SoCal Jet Boats
Tech Talk => Jet Pumps => Topic started by: HUGETHING on June 16, 2010, 05:04:58 PM
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What does a rudder do. Does it just help with steering? Does it help with idle going straight? Sorry if this is a dumb question
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Not a dumb question.
This is just what I remember reading about them. Hopefully someone with real experience will post up.
The general opinion is that they do nothing. Most of the jets I've seen don't have them and most of the forums
I've read, say they're pretty much useless.
If I remember, I think it might help a little bit at speed but do nothing at idle.
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All of my bots had a rudder on them before I put on Place Diverters. I'm considering buying rudders for the PD units, only because the biggest thing I've noticed is lack of control I once had docking or loading. Just me, but at low speed, the only way to control a jets direction is with the throttle. if it's "coasting" near to NO control.
Just me probably.
Ray
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i had one on my je berkeley cruiser, and i have one on my jacuzzi place diverter cruiser too
and were talking 12 x 18 not the little ones, i prefer a rudder makes it easier at slower idleing speeds for me to steer...the je pump ones were plastic and i had a tendancy to break them.....the jacuzzi rudder is aluminum...so far no problems!
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The one I had on my first boat broke off and I didn't notice for who knows how long...
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What does a rudder do. Does it just help with steering? Does it help with idle going straight? Sorry if this is a dumb question
The rudders available for most of these jets really only help very slow speed steering , docking and manuvering , the have no real affect once the boat is on plane As Ray indicated they (rudders also will help) when "dead stick" (engine die out etc) prefernce seems to go 50 /50 on my customers some want one some dont I see no real down side sans potential driveway or rock hazard Tom
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The small PD rudder did help my boat just on plane (it wandered a little before around ~25mph) but did nothing above that (was fine before, so nothing to gain there). Did cut the idle wandering about 50% for me. I didn't have a Place Diverter before the rudder, so thats not totally a 100% comparo.
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MIne has a rudder, but I have never tried running without it. I have heard,(and seen on youtube) that the rudder can help you from spinning out during high speed turns. It makes sense, since most jet boats have a pretty flat hull, and combine that with thrust vectoring, it seems that you could spin out, or roll a jet pretty easily. I'm pretty new to jet boating, and I may be way off, but it does seem like even a small rudder could help prevent spinning.
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Right on thanks for the input I think that I will pick one up and try it out. I am having issues at low idle. My last jet boat had a jacuzzi jet and it was much longer than my berkley so I had no problems at low idle. If any of you have a rudder you want to get rid of let me know.
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You have a PD unit on your JE don't you? ???
If not, I got one for ya from a JE. Cast aluminum, not plastic that Chromey had. Cover the shipping, the whole nozzle is yours, BUT, ya gotta wear the "Moo" bucket!!! ;D (Wouldn't fit the PD unit :banghead: )
Ray
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I have a CV 23 Glastron carlson. I put on a place diverter and the large rudder and it steers great at idle etc.
My son bought an identical boat to mine with the place diverter without a rudder. It took one trip out to order the rudder. Don't let anyone fool you. Put on the large rudder and you'll never regret it.
Oh and if you cut the power and turn the steering wheel you will have some steering unlike the rudderless. That is first hand testing of identical boats, the rudderless also had more severe
jet wander in the no wake zone.
I hope this helps
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fwiw- my tahiti has a rudder on a berkeley, prior owner (has had many jet boats) said it improved low speed directionality on this boat. Since I did not take it off I dont know the difference.
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Ray,
here is a pic of my jet it is a JC you think your will work?
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I have a rudder for that! Let me dig it out when I get home and I'll tell you how much I want for it. I'm thinking $20.
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That sounds great, thankyou
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Yeah, looks like mine'd work too, but Marcs closer to ya ;)
Ray