Wow this thread really took off. 3 pages in about as many days.
I clearly remember the first outing on my new to me 2006 yamaha SX 230 in 2008, not because the boat handled so well but because it handled so terribly at no wake speeds. I took so long to pull up to the dock, after several failed attempts, my dog ended up pissing on one of the seat cushions.
I ordered probably close to the original cobra fins the next day, a Sunday, relevant because I called in my order to Jeff personally, and had them installed by the following weekend for my second outing on that boat. They totally changed the way the boat handled so I decided to keep the boat that I had just paid $23k ($25k including sales tax) in cash for instead of sell it and replace it with a seadoo jet boat.
I think I upgraded the fins 2 or 3 times since and replaced the first version of the fangs with JBP single engine thrust diverters. I wanted to experiment and had the mentality of they must be better than the fangs because they cost 4 times as much (im about $400 into thrust diverters v. Fangs for $100 or so) after a few seasons I can say with confidence that I was wrong. In all fairness will at jet boat pilot did recommend that I get the twin engine versions which only had a single but larger output port. Incidentally, the jet boat pilot rep who took my order sent me the twin engine versions instead of the single engine versions I ordered. When I called about it, I was told, “this is what will recommended” even though I spoke with will before I placed the order, eventually JBP made things right but required me to return what they sent me in error before sending me what I ordered. That didn’t make me feel like a loyal and trusted customer even though by that point I had spent well over $2k with JBP on other upgrades over several years. Contrast that to Jeff’s service, he quickly sent me what i needed to add thrust diverters to my cobra fins and he sold them to me at a discount. He always sent what I orderednot what he thinks I should have ordered. He has also sent me spacers, bolts, etc. without me asking for them, just a note saying put these on they should remove play, be stronger, etc.
in conclusion, jBP makes a lot of great products but ImHO when it comes to steering fins, they are second to one, cobra fins (and fangs).
@Cobra Jet Steering LLC, Jeff if I can find the time and motivation (to locate and install the hardware needed for my old fangs), I will be calling you to place an order for the latest/largest fangs currently available.