Need help...These controls and maneuvering around the dock with finesse

[BrokeLoser]

I’ve always owned sterndrives....own two now in fact.
I finally got my 2001 Islandia on the water, a swift moving river (6 mph); I found the thing was almost impossible to finesse around docks.
I blame the separate lever controls.
I’ll try to explain....To change the position of the shift control lever the throttle lever must be fully backed off. When backed all the way off there just isn’t enough thrust to maneuver the boat in moving water conditions around docks and such. Having the presence of mind to properly control both levers in that few second window is very difficult. Am I missing something? Are people modifying the controls to make this easier?
Thanks in advance.

 

[rsatina2002]

Jetboat is always different in maneuvering docks, it is sensitive to your power and also neutral is not a true neutral since the impeller still turning, actual neutral is when you turn of the actual engine while maneuvering. Use reverse to stop the boat in going forward not neutral, it is all about practicing with jetboat, as soon as you learned from it, you will notice turning radius for jetboat is better than sterndrive. Better to use your, bumper protection when docking in a tight space. The boat is also program so that when you maneuvering in neutral all the way to the left or right it will give a slight engine rev to create a thrust on the boat. It is challenging but when you got it, it is easy and more maneuverable than sterndrive in a tight space.

 

[slaizer2000]

There is very little control at low speeds. Experience pilots don't have the issue but many including myself had added fins to our boats to improve handling.
I don't think your boat will work with the thrust vectors because the jet nozzle has a cut out in it that their mounting bracket covers up.

I have also found over time that even though there is no true neutral unless the engine is off there is a sweet spot. However it is different depending on the water current and wind. If you get it just right you can hold in neutral but it is never in the same spot on the throttle level.

I also like the fact that i can turn the engine off and still steer the boat. IE - engine failure.
You can consider them training wheels for newbies but I'm not afraid to admit I like them.

https://cobrajetsteering.com/
https://jetboatpilot.com/collections/thrust-vectors

 

[slaizer2000]

This guy had the cutouts in his nozzles but got more ambitious and replaced his nozzle with ones that didn't have cut outs so he could get the thrust vectors.

https://www.seadooforum.com/threads...ompatible-with-scarab-twin-engine-why.108570/

 

[gazzaskirepair]

You can fine tune your reverse forward control cable to get a true neutral
Adjust the cable connection at reverse bucket turn clockwise if boat reveres in neutral
Do small adjustments at a time eg two turns etc

 

[BrokeLoser]

This guy had the cutouts in his nozzles but got more ambitious and replaced his nozzle with ones that didn't have cut outs so he could get the thrust vectors.

https://www.seadooforum.com/threads...ompatible-with-scarab-twin-engine-why.108570/

Thank you for all the detailed information....I’ll definitely be adding a device(s) to improve low throttle steering...Much appreciated.

 

[BrokeLoser]

You can fine tune your reverse forward control cable to get a true neutral
Adjust the cable connection at reverse bucket turn clockwise if boat reveres in neutral
Do small adjustments at a time eg two turns etc

I’ll definitely be doing this...my boat definitely wants to move backwards in neutral...thank you for helping.

 

[BrokeLoser]

Jetboat is always different in maneuvering docks, it is sensitive to your power and also neutral is not a true neutral since the impeller still turning, actual neutral is when you turn of the actual engine while maneuvering. Use reverse to stop the boat in going forward not neutral, it is all about practicing with jetboat, as soon as you learned from it, you will notice turning radius for jetboat is better than sterndrive. Better to use your, bumper protection when docking in a tight space. The boat is also program so that when you maneuvering in neutral all the way to the left or right it will give a slight engine rev to create a thrust on the boat. It is challenging but when you got it, it is easy and more maneuverable than sterndrive in a tight space.

Thank you for the pointers...I’ll definitely be practicing more next week.