Wish Me Luck!

[Gym]

I was thinking of marking the right rung as I was typing the reply @biglar155 , so your on to something there!

Your right @Lspeedss ... the fit couldn't get much tighter! I have a half inch at the stern, and maybe an inch up front. Now my plan was to set the tongue off center and have 1.5" of room between the actual edge of the framing and the steel sheeting and insulation. So I was fairly confident I could get it in, just not get around it without crawling under the trailer to unlock the port side door. However, I can even squeeze by the winch stepping onto the tongue and crossing between the door and winch! I am a happy camper.

You better hope that boat doesn't expand with the summer heat or you'll be in trouble.

 

[OCMD]

Hmmmm...navigated through an Arby's drive through.....flies jets for a living.......operates on a lake........Better not ruin that beauty putting fins on it!

 

[txav8r]

Ha ha Tom! Well, I navigated off the trailer, spun it 180, through the cove of boat houses (very tight quarters), drove it out and checked out all ranges of controls, checked the oil, cruised back through the tight quarters and loaded it up on the trailer...no fins.

 

[Gym]

Ha ha Tom! Well, I navigated off the trailer, spun it 180, through the cove of boat houses (very tight quarters), drove it out and checked out all ranges of controls, checked the oil, cruised back through the tight quarters and loaded it up on the trailer...no fins.

Next thing ya know, he'll be flyin with no wings.

 

[txav8r]

Next thing ya know, he'll be flyin with no wings.

Not likely! But I manage to go naked! Fins that is...at least until some day that mother nature is cruel and unusual to me, and forces me to once again reconsider. Make no mistake, while you can control these boats without them, the fins in certain conditions provide a level of control that I found not possible without them. We shall see if experience counts more than fins. It is akin to being able to fly without auto throttles and auto brakes in a transport category airplane. Sure, you don't have to have them...unless it is really shitty outside, then you can't do certain operations without them. Gusting quartering tailwinds, combined with the waves an exposed ramp has, and putting your boat on the trailer...I have experience doing that with fins. Not sure I want to push it that far without them. The thing is, nobody wants to go boating in those conditions...but conditions change, and when they do, well...maybe fins provide that kind of bad weather capability, just like the advanced systems in my 737. But for now, I will go naked! You have to admit, when you make the boat dance, and you don't have extra help, it does put a smile on your face!

 

[Kelso]

Concerning fins: I gave myself and the wife a few months of finless boating, and we did just fine. The allure of the fins got me, and as always I wondered what I may be missing. So I ordered some TV XL's. I must say that we were fully competent finless, but the fins make life on the boat so much better, mainly because they cut down on the constant corrections to steering you have to make when at no wake speeds. I'll not take them off just due to that aspect.

 

[Williamsone46]

Congrats on the boat Mel!

 

[beachbum]

Congratulations... The excitement generated by everyone here has me longing for my dealer pickup... We still have ice in the Niagara river and lake Erie.

 

[txav8r]

Thanks guys!

 

[KXCam22]

Congrats on the new boat. I think finless is fine since you have already mastered the handling. The only issue could be if you have non-experience people driving. Nice color. Cam.

 

[jetboater4life]

I have about 1" to spare with the back of my boat up against a board a mounted to the wall to protect the sheetrock.

Congrats on the new boat. I think finless is fine since you have already mastered the handling. The only issue could be if you have non-experience people driving. Nice color. Cam.

And that is the reason I got the fins.

 

[txav8r]

Thanks Cam

 

[DawgDaze]

It seems like the fins give you more steering response at an idle speed. How is it with out them?

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

Mel is going to glue squeaky toys on the floor so he can hear when the tires are in the right place.

 

[10-8]

Congrats Mel! I'll have to check tomorrow when we go to the lake and hope my boat is there! It looks like you were towing mine, same boat and trailer. Absolutely love ours..

 

[itsdgm]

Congrats on the new boat. I think finless is fine since you have already mastered the handling. The only issue could be if you have non-experience people driving. Nice color. Cam.

X3

 

[Gym]

Not likely! But I manage to go naked! Fins that is...at least until some day that mother nature is cruel and unusual to me, and forces me to once again reconsider. Make no mistake, while you can control these boats without them, the fins in certain conditions provide a level of control that I found not possible without them. We shall see if experience counts more than fins. It is akin to being able to fly without auto throttles and auto brakes in a transport category airplane. Sure, you don't have to have them...unless it is really shitty outside, then you can't do certain operations without them. Gusting quartering tailwinds, combined with the waves an exposed ramp has, and putting your boat on the trailer...I have experience doing that with fins. Not sure I want to push it that far without them. The thing is, nobody wants to go boating in those conditions...but conditions change, and when they do, well...maybe fins provide that kind of bad weather capability, just like the advanced systems in my 737. But for now, I will go naked! You have to admit, when you make the boat dance, and you don't have extra help, it does put a smile on your face!

I hear ya Mel. I did the same when I first got the boat. Like learning to fly you get good with the basics first, then ad technology to make life a little easier. Our ramp has a constant 90 degree crosswing from either direction. Along with wind and tide fins will just make life a little easier. Just finished converting from the origional Cobra fins to the Cobra Ultimates a few hours ago. Won't get to try them for a few weeks though.

 

[txav8r]

Let me know what you think Jim, @Gym , I have had original cobras, original TV's, and TV XL's, and now about 20 minutes naked so far. I think I owe it to myself to try out the Ultimates if I decide to install some fins. Jeff has a great policy if not satisfied. I doubt very seriously that if I put them on, I would take them off. They do make life easier, but I want to experience the boat like it is a little and see how it handles in harder conditions. On my ramp, it will always be a crosswind, so it won't take long to make me cluck if I am going to!

 

[mtnv900]

Congrats on the boat Mel glad your back on the water. I dont have alot of experience with the boat yet but i have the cobra ultimate fins and love them. Have them adjusted for minimal influence at high speed. The adjust ability is a great thing to have.

 

[txav8r]

I was on the maiden voyage today! Winds gusting to 30, and warm. Had a short cruise, drifted awhile with a drift anchor. Because my box anchor hasn't come yet. Had a beer, some snacks, let Chester get a drink. What a great
Boat! It rides much better than my previous I rough water. It is quieter. And more comfortable in the bow area. Clara really liked it, and so did Chester!

The drift anchor
Works pretty good a tand alone...I bet off the stern while anchored will cut the swing a bunch when anchored in a group.