Looking for help

[michael D Kasparek]

Not my first boat but,first jet boat I have a 2018 chaparral 203. Anyone know how to make the steering better at low speed.

 

[Compatico]

Not my first boat but,first jet boat I have a 2018 chaparral 203. Anyone know how to make the steering better at low speed.

Wandering more than a single prop boat is common with a jet as it doesn't have anything except forward thrust. Jetski owners don't have the issue as much but only because they spend more time at higher speeds - LOL. I took a 203 out on the weekend and found you can play tease with the the throttle to help minimize the wandering (give a little, then back, then give a little, then back, etc) since under power it tracks fine. Also since the steering is so quick, sometimes people overcompensate by going full lock to lock to try to get it under control, but small movements work better - just a bit to the port/starboard to smooth it out.

There's a user here who makes a "rudder" that apparently helps for low speed maneuvering, you might want to try that if the wandering is too annoying. Search for @JetBoatPilot who makes an addon device called "thrust vectors".

 

[MidnightRider]

Just do a search for "fins" and you will enough reading material for the rest of the year to try and figure out what solution you want to go with.

 

[michael D Kasparek]

Wandering more than a single prop boat is common with a jet as it doesn't have anything except forward thrust. Jetski owners don't have the issue as much but only because they spend more time at higher speeds - LOL. I took a 203 out on the weekend and found you can play tease with the the throttle to help minimize the wandering (give a little, then back, then give a little, then back, etc) since under power it tracks fine. Also since the steering is so quick, sometimes people overcompensate by going full lock to lock to try to get it under control, but small movements work better - just a bit to the port/starboard to smooth it out.

There's a user here who makes a "rudder" that apparently helps for low speed maneuvering, you might want to try that if the wandering is too annoying. Search for @JetBoatPilot who makes an addon device called "thrust vectors".

Thank you I will try to find him

 

[michael D Kasparek]

Just do a search for "fins" and you will enough reading material for the rest of the year to try and figure out what solution you want to go with.

Now that boating season is almost over I will have time to read. thanks

 

[Compatico]

Now that boating season is almost over I will have time to read. thanks

I think the other option is called Cobra Jet fins for your searching.

 

[JetTech72]

With practice I found out that less steering input & bumping the reverse gate down briefly, would help keep the boat straight at low speed