DRIVE Neutral Steering Assist - 2024 and newer

[Madman]

I bought a new ‘25 252SD and went the SD model because it was equipped with the DRIVE system. The hope was that the advanced steering system would make low speed maneuvering easier for new drivers and make them comfortable with taking the boat out on their own.

So the problem I’ve run into is a feature called Neutral Steering Assist. As long as the boat is in gear, it responds as you’d expect. Turn the wheel right the boat turns right. But soon as you shift into neutral, the controls are reversed. Even idling in neutral, if I turn the wheel right, the bow swings left, which is not what you’d expect.
On my ‘10 242, whenever I sitting in neutral and idling, the position of the steering wheel had no effect and the boat just sat there. If I was slowing down as I was coming up to the dock and shifted into neutral, the boat would pretty much maintain its heading and turning the steering wheel had no effect.

The issue is the same when using the paddles, too. Turn the wheel slightly right and squeeze paddle, the boat moves forward and turns right. Release the paddle and the boat immediately changes directions.

I’ve read through the manual and there is one sentence that tells you how to turn it off, but doesn’t explain what it is. I’ve been trying to turn it off. I’ve tried doing a system reset by disconnecting the batteries X3. While that fixed the issue was having with the depth finder, the boat continues to respond the same way.

Has anyone experienced this and/or found a solution?

 

[VitaminSea]

‘24 252SD. I have the same experience. Have yet to find a solution, other than remembering to steer back to center or complete opposite when coming off throttle.

@TommyMcK has posted similar feedback.

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

I bought a new ‘25 252SD and went the SD model because it was equipped with the DRIVE system. The hope was that the advanced steering system would make low speed maneuvering easier for new drivers and make them comfortable with taking the boat out on their own.

So the problem I’ve run into is a feature called Neutral Steering Assist. As long as the boat is in gear, it responds as you’d expect. Turn the wheel right the boat turns right. But soon as you shift into neutral, the controls are reversed. Even idling in neutral, if I turn the wheel right, the bow swings left, which is not what you’d expect.
On my ‘10 242, whenever I sitting in neutral and idling, the position of the steering wheel had no effect and the boat just sat there. If I was slowing down as I was coming up to the dock and shifted into neutral, the boat would pretty much maintain its heading and turning the steering wheel had no effect.

The issue is the same when using the paddles, too. Turn the wheel slightly right and squeeze paddle, the boat moves forward and turns right. Release the paddle and the boat immediately changes directions.

I’ve read through the manual and there is one sentence that tells you how to turn it off, but doesn’t explain what it is. I’ve been trying to turn it off. I’ve tried doing a system reset by disconnecting the batteries X3. While that fixed the issue was having with the depth finder, the boat continues to respond the same way.

Has anyone experienced this and/or found a solution?

You should include the pic of the manual that you put in the other thread….

 

[Madman]

You should include the pic of the manual that you put in the other thread….

Good suggestion because I know many of us probably don’t read the owners manual without a good reason! Attached is a pic of the only documentation I could find on this feature in the owner’s manual. It’s only one sentence under the DriveX Settings screen telling you how to activate or deactivate the system, nothing to explain what it is or what to expect. My understanding is that once the system is deactivated, the boat responds like earlier models, meaning that the position of the steering wheel while the boat is in neutral has no effect.

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

That is caused by the reverse bucket shape and how it shoots the water in reverse All my Yamaha p w c's do the same thing with my steering on the fins it does make it more Stable and easier to deal with as it calms down the movement of the hull when the reverse is engaged just remember to turn the helm in the direction you want the bow to travel rather that the direction you want the stern to go then you don't have to think about it . Jeffrey T. Walkowiak note how the handle bars are going in the opposite direction that you would expect them to go , same as a boat with the backward reverse nozzles I have one in slow motion but I am having trouble getting it to copy and post it is on my Jeffrey T. Walkowiak face book page though fro0m a few years ago my point was that the reverse buckets working backward are stabilized and easier to control as for the other items you mentioned I do not have that to contend with. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[Madman]

That is caused by the reverse bucket shape and how it shoots the water in reverse All my Yamaha p w c's do the same thing with my steering on the fins it does make it more Stable and easier to deal with as it calms down the movement of the hull when the reverse is engaged just remember to turn the helm in the direction you want the bow to travel rather that the direction you want the stern to go then you don't have to think about it . Jeffrey T. Walkowiak note how the handle bars are going in the opposite direction that you would expect them to go , same as a boat with the backward reverse nozzles

Please don’t take this as me being snarky when I say I’ve been driving PWC and jet boats for 15 years, but this is my first new boat since 2010. 15 years by no means makes me an expert, just sharing that I have some basic knowledge and experience.

