4 replies to this topic

[Dr. Proctor]

Hello!

I was so excited to get my new boat. Took it out on the water... could not steer it to the dock... could not steer it back to the dock to load...could not back it up and steer it!. I have been driving boats since I was 14 and I am so disappointed. I heard so may wonderful things about these boats. Please, I need feedback as to what to do. My husband bought me the boat so I would not bother his boat anymore. Will I ever be able to dock the boat by myself? Anything else i should know?

[Kevin Leclair]

Welcome to the site, glad to have you here! Check out this post, http://seadoosportbo...__fromsearch__1, for steering at slow speeds.

[ssanders]

Hello!

I was so excited to get my new boat. Took it out on the water... could not steer it to the dock... could not steer it back to the dock to load...could not back it up and steer it!. I have been driving boats since I was 14 and I am so disappointed. I heard so may wonderful things about these boats. Please, I need feedback as to what to do. My husband bought me the boat so I would not bother his boat anymore. Will I ever be able to dock the boat by myself? Anything else i should know?

Don't worry.I just bought mine and had the same issue.

Just remember that in neutral...the jet is still propelling water thru it...so when you turn the steering wheel...the boat moves fwd

use both forward AND reverse to get to the dock....alternate between fwd and reverse ...and cut the power when you are about a foot or so away...MUCH easier

[michael]

Don't worry it takes alittle getting use to but you'll get it.
I bought a 08 Utopia 205 SE and had the same feelings it's been a few months and I feel very comfortable with it now.
BUT I did adjust the gates so my neutral is a true neutral I don't move and I added the Cobra fins to the jets which dramatically improved my docking moves
http://www.cobrajetsteering.com
They work and I installed them myself. Reverse is still tricky but we love the boat and get lots of looks on the water as we fly by. Love how it handles in the open water.

[j1g1c1]

Hello!

I was so excited to get my new boat. Took it out on the water... could not steer it to the dock... could not steer it back to the dock to load...could not back it up and steer it!. I have been driving boats since I was 14 and I am so disappointed. I heard so may wonderful things about these boats. Please, I need feedback as to what to do. My husband bought me the boat so I would not bother his boat anymore. Will I ever be able to dock the boat by myself? Anything else i should know?

Unfortunately part of your difficulty is your extensive experience. Basically reverse steering is opposite of what a propeller driven boat would do.