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Looking for help

michael D Kasparek

Active Member
Messages
3
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40
Boat Make
Chaparral
Year
2018
Boat Model
VRX
Boat Length
20
Not my first boat but,first jet boat I have a 2018 chaparral 203. Anyone know how to make the steering better at low speed.
 

Compatico

Jet Boat Addict
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373
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107
Boat Make
Other
Year
2000
Boat Model
Other
Boat Length
20
Not my first boat but,first jet boat I have a 2018 chaparral 203. Anyone know how to make the steering better at low speed.
Wandering more than a single prop boat is common with a jet as it doesn't have anything except forward thrust. Jetski owners don't have the issue as much but only because they spend more time at higher speeds - LOL. I took a 203 out on the weekend and found you can play tease with the the throttle to help minimize the wandering (give a little, then back, then give a little, then back, etc) since under power it tracks fine. Also since the steering is so quick, sometimes people overcompensate by going full lock to lock to try to get it under control, but small movements work better - just a bit to the port/starboard to smooth it out.

There's a user here who makes a "rudder" that apparently helps for low speed maneuvering, you might want to try that if the wandering is too annoying. Search for @JetBoatPilot who makes an addon device called "thrust vectors".
 

MidnightRider

Jetboaters Captain
Messages
956
Reaction score
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207
Location
Zumbro Falls, MN
Boat Make
Malibu
Year
2013
Boat Model
Wake
Boat Length
20
Just do a search for "fins" and you will enough reading material for the rest of the year to try and figure out what solution you want to go with.
 

michael D Kasparek

Active Member
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
Points
40
Boat Make
Chaparral
Year
2018
Boat Model
VRX
Boat Length
20
Wandering more than a single prop boat is common with a jet as it doesn't have anything except forward thrust. Jetski owners don't have the issue as much but only because they spend more time at higher speeds - LOL. I took a 203 out on the weekend and found you can play tease with the the throttle to help minimize the wandering (give a little, then back, then give a little, then back, etc) since under power it tracks fine. Also since the steering is so quick, sometimes people overcompensate by going full lock to lock to try to get it under control, but small movements work better - just a bit to the port/starboard to smooth it out.

There's a user here who makes a "rudder" that apparently helps for low speed maneuvering, you might want to try that if the wandering is too annoying. Search for @JetBoatPilot who makes an addon device called "thrust vectors".
Thank you I will try to find him
 

michael D Kasparek

Active Member
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
Points
40
Boat Make
Chaparral
Year
2018
Boat Model
VRX
Boat Length
20
Just do a search for "fins" and you will enough reading material for the rest of the year to try and figure out what solution you want to go with.
Now that boating season is almost over I will have time to read. thanks
 

JetTech72

Jetboaters Lieutenant
Messages
256
Reaction score
142
Points
157
Boat Make
SeaDoo
Year
2012
Boat Model
Challenger
Boat Length
23
With practice I found out that less steering input & bumping the reverse gate down briefly, would help keep the boat straight at low speed
 
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