I watched the video and noted he’s maneuvering under power. My boat performs as expected under power in forward and reverse. The problem I’m experiencing occurs when the remote levers are in neutral. With my old boat, with the levers in neutral, the steering wheel position had no effect on the boat’s position. It basically just sat there. With my new boat, idling with the remote levers in neutral (and neutral actually works really well on this boat!) turn the wheel right, the boat pivots left, turn the wheel left, and the boat pivots right. That’s not what I would expect, but that in itself isn’t the problem. The problem is when you move between neutral and forward or between neutral and reverse.

The issue for me is when launching and recovering, where I’m maneuvering in close quarters around other boaters and dealing with wind and current and people fishing from the docks. As an example, when recovering in Drive mode. I lightly squeeze the forward paddle and begin moving towards the trailer, making minor corrections when needed, but always squeezing the paddle. As I get closer, I recenter the wheel and release the paddle, which immediately puts the boat in neutral and now the controls are reversed. If I turn the wheel right, the boat pivots left. If I turn the wheel left to bring the boat back, it begins to pivot right. If I squeeze the forward paddle as the boat is pivoting right, the boat now swings to the left. This feature just makes recovery unnecessarily stressful and unsafe.

If I was younger, I might be better able to reprogram my mind, but that’s not likely! I really don’t understand the need or logic behind this feature. I think might actually love it if didn’t reverse the controls. It’s almost seems to be a programming issue where somebody confused their left and right.

The real problem for me is that I can’t get it to turn off. I’ve tried cycling the batteries off and on trying to reset the system, but changing the position of the Neutral Steering Assist button has no impact. I’ve reached out to my dealer and he wasn’t aware of this feature and says that Yamaha’s tech support doesn’t seem familiar with it either. From what I can tell, this feature only applies to ‘24 and newer Drive models. I know others have experienced this problem and seeing if they’ve reported the problem or can share a solution.

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

Please don’t take this as me being snarky when I say I’ve been driving PWC and jet boats for 15 years, but this is my first new boat since 2010. 15 years by no means makes me an expert, just sharing that I have some basic knowledge and experience.

I watched the video and noted he’s maneuvering under power. My boat performs as expected under power in forward and reverse. The problem I’m experiencing occurs when the remote levers are in neutral. With my old boat, with the levers in neutral, the steering wheel position had no effect on the boat’s position. It basically just sat there. With my new boat, idling with the remote levers in neutral (and neutral actually works really well on this boat!) turn the wheel right, the boat pivots left, turn the wheel left, and the boat pivots right. That’s not what I would expect, but that in itself isn’t the problem. The problem is when you move between neutral and forward or between neutral and reverse.

The issue for me is when launching and recovering, where I’m maneuvering in close quarters around other boaters and dealing with wind and current and people fishing from the docks. As an example, when recovering in Drive mode. I lightly squeeze the forward paddle and begin moving towards the trailer, making minor corrections when needed, but always squeezing the paddle. As I get closer, I recenter the wheel and release the paddle, which immediately puts the boat in neutral and now the controls are reversed. If I turn the wheel right, the boat pivots left. If I turn the wheel left to bring the boat back, it begins to pivot right. If I squeeze the forward paddle as the boat is pivoting right, the boat now swings to the left. This feature just makes recovery unnecessarily stressful and unsafe.

If I was younger, I might be better able to reprogram my mind, but that’s not likely! I really don’t understand the need or logic behind this feature. I think might actually love it if didn’t reverse the controls. It’s almost seems to be a programming issue where somebody confused their left and right.

The real problem for me is that I can’t get it to turn off. I’ve tried cycling the batteries off and on trying to reset the system, but changing the position of the Neutral Steering Assist button has no impact. I’ve reached out to my dealer and he wasn’t aware of this feature and says that Yamaha’s tech support doesn’t seem familiar with it either. From what I can tell, this feature only applies to ‘24 and newer Drive models. I know others have experienced this problem and seeing if they’ve reported the problem or can share a solution.

