New and nervous about the jet drive

[motomandan]

@motomandan ,Just remember I call the new boating year the class of 2020 last year it was the class of 2019 etc lots of new students every spring. I have been doing this a few weeks Started making steering back when I was 49. And if you ever get a chance to drive someone's boat like yours that has one of my systems on it you will see the difference immediately. not just around the dock either, high speed, slow speed off power water sports, waves, wind, currents.

I did on a 21 steering felt sluggish and heavy. I was in the boat business a long time and have been boating for 46 years. Maybe it is experience of handling many different kinds of boats?

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

cool I have 53 years of boating and as for your comment , about sluggish and heavy your credibility may have suffered a blow on that one. in any event I am done with this conversation enjoy your boat and swimming up stream.

 

[BigAbe75]

Models before 2019 did not have the rudder. So aftermarket filled the need. With twins and the rudder its much much better!

bad dealer info then sorry! mine handles great

‘19 did get a new reverse nozzle design giving some lateral thrust in reverse. That could be what you’re thinking of.

 

[Dean P]

I did on a 21 steering felt sluggish and heavy. I was in the boat business a long time and have been boating for 46 years. Maybe it is experience of handling many different kinds of boats?

I remember reading how the cobra fins, if not installed properly, could create this feeling. @Cobra Jet Steering LLC correct me if I'm wrong, but they may need to be angled in slightly to correct this? Many people including myself rave about the Cobra steering as the best option out there. I highly recommend them. My $.02

 

[anmut]

cool I have 53 years of boating and as for your comment , about sluggish and heavy your credibility may have suffered a blow on that one. in any event I am done with this conversation enjoy your boat and swimming up stream.

I see you're giving discounts to members - I recently purchased mine direct from your website without knowing I could get a discount from the forum. Thoughts? I can DM you my info.

 

[jmiele3]

I learned to operate boats way too long ago in the US Army. There was:

1. The right way.
2. The wrong way.
3. The Army way.

I learned on number 3... The Army way. On a LCM built in 1941. Instrumentation was a tachometer that bounced up and down, along with a tank level sensor permanently frozen on 1/2 full. Power was a single ancient EMD 500 hp engine, built sometime around 1970.

When I joined Alamarin-Jet, my marine experience was solely conventional propellers and surface drives. When being trained, I kept reaching for the throttle, as I learned to do back in the 1980's. Our Training manager kept slapping my hand, saying "Don't touch it!". However, it is similar to when you are used to driving a car with a manual transmission, and then you rent a car with an automatic... You find you keep reaching to shift unconsciously, even though you know there is no shift there.

Operating a jet is similar. You need to "unlearn" some of the things you previously learned. Don't worry too much. Jets are easy to operate (easier, in my opinion), and you will quickly get used to things.

 

[PJ73]

Just use the force...

 

[pmustico]

Been lurking for awhile and lots of good information on here. Coming from a Larson 254 deck boat to a Yamaha. Definitely nervous about the jet drive but excited to take it out. If the docks don’t close. View attachment 115372

Welcome to jets!

 

[Fangio68]

Hi,,

Just curious. I've had my first jetboat for a few months now. I can dock well, and everything seems fine, except for one thing.
If i'm stopped, say refueling, the moment I start my engines (twin) to leave, boat starts turning left or right. I have tried to make sure steering wheel is straight.
Is it that you start one engine, boat starts turning in that thrust direction until you start other engine? Should I be tied to dock, then only untie until I have both engines on?? Just wondering what everybody else does with twin engines.
Boat is a Scarab 255 Open ID.

Thanks.

Taso

 

[Dean P]

Hi,,

Just curious. I've had my first jetboat for a few months now. I can dock well, and everything seems fine, except for one thing.
If i'm stopped, say refueling, the moment I start my engines (twin) to leave, boat starts turning left or right. I have tried to make sure steering wheel is straight.
Is it that you start one engine, boat starts turning in that thrust direction until you start other engine? Should I be tied to dock, then only untie until I have both engines on?? Just wondering what everybody else does with twin engines.
Boat is a Scarab 255 Open ID.

Thanks.

Taso

It's always best to make sure both engines are running before untying from the dock. To answer your question, yes starting one tend to turn the boat slightly prior to starting the other.