29 replies to this topic

[jeff walkowiak]

thanks that worked,, Boy I was so concerned with the heel making contact when I took out the angle of the fins I never realized I was bringing the top closer to the edge. From the picture moving them forward would probably been a soloution . It looks like I have enough room for the heel now , was this the same problem you were talking about or was it the heel that was touching? When I checked the boat at sea doo the reverse was not even close to the top of the fin like his is.

[absoffthewake]

Hey Jeff... I live in Ft Myers, FL and would be happy to drive to your place and let you tinker with my Seadoo Challenger 1800 with Twin Engines if you make it worth the drive

[jeff walkowiak]

thanks but I already have the twin set up all worked out it was the mystery needing to be solved on the mercury set up that was plagueing me as I did not have a boat available to avoid any oversights, well now that I viewed the problem it is already handled. the blank is reformed and there should not be any further problem, I just activated a comment on my web page from another sea doo owner who had purchased the steering and for some reason he was able to do the installation ok , although the steering was exactly the same one, from the same blank and It really should have made contact just like the others because I totally overlooked that area when I took out the angle of the fins, That one picture put me right on the problem and as soon as I saw the issue it was simple to rectify. Here is a link to the last post from a sea doo owner. http://www.cobrajets...k/Guestbook.php it appears to be doing exactly what it was intended to do judging from his post. I emailed him to check on the reverse hood issue and he said he moved the base plate forward a little and that solved the problem. that explains that. but that won't be necessary now.

[pro5l]

does it change something?

[fialoe]

OK guys. Everything sounds rosey in the garden now but lets hear the results. What is the difference since instalation???
BTW, excellent description coupled with photos. Full marks and a credit to you as I have no doubt you put a lot of work into telling us how to do it. Thanks,
Brian

[jeff walkowiak]

In reference to the mercury steering mod, first I was surprised that you chose to do the install without checking the unit for clearance as I did send you a email explaining that I had done some adjustments BLIND and had not had a chance to check it on a boat to insure they were exact, and I had also asked that you let me know if there was a problem before installing the system. Be that as it may. The systems have been adjusted and put on a cad and are now cut with a laser for precision, I had made and shipped out 3 sets like yours and the other sets had the same problem, those people informed me that the steering only needed to be moved forward 1/4 of an inch and everything worked out great, no contact with the reverse hood etc.
I now have a person at a local dealership who has been quite help full in allowing me unrestricted access to their boats for proper fitment of the prototypes and we recently did one of the new twin engine sea doo scic setups with excellent results, that was quite a challenge due to the unusual nozzle and tie rod issues. that customer has posted his assesment of the results on my testimonial page along with a email icon below his name for people to contact him in refrence to this mod. Thanks J T Walkowiak

[Wild Goose]

Has anyone tried this steering kit since? Is the expense and effort worth the performance increase if any?

I just picked up a 98' Challenger 1800 at the end of last season and got it on the water once before winter. Everything was great until I had to get it on the trailer, and that was nothing short of comical! I was laughing so hard I could hardly see through the tears in my eyes. I'm an avid boater, but this was my first time out with a jet boat. Once I managed to get it on the trailer, I had a look at the nozzles and buckets and understood why I couldn't make sense of the actions of the boat.

So I was considering the cobra jet steering for increased control. Any recommendations?

Seems to me this system would make control in reverse even more screwed up, and I should just get good at getting it right on the first shot.

[speedy_air]

Take a look here, http://seadoosportbo...pe=post&id=5794.

And with it notched out, http://seadoosportbo...pe=post&id=5796.

Kevin...did Jeff ever address your installation issues??? I would like to install this device on my SeaDoo...was it worth the effort? Did it improve your steering performance?

Thanks,

[j1g1c1]

Steering fins sticking down below the hull, certainly negates the whole "no exposed prop" to strike underwater objects, thing. I wonder how reverse handles, it looks like the jet would be pushing the boat one way while the fins try to pull the boat the opposite way.

[STEPHEN X-20]

I was considering purchasing one of these and did a lot of research on various message boards. From what I read, they make a huge difference on the Yamaha boats, but not much at all on the Sea-Doo boats. I even called Jeff to ask him if he would demo one to me at a discount so I could do a full review, but he never called me back.