I can fathom some weird stuff but that right there is a bit stupid, more stupid that you cannot turn it off, the directional control should never change direction. As I suggested before, get used to using differential thrust, it is precise, reliable and you know what to expect when you are applying power when splitting the throttles. If you use no wake mode and raise the rpms to level 1 or 2 this will give you even more thrust and control.

The only time I have found that I cannot use differential thrust is if it is very windy, like 30-40 mph gusts, there just isn’t enough bite in reverse on one engine to be effective, in those instances I use both throttles together and the steering wheel.

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

This thread is linked at the bottom of this page.. especially read the post by @TeeNGee he shows a page out of his 255 FSH H model owners manual where it describes the operation of the neutral steering assist. To get the change in the menu to take, you have to shut down the boat and cycle the power off then on.. at least that is what I interpret it to mean.

C

Thread '255xd Neutral Steering Assist'

Jul 3, 2024

Good morning. I took delivery of a 255XD this April and am having troubles with the neutral steering assist feature. When under thrust turning the wheel to the right turns the boat to the right and vice versa. As soon as I go to neutral, the boat turns the opposite direction of the wheel. Sitting still in calm water in neutral - turn wheel to right, boat pivots to left. This can't be the way it is supposed to work. Every time you release the paddles to go to neutral while docking, the boat turns the opposite way of the wheel. Has anyone else experienced this?

• crmcar
• Replies: 25
• Forum: 2024 Model Year Information

https://jetboaters.net/attachments/255-fsh-sport-h-service-manual-neutral-steering-assist-pdf.232427/

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

Apparently @TeeNGee found this info in his service manual.. this is why everyone needs a service manual and reads it.

RTFM.

 

[Madman]

This thread is linked at the bottom of this page.. especially read the post by @TeeNGee he shows a page out of his 255 FSH H model owners manual where it describes the operation of the neutral steering assist. To get the change in the menu to take, you have to shut down the boat and cycle the power off then on.. at least that is what I interpret it to mean.

C

Thread '255xd Neutral Steering Assist'

Jul 3, 2024

Good morning. I took delivery of a 255XD this April and am having troubles with the neutral steering assist feature. When under thrust turning the wheel to the right turns the boat to the right and vice versa. As soon as I go to neutral, the boat turns the opposite direction of the wheel. Sitting still in calm water in neutral - turn wheel to right, boat pivots to left. This can't be the way it is supposed to work. Every time you release the paddles to go to neutral while docking, the boat turns the opposite way of the wheel. Has anyone else experienced this?

• crmcar
• Replies: 25
• Forum: 2024 Model Year Information

https://jetboaters.net/attachments/255-fsh-sport-h-service-manual-neutral-steering-assist-pdf.232427/

Yep, I saw this before and even tried the using that process several times to turn it off, but it didn’t work.

 

[Madman]

Apparently @TeeNGee found this info in his service manual.. this is why everyone needs a service manual and reads it.

RTFM.

Agree 100%. I had one for my old boat, but they aren’t available online or in print for this one yet. I just looked and the ‘24 model is available. Since I have the 10 hr service coming up, I’ll probably do the 60 day ebook and see what I can find there.

 

[ahenderson432]

Here is a screenshot of the Steering Assist Page from the 2024 255XD Service Manual. Only difference from the FSH is the "heading" of the section is DriveX Settings rather than Joystick Settings.

I have driven mine with this setting on and off and tend to leave it on and have learned to react to it. Remember there is NO Articulating Keel on a DriveX boat so essentially in Neutral while still having forward inertia there is NO steering.

I do have the Cobra Jet Fins (prototype unless Jeff says otherwise) on my Pump Nozzles and do experience better idle and slow speed handling. In putting the throttle in neutral I do get some steering but these are jetboats and thrust is steering..........

 

[Madman]

Here is a screenshot of the Steering Assist Page from the 2024 255XD Service Manual. Only difference from the FSH is the "heading" of the section is DriveX Settings rather than Joystick Settings.​

I have driven mine with this setting on and off and tend to leave it on and have learned to react to it. Remember there is NO Articulating Keel on a DriveX boat so essentially in Neutral while still having forward inertia there is NO steering.

I do have the Cobra Jet Fins (prototype unless Jeff says otherwise) on my Pump Nozzles and do experience better idle and slow speed handling. In putting the throttle in neutral I do get some steering but these are jetboats and thrust is steering..........

