VIPER Cobra Jet Steering

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

It really should not effect top end as the actual planning surface rides just above the water on smooth water when you are at planning speeds, it only applies influence in rough conditions or when going from idle to planning speeds. and back down again from planning to idle.

 

[Matts18]

Thanks for the reply Jeff. Sent you an email.

 

[DogDad]

I had the chance to test the Vipers out on my AR195 this weekend. I purchased not because I felt like I needed them as the boat was pretty good right from the get go, but rather because I want every improvement possible. Why would you want just OK when you can have SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER. I have to say they dramatically improved my ability to maneuver at slow speeds. I literally can turn on a dime or ease into a slip no drama at all. If I had to rate the slow speed improvement I'd say 50% better.

I noticed no top speed impact at all. My previous GPS top speed was 51 and I could easily hit 51 with them on. I felt like the boat still didn't want to track as straight as I would like but adjustments that were required were less... no more quarter turn corrections needed just a touch here and touch there. It took about an hour to dial the required adjustment in.

At speed the steering inputs did feel heavier. It didn't require two hands but I did find myself gripping the wheel and providing intentional inputs. Those were required for intentional turns which seems like simple physics to me. As for it coming on plane faster I noticed no difference at all. Be advised this is a new boat, it has only 10 hours on it and most of those are cruising in no wake mode.

I am happy to take pics or post videos of whatever you need to see.

 

[thepiratemorgan]

I had the chance to test the Vipers out on my AR195 this weekend. I purchased not because I felt like I needed them as the boat was pretty good right from the get go, but rather because I want every improvement possible. Why would you want just OK when you can have SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER. I have to say they dramatically improved my ability to maneuver at slow speeds. I literally can turn on a dime or ease into a slip no drama at all. If I had to rate the slow speed improvement I'd say 50% better.

I noticed no top speed impact at all. My previous GPS top speed was 51 and I could easily hit 51 with them on. I felt like the boat still didn't want to track as straight as I would like but adjustments that were required were less... no more quarter turn corrections needed just a touch here and touch there. It took about an hour to dial the required adjustment in.

At speed the steering inputs did feel heavier. It didn't require two hands but I did find myself gripping the wheel and providing intentional inputs. Those were required for intentional turns which seems like simple physics to me. As for it coming on plane faster I noticed no difference at all. Be advised this is a new boat, it has only 10 hours on it and most of those are cruising in no wake mode.

I am happy to take pics or post videos of whatever you need to see.

I just installed NK Vipers on my SX192 and came to this exact conclusion, and this after putting 5 hours on the boat without any steering mods. I was not impressed completely with Yamaha's "TDE". After installing the Vipers, I've had the boat out twice.
First outing included slight chop with occasional 1-2ft swells. I too thought the steering to be quite heavy and concluded that with two vertical aluminum fins in the water acting as rudders, well, that's kinda going to be expected. I just figure that my left arm is going to catch up in size over the summers (I'm right handed). The heavy steering offset the ease of keeping this boat tracking... No more "wander" at every swell. At the dock with a slight breeze at my back, steering control was nicely improved, and the Vipers gave me the confidence that I knew was inside me.
Second outing was on glass and the steering "heavyness" was obviously diminished and the boat tracked nicely as well. I was hoping to rid the boat of the off-speed, off-plane, "sit'n'spin", but that didn't happen. Sure the boat spins a little slower, but it's still there. This isn't a big deal just an OCD thing for me that I counteract with an opposing wheel turn and some reverse thrust. At the dock with no wind and I rode that confidence of the first OUTING all the way to the bunk (LOL). I'm in control and love it.
EDIT - I do feel as though the boat is planing ever so slightly better as well, seems to grab deeper for a second, then "pop" right out of the water. And my "tow kids" tell me that the spray in the face is diminished / non-existent out at 60ft as well, a bonus. This is coming from a couple of 12yr olds, so I'm not putting a ton of weight on it, but they both said in unison that it was better so we'll take it

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

I am not sure I understand what you were referring to with sit and spin. If you are not moving forward or backward just trying to sit in place or neutral no steering has any effect on that as steering requires movement forward or backward.
I would suggest you look at the reverse bucket adjustment and see if a slight adjustment will help if this is what you are speaking of since Yamaha does not have a true reverse they simply try to balance the forward and reverse thrust when you are sitting in neutral on the controls.

 

[Matts18]

I finally got the boat out today after installing the CJS Viper. I really like the way it tracked at low speed and the “heft” it added to the steering. It was a rough day today and the boat seemed to ride smoother and cut through waves more than bounce over them. Did one full throttle run and the speedo hit about 50 with 4 adults on board so any effect on speed is negligible. I was initially a skeptic on “steering enhancements” but overall this is a great product and worth the $$.

