"Grumman-581" wrote in message
. ..
"FRANKWBELL" wrote ...
Speaking as an outboarder, it's not much of rudder once you
throttle down. A little bit, but not much.

Well, Frank, trust me -- a jet boat is even less of a rudder... Without
the
jet thrust, you're more like a stone skipping across the water...
Sometimes
you'll go straight, sometimes you'll spin out... I seem to remember the
old
bass boats that I was in as a kid having some rudder capability when
powered
down... At least it was possible to stay in a fairly straight line and you
didn't spin out...



But you do not have to have full throttle to steer. Do not have to jump
wakes 25' behind the boat. Had 2 kids riding double do that this weekend at
Lake Oroville, maybe 35' at most. Law in Calif is 100' from boat to jump
wake. 2 weeks ago at Stockton on the Delta, had 2 guys jump the wake at
50', and then cut across in front of me at maybe 25' to catch a big wake
from a cruiser. I am doing about 30 at the time. I run a really big
jetski, a 21' aluminum river jetboat, and I do not have a problem throttling
back and steering, just keep some power on to keep the pump giving force.
I am not against jetskis, think the ban at Tahoe was bad. But I am also for
giving out tickets for unsafe operation, and if the operator is under 21
they also have to take a safety & operation class.
Bill