I accessed the online service manual last night. It contains a little more information, but not much. I also found the screen capture you shared regarding how the system is supposed to work. The first and last sentences say:

The neutral steering assist function gives the boat the turning ability while the shift is in neutral and the boat is proceeding by inertia.​

The function provides the turning ability that is equal to the performance of the models equipped with the conventional Articulating Keel.​

Those statements don't reflect the reality of what happens. A boat with an articulating keep proceeding by inertia would not suddenly change course when in neutral. If the boat was going right, it would continue to bear right. Neutral steering assist actually causes the boat to turn the opposite direction. So it makes sense that Cobra fins would help because I believe the drag they create, helps to counteract the neutral steering assist.

The last sentences says:

This is achieved by controlling the engine rpm in accordance with the boat speed and the steering angle.​

This statement, coupled with the chart @FSH 210 Sport shared: https://jetboaters.net/attachments/255-fsh-sport-h-service-manual-neutral-steering-assist-pdf.232427/ explains why things go wrong when trying to correct course. Instinctively, if I'm pulling up to a dock under power, make a slight correction before shifting the boat into neutral, if I forget to re-center the wheel (and I do), the boat will begin turning left. As I try to correct course, instinctively I turn the wheel further to right and, according to the Yamaha's formula, the system increases RPMs the more you turn the wheel which causes the boat to left at an even faster rate.

I also noticed that the owner's manual and the service manual differ in regards to how to turn the system on and off. The owner's manual says the boat needs to moving at least 10 km/h when changing the setting. The service manual just says to change the setting and that it will be valid after the boat's power supply is been turned off. I've tried them both and neither one has worked for me yet!

I'm convinced that the neutral steering assist does not work as intended and is caused by a programming error. The inability to change the system setting is separate but related programming issue.

 

[VitaminSea]

Those statements don't reflect the reality of what happens. A boat with an articulating keep proceeding by inertia would not suddenly change course when in neutral. If the boat was going right, it would continue to bear right. Neutral steering assist actually causes the boat to turn the opposite direction

This is 100% my experience, and has made docking interesting to say the least.

I need to try toggling off the assist function and go from there. Almost wish it was a button on the steering wheel to toggle on/off, as having the assist while in neutral and not moving is helpful for pivoting while not in motion, but completely a nuisance when not applying throttle and trying to feather the approach.

 

[Madman]

This is 100% my experience, and has made docking interesting to say the least.

I need to try toggling off the assist function and go from there. Almost wish it was a button on the steering wheel to toggle on/off, as having the assist while in neutral and not moving is helpful for pivoting while not in motion, but completely a nuisance when not applying throttle and trying to feather the approach.

Agreed. The system we have now makes no sense and is why I believe this is a programming error. If I could turn it off, I would, but I can't. But the reality is that I didn't pay a 12k premium just to have find ways to work around it. It was intended to make things easier. I think that once Yamaha fixes the problem, there won't be a need to turn it off!

 

[TommyMcK]

As I'm reading through the replies, I think that folks are conflating a couple of things. In my very strong opinion, neutral steering assist has nothing to do with the issue that people are having with how the boat responds to steering inputs while in neutral on DriveX boats.

On my boat at least, when I place the boat in neutral while I'm not initially in motion, the boat is actually slightly in reverse. It will actually move (slowly) backwards. Since the boat has a bit of reverse thrust (in spite of the fact that the levers are in neutral) the steering behaves like the boat is in reverse. Wheel to port, stern to port, wheel to starboard, stern to starboard.

The real issue is that we (or I at least) am used to these boats being biased slightly forward when in neutral, and my brain is programed that when in in neutral, even from a standstill, I'm going to creep forward and steering will respond as such. Once I realized that, I found it not too difficult to adjust to the boat being slightly in reverse, but it's non-intuitive.

Neutral assist on the on the other hand uses automatic control of engine RPM in conjunction with re-mapping steering inputs as a function of speed through the water to supposedly provide better control while coasting forward at some non-zero speed. The goal here seems to be to allow for steering control when you are travelling at speed while coming off of the throttle. I for one don't come back off the throttle to complete idle in one fell swoop while travelling at speed, so this is of little value to me. I did manage to convince myself that it was doing "something" when it was turned on vs. off, but nothing that I wanted or needed.

The service manual goes into detailed curves showing how steering mapping changes vs engine RPM, making it pretty clear what they are trying to accomplish. In any case, while at zero speed and idle engine RPM, neutral steering assist by design does nothing, and has no bearing on the issue of reverse controls while in neutral.

