rudder

[sandrail]

Good morning. I thought my last question would be very hard to answer since there being so many models of boats, but thanks for looking. I have another question, The jet boat I bought had a very small rudder on the jet but at sometime it must have broke off, is there anyway to install another or is it best to just forget about it? Some say it helps with the steering is this true or does it not help enough to replace it? Thanks Alot Richard PS As you can see I am a novice concerning jet boats

[marshmat]

Not all jets have these rudders, or "turning fins" as the builders sometimes call them. Their purpose is to keep the boat tracking smoothly through a turn at speed, rather than sliding sideways.
If your drive's manufacturer is still around, you can probably get a replacement from them with a little patience and a few hundred dollars. If your boat tracks well in high-speed turns as it is, the fin might not be necessary with your hull shape.

[lee armistead]

The turning fin is designed by the manufacturer to function as a turning devise for their type of jet drive. They have tested them to provide you with good steering control under normal operating conditions. Jet boats are very hard to control at slow speeds but out perform prop jobs a top end. Welcome to the world of jet boating. I have designed and installed a separate rudder system as a "see what it will do" situation. More work that its worth. Stick with the manufacturer recommendations. You'll find Hamilton jet drives on the web (they purchased Jacuzzi) and go directly to Berkley jet drives for other answers to this question. Hope my feed back helps. Lee Armistead