FANGS for Cobra Venoms - first impressions

[swatski]

Perhaps an exact side by side of the fangs and the ultimates would solve my problem.....I can't visually see any difference between the two photos above....am I to assume that fangs have a larger surface area?

"The fangs are a set of special fins positioned under the side force stabilizer to provide two functions that people have shown an interest in adding to or enhancing their steering systems."
​

Perhaps a photo of the original fins and the new ones with an arrow pointing at the "special fins" would help this dummy understand what this is all about!

Okay, my bad, I was a little sloppy posting the pics, didn't mean to confuse anyone.
Here are the juxtaposed pics (#1 and #8 I think from the post above):

Before and after


BTW - also wanted to comment on the simplicity of the physics behind this design, but I see I just got scooped by the inventor, LOL - I think Jeff just posted a nice cartoon of the design, above.

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

You can actually see the pivot point position in this picture you posted

it's even with the two front bolts and the center hole of the plate

 

[zelone]

Awesome Jeff! Youre always improving an already awesome product! I gotta go check my fins to see which I have, so I know what I need to order!

 

[swatski]

I took the boat out today, still tuning a bunch of things. My wife decided to come along for a little ride and wanted to drive. She totally noticed the difference in high speed steering, it feels really buttery and easy/smooth.
It is quickly becoming one of my favorite mods, certainly is for the money.

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

Now I am looking for a test pilot to try out a prototype I just made for the magnum A K SERIES, I offered flowers the opportunity but unfortunately he won't have his boat in the water for 5 more weeks , if someone is interested in this let me know , you just need to have an A K series boat with my steering on it .

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

https://jetboaters.net/threads/cobra-venom-fangs-now-available.8915/

 

[Ronnie]

@Cobra Jet Steering LLC , Jeff it has been a while since I have made any improvements where the steering / fins are concerned and I'm about to pull the trigger on a complete set of magnums and fangs. The 40% off of the fangs offer was the deciding factor to buy now v. later.

Why does the two engine set up come with two fangs instead of four? Is four too much of a good thing? Can I buy two blank plates as well in case I want to experiment between a two and four fang configuration? I assume I'm just the first person to ask these questions but that I'm not the only one who has them.

Please let let me know the total price and configurations available too me via a private conversation.

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

Ok my first question magnums or ultimates? either will work on your boat and both are compatible with the fangs but most people buy the Ultimates for that boat, also the Ultimates are the ones I put in the promotion however I have no problem extending this offer to the magnums / fang combo also.
Just to be clear the steering is not discounted, you get the 40 percent off the fangs when you do a combo like the ezlock combo.
As for the 2 fins rather than 4 two fins , placing just one on the outside of each nozzle is sufficient to get the job done as the inside fins would not get the same exposure due to the shape of the hull, however It is an option if you choose to go that route , just wanted to help with the cost verses the benefits , similar to past conversations about placing 2 EZ locks on a plug rather than just one, only one is needed so why spend more money? I recall having a few conversations with the pin fix person on the other board as he insisted 2 were needed and I totally disagreed, I even used the explanation that if it were necessary to use 2 I would sell twice as many ! Obviously time has proven me correct on that topic.
So yes if you want to do 2 fangs on each nozzle this would be the time to do it. We tested only the 2 " one per nozzle" and we used a 24 foot boat, the person who did the tests was totally impressed with the results. So it's your call there . Actually to make it simple for you I suggest that you do a set as I sell them and if you still want to experiment with the second set of fangs a little later I will extend the discount to you on that set also, but I honestly have no idea what the results will be as my goal was to get the results we were looking for and keep the cost low.

 

[Ronnie]

Jeff thanks for responding. As for magnums v. Ultimates I want the latest and greatest model so
Ultimates it is (I.e., biggest and spring loaded).

I understand that the fins are not discounted, just the fangs. Still, I'd like to get two pairs of fangs. It looks like I can easily remove one set If I want to experiment / tune in the future.

I assume the price for the pair of Ultimates is the same as is currently reflected on your website so it's just a matter of determining what the fangs / extra pair of fangs cost. Just let me know the total price and how you prefer I place the order by starting a private conversation with me please.

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

Yes you are correct just email me so I can send you a pay pal invoice for the 369.25 on the twin ultimate set and the 90 dollars for two single sets actually the regular price for a twin set was 85 dollars but the single set is 75 so you are actually ordering 2 singles at 5 dollars over the regular twin price, not a bad deal at all ! I will be very curious as to what the difference is between the 2 and the 4 fins. I never tried it that way.

 

[Addicted]

I like the sound of the power steering effect. I love the influence that my TV XL's have on control, but they add a bit of resistance to steering. I have had my eye on the Ultimate's because I like the idea of have steering influence above no wake speed. The effect of the fangs may force me to spend more money. @Ronnie, please share your opinions of the double fangs!

 

[Zarrella]

I am also considering doing 2 sets of the fangs. Ok, I pulled the trigger and just ordered 2 singles from Jeff. I couldn't wait for @Ronnie to review them.

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

I really think you should do the twin engine setup like I originally offered it and see how you like it before adding a second one to the mix, I hope Ronnie tries it that way first and then adds the other for comparison. I too an interested if people really want that option I may consider doing a discount on two at a time but these are a real pain in the writs for me since each part is cut with a laser and tumbled then I personally hand form each piece , the fangs require two stages to form them the first is done by hand and the final step in a 20 ton press so it is not an easy job and it's time consuming. I tried to keep this simple.

