275SD Worst Low speed steering ever!!! Wish I didn't buy it.

[Crazyjetboater]

Don't buy unless you have paddle throttles . This boat sucks in low speed maneuvering or parking.

 

[djetok]

Don't buy unless you have paddle throttles . This boat sucks in low speed maneuvering or parking.

maybe steering company can design some fins to help out @Cobra Jet Steering LLC

 

[Robconn]

Although my boat is 8 ft smaller, when I bought it we soon realized we were going to rent a slip at a marina. I believe these boats in general were primarily for trailering. However, at low speeds and navigating around docks they absolutely are the worst especially with wind, current and chop. I have resolved my steering issues with aftermarket parts. Lateral thrusters and force vectors. Now I back into my dock. With 2 engines maneuvering should be better. I would look it these items before you consider an alternative boat.

 

[Babin Farms]

Did you not test it out on the water before you bought it? How many times have you had it out so far? What boat did you have before?

Just like everything, you have to get used to how it maneuvers. There’s pro’s & cons to everything, I came from a 25’ pontoon. Easy to dock & more than enough room but took the whole river to turn around at full throttle & didn’t handle big chop well. With the Yamaha, it’s harder to back it into the slipYesterday took 3 try’s but it was windy, ok for storage compared to what we had. I like the dual throttles for unmatched maneuverability, The swim deck with no obstructions, it’s handling in big chop & hp.


practice, practice, practice

 

[robert cabrerea]

Jet boats take practice. I just scuffed my boat today so Im not saying its easy, But it get better with time.

 

[WREKS]

Maybe this will help you. Click> Jetboat Steering You are not alone. It is a challenge for everyone.

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

I have the super magnum ak-19 deluxe system I just need to make some longer tie rods for that boat size to balance it out, I have been so busy that I have not had time to make the longer tie rods yet I do have several people asking for the steering. I have been so busy this year that I passed my projected total ANNUAL SALES level weeks ago and I do it all myself so it has been very taxing on me. I make steering for ALL speeds and for both forward and reverse. Without hanging down under the original rudder and you have a variety of settings to choose from.

 

[Madcityami]

Going out on a limb since I'll feel dumb if this is your 3rd jet boat and this one does indeed suck at low speed... I bought my first boat ever last month (2010 sx210). I did my research and knew low speed steering was a challenge. Since I had no baseline (never owning a boat before), I felt the benefits of the jet boat still outweighed the downsides. Since I came late to the season, my slip options were limited to "dry stacking" it. In any case, I got out of the slip ok, but returning to the slip, I questioned if I made the right choice buying a jet boat. That night, I confided in Google and found all kinds of docking moves you can do with a jet boat (like being able to spin without forward movement). I was pumped. The next time out, I think I actually did worse than the first.

So my "dry stacking" is essentially scheduling a launch on a mobile app. They pull my boat out of a warehouse with boats stacked 4 high and put it in a slip for me. Long story short, I paid one of the guys that docks boats all day to take me and a daughter out on one of the slow mornings. Worth every penny. After instruction, my 16 year old daughter nailed it the first time, but I had already developed some bad habits my first few times out and was still not good. I've been out about 8-10 times now and it does get better each time.

 

[Inthrustwetrust]

Ya it takes some practice. I struggled for a bit, docking was the most stressful part of the day. Any wind or current and it was a mess. Last 5 or 6 outings it’s been extremely smooth after learning how to handle the boat. Watched a dude take probably 10 tries to get his center console on the trailer today, it was a little windy, got me nervous for my turn. Got it on the first try looking like a pro. I try to avoid the tight spaces. FWIW I got the 24ft.

 

[captainhook]

Season 7 for me and I still have trouble in wind and current. It is so frustrating at times it does almost ruin the entire day. I added Thrust Vectors and Lateral Thrusters which helped quite a bit (mostly with changing directions quicker) but I still often look like an inexperienced fool at the ramp. I just switched to Cobra Jet Steering Ultimates the other day for a few reasons and will try them out tomorrow but I can put a stern drive anywhere I want it and could do the same with my SeaDoo PWC. This boat is just far more challenging.