I saw @Cobra Jet Steering LLC's response, but I don't think it pertains. The issue is with the boat in neutral, not reverse.

Anyway, if you want to re-program your brain to deal with it, think of the boat as being in reverse if it's not in forward. It calls for quick reversal of controls when using puffs of forward thrust on the paddles, but it is quite controllable once you get used to it. If anybody gets the dealer to adjust this, let us know. Maybe this will convince me to actually give them a call.

 

[Madman]

As I'm reading through the replies, I think that folks are conflating a couple of things. In my very strong opinion, neutral steering assist has nothing to do with the issue that people are having with how the boat responds to steering inputs while in neutral on DriveX boats.

On my boat at least, when I place the boat in neutral while I'm not initially in motion, the boat is actually slightly in reverse. It will actually move (slowly) backwards. Since the boat has a bit of reverse thrust (in spite of the fact that the levers are in neutral) the steering behaves like the boat is in reverse. Wheel to port, stern to port, wheel to starboard, stern to starboard.

The real issue is that we (or I at least) am used to these boats being biased slightly forward when in neutral, and my brain is programed that when in in neutral, even from a standstill, I'm going to creep forward and steering will respond as such. Once I realized that, I found it not too difficult to adjust to the boat being slightly in reverse, but it's non-intuitive.

Neutral assist on the on the other hand uses automatic control of engine RPM in conjunction with re-mapping steering inputs as a function of speed through the water to supposedly provide better control while coasting forward at some non-zero speed. The goal here seems to be to allow for steering control when you are travelling at speed while coming off of the throttle. I for one don't come back off the throttle to complete idle in one fell swoop while travelling at speed, so this is of little value to me. I did manage to convince myself that it was doing "something" when it was turned on vs. off, but nothing that I wanted or needed.

The service manual goes into detailed curves showing how steering mapping changes vs engine RPM, making it pretty clear what they are trying to accomplish. In any case, while at zero speed and idle engine RPM, neutral steering assist by design does nothing, and has no bearing on the issue of reverse controls while in neutral.

I saw @Cobra Jet Steering LLC's response, but I don't think it pertains. The issue is with the boat in neutral, not reverse.

Anyway, if you want to re-program your brain to deal with it, think of the boat as being in reverse if it's not in forward. It calls for quick reversal of controls when using puffs of forward thrust on the paddles, but it is quite controllable once you get used to it. If anybody gets the dealer to adjust this, let us know. Maybe this will convince me to actually give them a call.

@TommyMcK Thanks for sharing your thoughts. According to your profile, you have a '23 model year boat. In '24 Yamaha introduced the Neutral Steering Assist feature and when you shift the boat into neutral, aside from wind and current, the boat doesn't really move unlike my old boat.

I'll apologize in advance because it's hard to explain, but imagine you're just idling in neutral in the middle of the lake and the boat isn't moving. If I just turn the wheel slightly to the right, the boat begins to pivot left. If I turn the wheel harder to the right, it moves counter clockwise even faster.

Say I'm steering right towards the dock under power and then slip the boat into neutral as I approach, the boat immediately responds by turning left and again, if I turn the wheel harder to the right to correct myself, the boat turns even harder to the left.

I could be wrong, but I see no reason for a boat to respond in that way and in my mind that does not match Yamaha's description: “The neutral steering assist function gives the boat the turning ability while the shift is in neutral and the boat is proceeding by inertia.” A boat proceeding by inertia would not move in the opposite direction, which is why I'm convinced it’s a programming issue. The funny thing is that we wouldn't even be having this conversation if the system had just allowed me to turn it off! lol

 

[VitaminSea]

Say I'm steering right towards the dock under power and then slip the boat into neutral as I approach, the boat immediately responds by turning left and again, if I turn the wheel harder to the right to correct myself, the boat turns even harder to the left.

I concur as this has happened to me on my outings, and I’m not sure if it’s the neutral assist, or the reverse biased thrust. I have only been out on the boat a handful of times, so need to spend some time toggling neutral assist on/off and determine if that has any impact on slow speed maneuvering.

Open to input on if there is a better way to dock, but find myself using the side thrust buttons and adjusting fwd/reverse momentum with the paddles, as trying to use my former technique (bow at an angle and manipulating the throttle between F/N has been a challenge as summarized by Madman above).

FYI Tommy has two boats. I believe a 22ft with Drive and a 25ft with DriveX.