rudder on a place div.

[NorCal Gameshow]

who runs a rudder with a place diverter, what are the benefits, will it help in the slow zone and what size on a 18' sm. or lg ?

[mud duck]

I had a rudder on my boat for about a month last summer, and then removed it. It helps a lot in the slow, no wake zones. But I kind of like sliding around at top speed, a feeling you can only get in a jet boat. My rudder was the big one, ordered it right from Place. It was also a major pain while my boat was on the trailer. I always had to be extra careful when entering or exiting gas stations, driveways, parks, etc. My trailer is pretty low and the rudder made it even lower. Leave it off. Only my opinion.

[spectratoad]

I run one and don't really know if it helps or not. I ran without it for awhile when it broke off. Noticed a little change as far as slow stuff. Just have to be careful at the beach so it doesn't hit while pushing boat around to go out. Other than that it doesn't really get in the way so I don't worry about it.

[Heatseeker]

I don't run one, but I have my old one if you need it.
I was going to put it on ebay. Email me if you are interested.
There is a pic on this page:
http://groups.msn.com/JetBoatFun/berkelyjgnozzleassembly.msnw?Page=Last
[ July 26, 2002, 09:47 AM: Message edited by: Heatseeker ]

[Liberator TJ1984]

Depends on what your main use will be...yes it will be harder to steer at slow speeds..but according to Ron Gordon at American Turbine it also produces drag ..which will cut down on top speed a little.. so i've been told..if not interested in speed might leave it on for ease of steering and better handling.....it takes practice if you ran one for some time then take it off to get adjusted ..

[shockwaveharry]

If your boat ever stalls while on plane, you'll know why you need one. Talk about feeling helpless! I'll never own a jet without one again.

[jet496]

I run the lower river with lots of sand bars & shallow water. I don't want anything lower than the bottom of my boat.

[Lake Lifeguard]

Rather than helping at low speed I think it hinders. With a rudder it handles somewhat like a prop boat would. Meaning it wont spin in place or walk sideways or any of the other things that are so cool about a jet. So they are a little harder to get it to go in a straight line. Do you want a boat you have to drive or one that drives itself?

[propless]

Like "Shockwave", never again without one! Can they be a pain, yes! But when your at a dead cruise speed, it pays off!

[Banshee]

I used to run the large rudder on my Place diverter. But when I added a droop the steering got really touchy and hard to manage. So I cut about ½ of it off (the cut was more or less parallel to the keel line) and then it worked better. I then tried the boat without the rudder and I couldn’t be happier. I even cut the mounting pin off flush.

[WETDAWG]

I run the big one on the "barge" and the smaller version on the Bottle cap. It really helps low spe eek! ed steering and turning on the barge. Dont really know about the 19' yet.