 

[212s]

Coming from years with an outboard and then stern drive, I've found it took a bit to get used to the difference but I can dock this jetboat faster and easier than my old stern drive. I come in using No Wake mode set at #2 which drives fairly straight, then cut off the mode and pop it into reverse to slow momentum, then use forward again to push the stern over so my wife can grab the dock and we're done. We don't power load onto the trailer (not allowed around here - big fines if you get caught) so loading is always fast and easy by hand.

 

[marcham]

I've driven outboards, stern drives, inboards (including wake/ski boats which are horrible to dock) and all sizes of sailing keelboats and I can honestly say that my favorite boat around a dock is my Yamaha. The fact that thrust is infinitely controllable is it's greatest advantage. Normally, there is a big difference between neutral and fwd. With this boat, I enable no wake mode, hold up the shift lever lock and feather the bucket between fwd, reverse and neutral. The boat can spin in it's own length without the use of a bow thruster. I see people struggling at the boat ramp with wind yet I can get it aligned 1st try everytime.

Spend time to learn how it manoeuvres and use thrust to turn (like an outboard) and you'll be rewarded.

The only real challenge is 4 to 8mph. At that speed it's very easy to loose heading and then the tendency is to overcorrect. It took my wife a bit of coaching to use half as much steering and now she's steady as can be.

 

[Ronnie]

@Crazyjetboater , welcome to the club with one of the few 27’ models, you are a vip.

I took my first Yamaha jet boat out On its maiden voyage and would have sold it the next day for being non responsive at low speeds, particularly docking. I bought and installed cobra fins before the second outing and have had a pair on ever since, I don’t go boating without them and wouldn’t have it any other way. I suggest you get apair along with some fangs as they should change the way you feel about your new boat.

 

[DRAT]

I felt EXACTLY the same way after the maiden voyage in my AR240. Was pretty sure I’d made a mistake. I grew up boating, outboards and IOs, and the sketchy steering at low speeds in these jets is definitely undersold. I wet slip in a pretty tight marina and getting in and out, at first, was... awful. IT GETS BETTER. A month from now you’ll be great at it and will appreciate all the advantages of your boat that outweigh this (pretty significant) drawback. If I could have a do-over now... I’d buy my boat again without hesitation.

 

[scokill]

Don't buy unless you have paddle throttles . This boat sucks in low speed maneuvering or parking.

I wouldn't have any issues with the steering, just can't imagine buying that boat at that price point.

 

[HangOutdoors]

Hmm.... Interesting Post.

 

[John_D]

Good afternoon all, very interesting reading. I'm new at this as well, all my boats have been bass boats with big power. I always thought they were a squirrely at slow speed especially trying to trailer it in wind and current conditions. I put a deposit on a new 2021 195 FSH and really looking forward to this new venture and the learning curve . Just curious though, is there a handling difference between the FSH and these other boats you all are talking about?

 

[HangOutdoors]

All the Yamaha's tend to handle the same, weight as the boats get bigger may play a bit of a factor depending on conditions and what you are trying to do. Twin engine boats allow you to do a few more things and a bit more control once you learn how to use both throttles independently. Put Cobra Jet Fins or another steering Mod on them and it is a game changer and they get easier as you practice.

I have twin jets and I can spin on a dime, do a 360 and actually walk the boat sideways into a slip without an issue. BUT it wasn't that way on day one.

 

[John_D]

All the Yamaha's tend to handle the same, weight as the boats get bigger may play a bit of a factor depending on conditions and what you are trying to do. Twin engine boats allow you to do a few more things and a bit more control once you learn how to use both throttles independently. Put Cobra Jet Fins or another steering Mod on them and it is a game changer and they get easier as you practice.

I have twin jets and I can spin on a dime, do a 360 and actually walk the boat sideways into a slip without an issue. BUT it wasn't that way on day one.

Thanks, I was going to about the Cobra? will it void the warranty?

 

[HangOutdoors]

No I don't believe so. Read up a lot here, there are threads everywhere. Plus Jeff at CJS is awesome. I spoke with him directly and he walked me through the pro's of each model and the purchase as well as issue I had with install which was my own doing.