like you need more control, I’d take the plunge, seems like a lot of folks swear by these fins! Happy boating and welcome to the zoo!

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

The big issue he has is it is a 19 foot with just a nozzle NOTHING ELSE and I can predict he will very quickly understand why I invented steering for jet boats after driving one single engine jet boat back in 2001 for just 1 minute and totally hated it. The odds of feeling comfortable driving it without some serious steering at all speeds are not in his favor .

 

[212s]

it is a 2015 Yamaha SX190 with only 60hrs.
One big question - will I need the thrust vector / lateral thruster kit?????

I believe the articulating keel feature wasn't added until 2016 so if your model has no "rudder" under the jet, then you will likely want to get a kit with "fins" to help with steering. Mine is a 2020 and I found no need to add a kit as the articulating keel "rudder" works fine and I find I have more docking control with this boat than previous I/O and outboards.

 

[CaptRedbeard]

I totally understand wanting to hustle and sell a product that you have so much pride and time invested in but man…maybe one comment then let the guy do his research.

 

[YoDaddy292]

Welcome to the dark side. I’d say give it a summer (or at least a month or two) before you do anything. Get a feel for it and get the slow speed stuff down as best you can. You may find you have no issues or at least improve tenfold . I personally went from garbage in the launch area to just okay and not a menace. Even after getting it down I still think I will give the fins a shot after a few launches this spring (knock the rust off from not boating since October) that way I can fairly asses them.

 

[2kwik4u]

I totally understand wanting to hustle and sell a product that you have so much pride and time invested in but man…maybe one comment then let the guy do his research.

Just an FYI, the ignore feature on this site works great. Filters that particular content quite well.

 

[2kwik4u]

Greetings All,
I am Toby "Two-Bit" George.
I have been boating for years and finally decided to try the "jetboat" style. so I decided on small Used model from a dealer.
it is a 2015 Yamaha SX190 with only 60hrs.
One big question - will I need the thrust vector / lateral thruster kit?????
we are supposed to take delivery tomorrow, wish me luck.......
View attachment 192864View attachment 192864

Congrats on the new boat, and welcome to the forums!!

Drive the boat first, THEN decide if you want them. I'm going on year 6 and don't have any and doubt I will. Thing rides and drives great. I came from an I/O and adapted relatively quickly to the jet steering/low speed maneuvering.

Once you learn how to spin it on axis, you'll wonder why all boats can't do that!

Just keep in mind, it's not a car, and it doesn't have a rudder. revs = thrust = control. Shit in/out of fwd/rvs as much a you like, no transmission and you can use the throttle and reverse buckets to control momentum and direction. When coming in, don't use the wheel to steer the front. use the wheel and throttle to "slide" the rear. Get that concept mastered, and you'll be a launch ramp/courtesy dock hero.

My wife has gotten so good at it; she now comes in to pick me up, spins backwards, and glides up to the dock in reverse. I step on the swim platform and away we go. It's not uncommon to see slacked jaws, and applause when she does that. No drama, just convenience.

Enjoy the new boat!

 

[Julian]

My answer is....it depends. It depends on how you plan to use your boat and how many different drivers there might be.

I've had 3 different jet boats and put Cobra fins on 2 out of 3 of them. The primary reason I did was for low speed tracking (trolling for fish). Without fins you are constantly course correcting, with fins it reduces that need by 50-70%. An advantage is that if someone other than me drives the boat (a buddy offers to drive while I wake board for example) it is easier for them to steer - and not run me over

Are fins REQUIRED - No. Do many people find them helpful...yes.

 

[Toby Two-Bit George]

I believe the articulating keel feature wasn't added until 2016 so if your model has no "rudder" under the jet, then you will likely want to get a kit with "fins" to help with steering. Mine is a 2020 and I found no need to add a kit as the articulating keel "rudder" works fine and I find I have more docking control with this boat than previous I/O and outboards.

Correct, articulating keel came on the 19 footer (single jet) after 2019

I totally understand wanting to hustle and sell a product that you have so much pride and time invested in but man…maybe one comment then let the guy do his research.

Well said "Cpt. Barbarosa", well said!

 

[Toby Two-Bit George]

Send pic of the jet, most owner upgrade, so chances are good you already have it

nope it does have it installed already

 

[Toby Two-Bit George]

congrats on the boat!
or maybe jerry whittle can make you a deal on a freshly removed used set.

That is a good idea, I'll call them tomorrow

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

Congrats on the new boat, and welcome to the forums!!

Drive the boat first, THEN decide if you want them. I'm going on year 6 and don't have any and doubt I will. Thing rides and drives great. I came from an I/O and adapted relatively quickly to the jet steering/low speed maneuvering.

Once you learn how to spin it on axis, you'll wonder why all boats can't do that!

Just keep in mind, it's not a car, and it doesn't have a rudder. revs = thrust = control. Shit in/out of fwd/rvs as much a you like, no transmission and you can use the throttle and reverse buckets to control momentum and direction. When coming in, don't use the wheel to steer the front. use the wheel and throttle to "slide" the rear. Get that concept mastered, and you'll be a launch ramp/courtesy dock hero.

My wife has gotten so good at it; she now comes in to pick me up, spins backwards, and glides up to the dock in reverse. I step on the swim platform and away we go. It's not uncommon to see slacked jaws, and applause when she does that. No drama, just convenience.

Enjoy the new boat!

You gotta love a gal that knows how to drive like a boss!

Love me some Detroit diesel..