 

[Ronnie]

I just placed my order for a twin engine ultimates and fang (2 pairs) set up. Jeff @Cobra Jet Steering LLC did me right price wise. I will test it with one fin per nozzle initially and hope to add the second fin later the same day to do a comparison. If I have time I will take birds eye view/top down arial footage of both configurations while I reverse around / near a fixed object. For the difference in steering feel, if any, at low and high speeds I will just describe to the best of my ability. My current fins are fixed in the lowest position available so I will may try with the magnums in the fully and always deployed position and no fangs at all at first.

@swatski , thanks for starting this thread, I'm not trying to high jack it, just supplement it.

@Cobra Jet Steering LLC , thanks for continuing to improve your fins. Unless someone is willing to spend the money to reprogram or replace their ECUs and or replace their impellers there isn't much available to improve the performance on these boats. Crappy reverse steering has always been a complaint of mine, now that my boat is getting older I am also more concerned with relieving some of the pressure from the steering cables and other related parts. Hopefully these fangs will cover both points for me.

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

Cool I am looking forward to see if there is a difference with 4 rather than, 2 the funny thing is 2 makes a big difference a lot more than you would think and since you are going to PLAY with the video stuff, haaa one of my shortcomings, I would love for you to do my emergency collision avoidance trick using the ultimate steering fully deployed and the fangs, go wide open , pull the throttles back to neutral and then do a hard right and a hard left totally off power, I want to see the look on your face.
On another note I believe I have my volunteer to do the Magnum A K fang testing for me, he is local well not close but in Florida so he can do the tests with no delay.
He is a member of the dark side but I told him to join us here also. He agreed to the tuning fork ritual so he can be cleansed haaa - insert sense of humor here!
In any event this should be good since one of the big issues with the factory system is all that steering stress on the parts and with the fangs we are actually relieving some of the stress not just masking it. And with the COBRA A K system we are also distributing it evenly.

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

To accommodate people with the older style side force stabilizers on their Ultimate steering I ordered some of the new style, however I did not order a lot of them because they were a bit pricy unless I purchased a very large quantity.
I ordered these for people who would prefer to upgrade their stabilizers to accommodate the fangs rather than take on the task of drilling the holes in their earlier ones.
They will only cost 19 dollars each if you order the fangs and want them added to the order for convenience.
I hope this helps some of you who asked about this or were thinking about it . Another option is to send me your early ones and I will drill them for you and send them back with your order at no cost other than the shipping for sending them here.

I also left the prototype for the Magnum A K fangs with the laser company so I can order some of those after I hear back from my people testing them.

 

[swatski]

I like the sound of the power steering effect. I love the influence that my TV XL's have on control, but they add a bit of resistance to steering. I have had my eye on the Ultimate's because I like the idea of have steering influence above no wake speed. The effect of the fangs may force me to spend more money. @Ronnie, please share your opinions of the double fangs!

I like how @bobbie described it, below. I never used TVs myself, but running with the Ultimates down at wakeboarding speeds is what I like a lot. Gives me a bit of that planted feel I miss from my outboards.
If you like to experiment, you can lift them up with a bungee and make a run with the fins up (no influence) to see the difference - it's pretty interesting.
FANGS are awesome, particularly at high speeds, turning is just very smooth. While my initial motivation behind the purchase/upgrade was to ease potential stress on the steering cables, it is a definite steering performance improvement IMO.

I went from the thrust vectors to the cobra ultimates and am a big fan of the ultimates. The fact you can lock them down or have them raise up really adds to the flexibility of the first. I lock our down and have noticed a huge difference in handling during board sports.

@Ronnie thank you for your input - always good!

 

[Zarrella]

@Cobra Jet Steering LLC
I received the new Fangs yesterday....Thank you!! I installed them today and will be on the water tomorrow. I agree with @swatski it was easier to remove the stabilizer bar and assemble the fangs and than reinstall the completed unit.
Jeff....as you know I went with the 2 sets of Fangs. I'll let you know my first impressions tomorrow or Sunday.
Thank you again for your great customer service!!

 

[swatski]

@Zarrella Let us know what you think, I'm curious.

One more thing. I can be a moron, and I'm sure it DOES NOT apply to anyone here, but just for the record:
If you assemble the fangs onto the stabilizer bar (removed off the steering assembly), double check after the install the tabs go OVER the crease on the steering nozzle (and NOT UNDER). See what I mean, below - pics.
I have been swapping these nozzles a lot while tuning the L13 setup (I have 3 venturi nozzles with various diameters that I am testing), and I just got sloppy the other night and mounted it incorrectly . I caught it in time, but could have lost the steering nozzle with the fin assembly... (the whole stabilizer bar is off the alignment and does not cradle right). I'm sure Jeff will be just shaking his head if he reads it...
Anyway - I'm sure this comment is not needed, but thought I would just put it out here since I started this thread.

Here is the way it should look:

(starboard side)


(port side)

NOT like this :

(starboard side)

BTW - I pop the fins with a bungee for the install:

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

Actually you really can't put it together with the locking tabs on the plate before putting the plate on the bottom of the nozzle, however you can have the two front bolts on the fang mounted to the plate and the back holes aligned by dropping a couple bolts in them to hold their position until you get the plate mounted properly but you need to leave the tabs off otherwise as you discovered your tabs are under the nozzle and that will not do you any good.
Also the bolts in the front need to be facing up and the bolts in the rear need to be facing down. If you mount the fangs with the front bolts down from the top you block access to the top of it by the steering arm.
Also the bottom bolt of the nozzle MUST have thread locking compound reapplied if you remove it, otherwise the turning of the nozzle can loosen it causing it to fall out. So take care when you install that plate to be sure you are doing it correctly.
I hope people understand how important it is to do that installation properly! I appreciate that he brought this up so people will do this correctly . Remember Murphy's law .