anyone adventurous with a 19 foot fsh or 19 foot keel boat in my area

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

Gee sorry I get that many days on the water in a week or two here. LOL

 

[Briwhy]

Stupid 90 days of boating season up here..

I agree. I installed my fangs at the end of the season last year and didn't even get to try it out. I'm just itching to get on the water and test them out.

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

So I am getting some feedback from people who wanted to try this VIPER system out on their 19 foot keel boats by participating in the special test program. I still have a couple available for those who wish to participate.

 

[swatski]

Having tested some of your devices in two totally different Yamaha boats, I'm sure those new fins will be amazing.

Watching this thread, I just wish you helped us develop Wakesurfing Tabs for Yammies, Jeff!


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[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

But I thought Y O U were working on that, I would approach it in a different direction than what you were doing but that's because I never wake surfed. Remember if you change the angle of the jet thrust you cause the steering to be compromised, what you want is something independent of the thrust that is reversible to change the angle of the wake I had an idea a few years ago but I am sure someone will come up with an affordable and simple solution , it just takes some thought , trial and error and perseverance.
Just look at the magnum A K system for the twin engine rudder boats, It's amazing and simple, plus it does a lot more than just provide steering , as you know first hand. Lots of Thought, trial and error and perseverance. Oh yea money to invest helps a lot also.

 

[JDinfla]

Can't wait to try this out tomorrow.

 

[swatski]

Can't wait to try this out tomorrow. View attachment 53266

Wow. I can see how this could be THE steering mod. Especially in FSH application.

Fins, fangs (power steering), and a tab (planning aid) - all-in-one package.

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[SC Jetstyler]

I'm willing to test it I'm in SC and just purchased the new SX195.

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

Thank you for all the response to this, I now have more people interested in participating than I planned on. I will post if I decide I need any more participants, again Thank you !
We will be posting the results soon.

 

[Eric Ballard]

I am located in Pinellas county Florida just south of Largo and north of St Pete.
When I work on new things I like to involve people who are willing to allow me access to their boat and who are willing to test things out etc. while keeping the research confidential. I am looking for a volunteer for a bit of research who is not too far away, so email me if you believe this is something you would enjoy being involved in. Jeff@cobrajetsteering.com

I'm in North Carolina, but I would test the Cobra for you. I currently have Thrust Vectors. I am happy with them, but I am VERY curious what the difference is on the water.

 

[Eric Ballard]

So I am getting some feedback from people who wanted to try this VIPER system out on their 19 foot keel boats by participating in the special test program. I still have a couple available for those who wish to participate.

Just responding to this too. I am willing to test. I'm in NC and have a 2016 SX190 with Thrust Vectors currently.

 

[JDinfla]

These work! They do everything expected of them.
I have been very hesitant to mount anything that sticks down below the factory keel, because of the shallow water we fish and boat. We even glassed in our transducer in side the hull so we didn't have in sticking off the back of the transom. When I saw this I thought maybe this will be the ticket for better handling and after a hour and half test ride yesterday we are very impressed.

 

[JDinfla]

On our test ride with the Viper fins yesterday, the first thing I noticed was having much better control in reverse at the boat dock. The next thing I noticed was the slow speed tracking was improved. When it was time to get on plane the boat definitely jumped on plane quicker and stayed on plane with less throttle when slowing down. At high speeds I don't know how much the planing affect will come into play because it seems like the planing surface is higher than the ride plate but at slower speeds and mid speeds it works great. At speed the boat will definitely carve tighter turns. I was concerned about it catching seagrass in the water but that never was an issue. On our test ride I wasn't loaded like a usual fishing trip but still had a friend with us and some gear but everything the boat did seemed better even crossing oncoming boat wakes at medium to lower speeds.
The trim tab effect at lower speeds is really a nice feature.
I would like to tell you guys that my boat went the fastest it has in six months but that may be just because I didn't have my usual amount of fishing gear on board.
Definitely looking forward to our second trip.