 

[thepiratemorgan]

I am not sure I understand what you were referring to with sit and spin. If you are not moving forward or backward just trying to sit in place or neutral no steering has any effect on that as steering requires movement forward or backward.
I would suggest you look at the reverse bucket adjustment and see if a slight adjustment will help if this is what you are speaking of since Yamaha does not have a true reverse they simply try to balance the forward and reverse thrust when you are sitting in neutral on the controls.

It's nothing to do with the Vipers Jeff. It's when I come off plane, and throttle of course, in order to stop the boat always wants to just spin out. It's what the PWC's do and all this boat is is a bigger version of those so I'm not surprised. Without thrust there's no steering, with the Vipers there's a little bit because of the rudder fins, buy not enough to eliminate the spin. It's really not a huge deal as we are only going to drift anyway and not trying to maneuver or otherwise position the boat, it's just an OCD thing for me as I like to start boat facing upwind on a drift. I'm completely satisfied with your Vipers,. In fact, my 12yr old daughter commented on how much easier it was to steer with the fins. And that's a 12yr old noticing the difference.
As far as the reverse bucket, neutral at the dock is pretty darn spot on, maybe a very slight reverse effect, but so slight that I'm not going to adjust bucket for it.

 

[haknslash]

All of these jet boats will do the sit and spin if not moving. They simply don't sit low enough in the water nor have any significant running gear below them to help hold their direction without getting spun around by wind, waves and current. I can have my boat anchor or just sitting still and she'll dance around all day long while other v drive boats, outboards, I/O's often remain in one direction. I've seen all the Yamaha's do this. The larger ones a little less so but they still will all sit and spin. Just the nature of such shallow draft and a lot of surface above the water to get tossed around and affected by mother nature IMO. We like to drift float a lot and seen it many times lol.

 

[thepiratemorgan]

Agreed! I've come to accept that fact.... my OCD is coming around

 

[DavisAR195]

@Cobra Jet Steering LLC First trip out and I hit a piece of wood with one of the fins. Would taking it off and bending it back with a vice work?

 

[DogDad]

I think CJS will fix it or replace it for $50.

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

If you return it to me I put it in a special jig and flatten it using a 20 ton press However if you have a shop around that can press it flat for you at a nominal fee it would be a lot faster than sending it back, paying shipping and 29 dollars for me to repair it. but they need to press it flat not bend it in a vice. just be careful of the front angle where it mounts to the nozzle do not take that angle out

 

[DavisAR195]

If you return it to me I put it in a special jig and flatten it using a 20 ton press However if you have a shop around that can press it flat for you at a nominal fee it would be a lot faster than sending it back, paying shipping and 29 dollars for me to repair it. but they need to press it flat not bend it in a vice. just be careful of the front angle where it mounts to the nozzle do not take that angle out

Upon taking it off it’s bent pretty good and will be sending it to you. I was very impressed and want to make sure it’s fixed right rather than rushed and half ass fixed.

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

What ever you wish to do is fine with me, remember this system is made to give on impact like you just had so that you do not damage your pump or nozzle. So it is not a system that I would recommend for areas with a lot of rocks or stumps or shallow water for this very reason.

 

[DavisAR195]

What ever you wish to do is fine with me, remember this system is made to give on impact like you just had so that you do not damage your pump or nozzle. So it is not a system that I would recommend for areas with a lot of rocks or stumps or shallow water for this very reason.

I was out on the Willamette River here in Oregon and a total freak accident.

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

So how did you like my steering before you bashed it all up LOL.

 

[DavisAR195]

So how did you like my steering before you bashed it all up LOL.

It did exactly what I was looking for. I really wanted to be able turn better after a wakeboarder or tuber falls without having to let off the throttle. Primarily when other boats are around so I can retrieve the person in the water quicker. The fins allowed me to greatly cut down my turning radius. Great product!

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

Thanks, so how did you manage to bang them up even though they are above the rudder?

 

[DavisAR195]

Thanks, so how did you manage to bang them up even though they are above the rudder?

I was WOT in a turn and caught a piece of wood floating in the water. Somehow it just caught the fin on the one side. There was no damage to anything else. Truly a freak accident.

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

I see ,Rivers can be tough to run in when things are floating in the water, nothing much you can do about that.
If it becomes a continuing issue you may need to change to the Ultimate steering since those are spring loaded and will flip up on contact but still provide all the steering at any speed .
However they do not have the planning surface and you can not use fangs with the rudder. Your viper has the fangs built in and the planning surface also.