55 replies to this topic

[Kevin Leclair]

I am posting this on behalf of Jeff Walkowiak from Cobra Jet Steering:

Let me give you a little background, I am retired police chief in Florida 23 years in police work. Most of my steering business caters to the Yamaha jet boaters, they keep me very busy. I also do jet ski steering including stand up models. During the winter I was contacted by a European boat manufacturer who uses Mercury jet systems for their boats and I built some prototype steering for those.  In the Yamaha line I have so many orders that I contract with a laser company to cut all the parts for those, with Mercury jet systems I still hand build these because I have not really pursued them.  However when the Mercury steering picks up in volume that steering will then be laser cut as well. I have done some Mercury drives on SeaDoo boats with a place diverter installed however we needed to reduce the size of the place diverter to about 6 inches long to allow the steering to operate. I am told SeaDoo has a problem with hop; the steering will also help this as it cups the water between the fins and reduces the ability of the bow to hop at speed. One common misconception is that the fins will prevent the boat from handling like a jet boat should, what really happens is the boat is now hooked up and will out handle any conventional jet boat from an idle to WOT. It will tow skiers with ease and carve a big wave instantly; it steers like a sports car on a dry road, totally enhancing the fun factor of the boat. It also allows you to slow to an idle while turning without coming out of the turn, and it makes the high speed steering act like power steering as the wheel is a lot easier to turn. What is really nice is it will not increase the draw of the boat you can run it up on the shore with no contact to the steering, it works off the water exiting the ride plate as it rises up from under the boat, as the boat comes up on a plain the steering is also pulled up to make less contact as it is going faster, this avoids over steering at high speed, at low speed it is totally submerged and gives you control even with the engine off. Ever towed a dead jet boat, well you could even steer while being towed. In any event it really works better than anyone could imagine. The Yamaha people love it to death; dealers now want it for their inventory as it helps sell new boats by eliminating the steering issues for new owners. This steering is protected by us patent 6561858 and 6702630, with a combined total of 52 claims. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Link: Cobra Jet Steering

[Kevin Leclair]

Jeff,

Do you have any pictures or videos of your product on SeaDoo's? It might get people more interested if they actually see it in action on the model of boat that they have.

[jeff walkowiak]

Jeff,

Do you have any pictures or videos of your product on SeaDoo's?  It might get people more interested if they actually see it in action on the model of boat that they have. 

not at this time. I am currently having a video produced for the yamaha jetboaters by the people on that board who are actually professionals at that type of thing, I can't do video's worth a darn. Any people with a sea doo with the mercury jet drive who live in the st pete fla area who would be interested in providing some assistance with a small project reguarding the steering , please e mail me at Jeff@cobrajetsteering.com, I can provide you with the details.

[Yuji]

I have the 05 Challenger 180, do you offer cobra steering for this model?

[jeff walkowiak]

I have the 05 Challenger 180, do you offer cobra steering for this model?

I have done several for the new sea doo jetski, where we removed the opas then retrofitted them with steering and they loved it. If your boat has a similar pump as the ski with the reverse hood attached to the nozzle it should not be a problem. I have not seen the set up on those new boats, I have done several twin engine boats with the jet ski engines and pumps, I woukl need to see a picture of the rear pump area to be sure. Quite honestly I would have been a lot further along with the sea doo product line had I not encountered some people on another site that I decided not to bother with. I am a little funny about rude comments and a lack of courtesy when it comes to this steering, I have invested a lot of time and money in this and I take it pretty seriously, Since I do all this by myself I just had to say enough was enough and dedicate my efforts where they were appreciated. I usually like disbelievers because they become big supporters once they get a little experience with this mod. But with some people it just becomes a waste of time and effort.They are really not interested in answers they just want to showoff to their friends and it reminds me of school kids mentality. If I had the luxury of time to play their games it would be different but i don't. If you have a picture of the pump area for me to look at I can give you a pretty accurate answer . I do a lot of custom work on all types of boats and jet skis.

[Yuji]

I will take a pic later today and post it

[jeff walkowiak]

I will take a pic later today and post it

for some unknown reason I am unable to do any reply accept for the top right hand botton that apparently quotes the previous post. i tried the quick button and the reply button and they will not work. I am not very good with computers and I am probably doing something incorrect. I looked for a sea doo setup like yours yesterday at the boat ramp but did not see one. So a picture would be good. I am pretty sure the pump and reverse are the same as the jet ski.

[Kevin Leclair]

Yuji, what about your pic?

[Yuji]

Sorry I haven't taken one yet...I put the boat in the garage and that part of the boat is backed right up to my bench. I'll have to pull it out of the won-atey bat cave and snap one today, I promise

[jeff walkowiak]

Sorry I haven't taken one yet...I put the boat in the garage and that part of the boat is backed right up to my bench. I'll have to pull it out of the won-atey bat cave and snap one today, I promise

I have been checking but I figured you were busy , I have been getting wiped out by the yamaha people over on their site, the owner of the site posted a picture of the latest laser cut steering I do for the yamaha boats and I was slammed with orders, burned up my inventory had 80 units 2 weeks ago and now im down to a hand full, and by the end of today I will be totally out of the one size and just a few of the others left. I have these done because of the volume of orders I get there. unfortunately I can't do the other steering like that yet , I do all the others with a plasma cutter and hand stamp the lettering, this was the first run for them with a laser and they seem to love it. This is their second season with this stering so it already passed the test so to speak. I also had a product review on www.jetski news.com and it impressed them , they did a post in their review section, and I know the guy that did the test doubted it would do all the things it does, but he won't be doubting it any more!

[Yuji]

As Promised
If you need other pics let me know.

Attached Files

•  DSC03219.JPG   1.89MB   44 downloads

[Kevin Leclair]

Nice pic Yuji, thanks.

[jeff walkowiak]

As Promised 
If you need other pics let me know.

well it has to be something with my program in my computer because there is no picture there just some letters saying to click on the thumb nail but no thumb nail pic is visible and thay is probably why I can't get any other buttons to work when I reply

[Kevin Leclair]

As Promised  
If you need other pics let me know.

well it has to be something with my program in my computer because there is no picture there just some letters saying to click on the thumb nail but no thumb nail pic is visible and thay is probably why I can't get any other buttons to work when I reply

Are you running a firewall or anti-virus that is blocking the thumbnail images sizes?

[Kevin Leclair]

Attached are some pics of the new Cobra Jet Steering for the Yamaha jet boats, Jeff could doo this for our boats if people are interested.

Attached Files

•  normal_cobra1.jpg   24.42KB   33 downloads

[Kevin Leclair]

One more pic.

Attached Files

•  normal_cobra2.jpg   26.13KB   13 downloads

[jeff walkowiak]

Attached are some pics of the new Cobra Jet Steering for the Yamaha jet boats, Jeff could doo this for our boats if people are interested.

I have all sorts of stuff in this computer so it won't let any of this in not even my picture you will have to e mail your pic to me in a regular attachment for me to be able to view it

[Yuji]

Jeff I sent it to your email, let me know if you need any others.

[jeff walkowiak]

Jeff I sent it to your email, let me know if you need any others.

I have it, this is totally weird that my computer will not display the picture it does avatars ok, some anti spy ware program is probably stopping it plus I have a router and norton, there is another site that I have a different problem with something about cookies, it's all greek to me. I have a new computer being set up ,, maybe it will work if it ever gets here.I also can only reply to a post by using the top button on your site if I try the quick or reply button it won't send when I tell it to post reply.and it refuses to take an attachment.

[Kevin Leclair]

Very strange, keep me updated to when your new computer gets set up and hopefully everything will work for you then.