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

So as I patiently "hmmm" wait for a few more people to post their experience once they try out their VIPER steering system, I do have a very small number of these left on hand, anyone wanting to give this a try can purchase one from me for 99 dollars so that is still 60 dollars off the regular price once I place an order and have some built for retail sales.
I built a mock up of the factory rudder system so I can do an install video without needing a boat parked in my office.
Also I came across my first test person Bill, over the weekend.
I was just out cruising on one of my skies , I parked inside the sandbar on the south side of Bunces pass in front of Fort Desoto.
I noticed quite a few boats , so as I was strolling along the beach I practically bumped into Bill with his boat anchored on the beach , backed right up in the sand , so you can imagine I was very curious to see if he was damaging the test steering because the rudder was definitely hitting bottom, upon close inspection the system was doing just fine, but honestly I would have bet otherwise with all the boat traffic and waves bouncing his boat around.
I did inform him that anchoring his boat in backward allowing it to hit the ground was not a very good thing to do since he could get sand, shells, rocks etc, in his pump, along with other negative results, but he assured me this is how he anchors his boat all the time wherever he goes so all I can say to that is it's his boat. Some people are just lucky but I would avoid anchoring that close to shore at all costs , just a couple more feet out would be my choice.

 

[CAT Chaser]

Back mine up to the sandbar also. Nice thing about these boats, no motor and easy entry due to the rear deck. I do try to keep it off the bottom though. Usually once I back in people say to me "must be a jet boat since you can get so close"

 

[malibu Dan]

So as I patiently "hmmm" wait for a few more people to post their experience once they try out their VIPER steering system, I do have a very small number of these left on hand, anyone wanting to give this a try can purchase one from me for 99 dollars so that is still 60 dollars off the regular price once I place an order and have some built for retail sales.
I built a mock up of the factory rudder system so I can do an install video without needing a boat parked in my office.
Also I came across my first test person Bill, over the weekend.
I was just out cruising on one of my skies , I parked inside the sandbar on the south side of Bunces pass in front of Fort Desoto.
I noticed quite a few boats , so as I was strolling along the beach I practically bumped into Bill with his boat anchored on the beach , backed right up in the sand , so you can imagine I was very curious to see if he was damaging the test steering because the rudder was definitely hitting bottom, upon close inspection the system was doing just fine, but honestly I would have bet otherwise with all the boat traffic and waves bouncing his boat around.
I did inform him that anchoring his boat in backward allowing it to hit the ground was not a very good thing to do since he could get sand, shells, rocks etc, in his pump, along with other negative results, but he assured me this is how he anchors his boat all the time wherever he goes so all I can say to that is it's his boat. Some people are just lucky but I would avoid anchoring that close to shore at all costs , just a couple more feet out would be my choice.

I'll take 1....

 

[dlkhmk]

If you have any Vipers left send me a message. I'll take one too.

 

[haknslash]

Curious why the increase from $75 to 99 for the remaining test units? I would like to try one if you still have them.

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

To answer your question about the price, it is all risk -vs- reward the first person took the biggest risk his was free, a few more people were jumping in and they took a lesser risk but they did not hesitate so they paid 75 dollars, now I really have a sufficient number out on boats being tested so I really don't need any more tests but since I had a few left on the original order I decided to offer them at a pretty big discount 99 dollars.
I just placed an order for more and those will be 159. So risk vs reward and he who hesitates well we know that one. Honestly I will probably have some unhappy people because I only have a couple left and then it's 159. So the early bird gets the biggest discount.

 

[SC Jetstyler]

I tested the Viper on the water today. My first impression was good. Reversing was so much better, I was able to actually steer in reverse. The boat got on plane quicker but I did notice a little bit of a bigger spray off the back. The boat handled the wake way better and when in "no wake mode" or going slow I didn't need to steer as much to get it to go straight. Nice improvement over stock....really made maneuvering around the dock today allot less stressful. I was on the water for about 2 hours today but am planning a longer day excursion this coming Friday, I will provide everyone with some more feedback then. Great job Jeff.!!