jet drive

[kywildcat]

A friend of mine has a late 70's Carlson cruiser with a 460 powerplant and jet drive. I've noticed at low rpms you have almost no steering if any. The thing has to be almost a quarter throttle to manuver, needless to say, this makes trailering quite interesting unless you have enough help to do it by hand that doesn't mind wading chest deep. Just curious, is this normal for this type of boat? Thanks ahead for any replies.

 

[Scaaty]

Re: jet drive

Yep....ya need the thrust to move-nature of the beast.

 

[watered down]

Re: jet drive

Most definitely, that's one of the biggest complaints about jets. Don't forget, there is no outdrive that you can turn, only the jet nossels so if no water is being forced out the jet, no control.<br /><br />That's why Yamaha added the no wake mode for their new jet boats. It automatically sets the rpms at 2500 and holds it there for manuvering/docking, etc. <br /><br />There are aftermarket fins that you can add to the jet drive nossel that helps steer

 

[navigator336]

Re: jet drive

The add-on skegs help alot. You may have to make your own though if the pump is nearly thirty years old. I had an old Berkeley and was unable to get a skeg for it when it was 15 years old. The one I made was better than the ones they sold anyway. If you make one, be sure that the skeg mass is positioned behind the nozzle. If you position it in front of the nozzle, when you turn you will be fighting the jet's turning arc.