JetBoatPilot's New Surf Tech, Thrust Vector Wake

[Worxman]

Gothca

Here are pics of the wake last year with TV XL's - the original TVW - Will's modified TVW...all at 11MPH

 

[Worxman]

Here is 20MPH original TVW vs Modified TVW

 

[ilangtry]

Still waiting to get in the water and test them, but luckily I was double checking them and good thing. I have to remove the wake wedge ring mounted to the ladder bracket, because when the fins are up it will catch...whew close one.

Really? That’s not good. I’d like to keep my wakewedge!!

 

[SCP1]

Gothca

Here are pics of the wake last year with TV XL's - the original TVW - Will's modified TVW...all at 11MPH

The surfing wave looks clean. I’m assuming this is without ballast?

 

[Worxman]

Correct, no ballast

 

[Arcadyus]

I agree it looks clean but im not sure it's much cleaner than the before picture.

 

[Worxman]

Yea, to be honest, I’m not noticing much of a difference than from before the TVW.

The early videos from JBP (look for the side by side comparison) showed a real clean wake and a real clean looking wash, but I’m not seeing it no matter what adjustments i make.

 

[Milwmarc]

Put everything back on today and took boat out.

Everything installed perfectly...but I too found very heavy steering. anything about 8 MPH and over. The old Thrust Vector XL definitely didn't have this. I had my 16 yr old drive, he needed 2 hands anything above 10 mph and my wife after driving it above 15 felt she couldn't turn it quick enough and felt unsafe driving.

We took some video of it at 10, 15 and 20 MPH and it cleaned it up a little bit from the Vector XL's but I don't know if its enough to warrant new vector wakes...ESPECIALLY if the steering can't be fixed. We ran with no ballast.

When I got home tonight I took off the Claws. I'm going to take it back out Friday and see what if any difference there is.

I sure hope there's a fix for the heavy steering, my Vector XL had none of the heaviness that makes it 2 handed steering.


I didn't notice much if any of a smaller turn radious that would impact it.

I also installed the Lateral Thrusters. WOW, What a huge huge difference in rear ability and helping around the dock. THESE ARE a must!

I also installed the dual throttle lever. This took care of ALL of my Throttle back creep....which was bad and annoying. Another products that I say "how did I live without it!"

Sure hope the Wakes' can be fixed....as the amount of set up hours, epoxy stops now installed on the boat. Etc.

I'll update how boat runs tomorrow with just the claws off. Assume there won't be much difference.

 

[BigAbe75]

Will....thanks for be "on top of this" as I know new product launches always have some hidden surprises. Besides the heaviness on the 19 footers, what other patterns are you seeing heavy steering in? Just curious as to what trends you're seeing.

I'm going to be putting mine on tomorrow and hitting the first lake of the season on Thursday and all weekend.

Thanks!

Matt, any updates?? Hoping you had a great day today!!

 

[jak_of_trades]

First night out with the TVW.

The bad: Also experienced heavy steering and even heavy throttle. The clearance on the upstop bolt and the bucket is possibly interfering slightly. There was also a hitch in the giddy-up of the steering with fins up. I had to remove the washer from the steering knuckle during install to clear the nut at all. I may be able to back the threads a little more to fix the steering catch.

The great: It works better than expected at cleaning the wash and improving the wake. Surfing was good though not ropeless as I'm still figuring out the weighting as it wasn't quite as strong and high as I'd like for a 200# guy like me. All I had was 750# fat sac on the upper swim deck. I forgot to bring along the ladder deflector so that would help also. It was a descent wave without it. It was taking significantly more weight to get a similar wave with my wake wedge so that's a big plus.

For wakeboarding and tubing it looks to be the cat's meow. The interference issues are something that needs to be addressed for my boat at least. In Will I trust.

 

[jak_of_trades]

Really? That’s not good. I’d like to keep my wakewedge!!

Maybe this is why I had a little catch in my steering on my first run. I'll have to inspect to see if that wedge bracket interferes. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Jester429]

Surfing was good though not ropeless as I'm still figuring out the weighting as it wasn't quite as strong and high as I'd like for a 200# guy like me. All I had was 750# fat sac on the upper swim deck.

I believe will said somewhere in the posts that they had 1200 lbs of ballast on thr ar195. 600 on lower swim deck 600 on upper . thr swim platform qas submerged if i remember what he said correctly. @JetBoatPilot did i quote your numbers right?

 

[Arcadyus]

That would be over the boats weight limit with even just a driver if it was a 2018.

 

[SCP1]

I believe will said somewhere in the posts that they had 1200 lbs of ballast on thr ar195. 600 on lower swim deck 600 on upper . thr swim platform qas submerged if i remember what he said correctly. @JetBoatPilot did i quote your numbers right?

On the 21 he was running 1200 lbs and on the 19 it was 600 lbs (I believe).

 

[InmyElement]

Yes, the wake wedge brackets interfere..they have to be removed.

 

[InmyElement]

I'm taking off today first nice day and going to try it out. You guys have me worried..I'll report back.

 

[JetBoatPilot]

Weve run 1200 on the 19 as well. The wave got even bigger. Same setup as the 21. 600 lower platform in center (allows you to quickly transition. From surfing normal to goofy) 40p on upper deck surf side and 200 in rear seat area surf side.

 

[Milwmarc]

I feel like im part of an engineering study..without the engineer smarts....
All crossing our fingers today, for those of us trying it out today and this weekend. Claws are off, deflector shield installed and heading back out at 1 today..to see how steering is and wake looks...I dont want to load up on ballast so i can compare 1. my original set up with vector Xl's, 2. Last night with claws, no delfector and today #3 NO claws with deflector shield installed..i triple checked all fittings and steering in driveway..no binding to keep wakes in water beyond what springs do...steering cables (entire length) are bathed in lubrication....I will report back.

In Will I trust.

 

[mwalker4]

As I watch the back and forth and prototyping, this is my 2 cents. Currently, we don't do intense watersports. I just want better low speed steering and the spray knocked down for tubing. I'm not willing to significantly impact my steering. If there needs to be a tube specific model to lighted up the steering I'm all for it. At the moment, leaning toward other options but waiting to see how this all shakes out. It's needs to be well tested before I epoxy something to my boat.

 

[Milwmarc]

As I watch the back and forth and prototyping, this is my 2 cents. Currently, we don't do intense watersports. I just want better low speed steering and the spray knocked down for tubing. I'm not willing to significantly impact my steering. If there needs to be a tube specific model to lighted up the steering I'm all for it. At the moment, leaning toward other options but waiting to see how this all shakes out. It's needs to be well tested before I epoxy something to my boat.

We'd be 15 percent surfing, 20 percent wakeboarding, 65 percent tubing..agreed..im looking for less jet wash for the wakeboarders and tubers..my daughter and her 300 teenage freinds love tubing the most, my boys..wake boarding........but if the steering is so tough my wife and kids cant drive confidently pulling tubers..than im thinking of going to the updated Vectors and not use the vector Wake.....this is reminding me why I didnt go to Engineering school.. I love all Wills products...my boat could be and advertisement for jet boat pilot products....Ill report back todays findings...its very short summer here in Wisconsin..each weekend is precious and short...hence the reason taking the afternoon off to see if i can dial this in.