Basic questions

[robertm]

Okay some first timer questions.

First, while towing home it rained a LOT. I left the drain plugs open the whole way home. When back in Dallas I noticed the compartment that holds skis had about 2-3 inches deep water in it. There are some holes at the rear of the compartment that I assume allow this water to move back to the bilge area. I turned on the pump but no water ever came out. I can hear a faint eclectic sound so I assume the pump is working. Is it normal to have a couple inches of water sitting in the ski compartment?

Second, I watched the horribly outdated sea doo video last night. It states you should run the blower fan while idling or slow forward movement. I thought the only time you had to run the fan was when filling up and for 5 minutes before starting the engines. Should I be running the fan every time I am at idle speed?

Third, while researching models I noticed the ’06 year had a ‘one touch inlet clearance system -for easy removal of weeds’. Do we not have that anymore? Is this somehow not a problem with the newer models? Also, just how careful do I have to be? If some lily pads or soft vegetation gets sucked through will this do damage?

Thanks for the info.

 

[texasmojo]

Depending of the angle and height of the jack when parked, the water might stay in there. I normally have the front of my boat a little higher than the back when parked in my garage and the water comes out. I think the bilge pump turns on automaticlly when it detects water, even if you have the battery switch off. Make sure the drain holes in the ski compartment ore not clogged. From time to time i get little pieces of fiberglass stuck in the little drains.

I dont have the stock video but yes you are suppost to run the blower fan at least 5 minutes before you turn on the engine, when you are at idle, and when you are cruising at low RPM's. Once you are at least past 4k rpm then its ok to turn it off. When i first drove my boat, it wouldnt go anywhere. I would give it gas and the rpm's would go to 4-5k but still no movement. Its because i forgot to turn on the blower fan first for 5 minutes. I think there is some sort of sensor that tells the ecu not to go when you have not turned on the blower fan prior to starting and not having it on at idle.

On my boat the very first button on top says ICS on it. The boat must be in idle and in neutral for it to work. You have to give it about 30 seconds for it to open and close before you decide to drive. As far as damage im not sure about soft vegetation. Try to stay away from it at all cost. Our boats are capable of going on shallow water. But dont go full throttle or you might suck up small rocks thru your prop.

 

[gerapau]

Funny, I am sure my manual for my 2008 Speedster 150 said not to run the blower at the same time as the motor. My understanding is that the blower is used to help get rid of any gas fumes that might accumulate in the engine compartment before you start the engine. A spark caused by starting the engine could cause an explosion if there are any gas fumes in there.

Once you start the motor you probably don't want the blower on sucking air out of your engine compartment when the engine needs all the air it can get.

If you started your moter and gave it the gas and it went to 4k - 5k rpm but you didn't move I would suggest that your problem was something other than not having the blower on long enough.

 

[robertm]

Thanks for the info guys. Long and short of it I need to read the manual. I've been really busy since I picked it up a few days ago and haven't had time yet. Maybe I should before asking more questions on here

 

[robertm]

Finally got the take the boat out for the first time since having her home last night. Wow what a fun boat! Its like no other boat I've ever been in. Acceleration, handling and eagerness to do 'whatever' is remarkable!

One thing I noticed. When going a constant speed of about 45mph and reducing the throttle by about 1/3 nothing really happens to the rpms. Engine speed seemed to stay about the same. I reduce the gas even more and then is starts to back down. I think this may be a 'jetboat' characteristic but was curious if others have noticed the same thing.

Managed to get the boat in the water, wife and dog on and everyone back out again in one piece so great success! I am dam glad I did it during the week though so there were less people to watch my admittedly poor idle speed skills :ack:

 

[texasmojo]

Im glad you finally went out. I get scared just going 38mph. Maybe because the lake is always busy on sturdays. Im thinking about taking it out to lewisville lake 4th of july, but it will probably be hectic out there.

 

[robertm]

Im glad you finally went out. I get scared just going 38mph. Maybe because the lake is always busy on sturdays. Im thinking about taking it out to lewisville lake 4th of july, but it will probably be hectic out there.

I was surprised how choppy it was at 8:30 pm on a Tuesday with almost no other boats out there. I can't imagine what it must be like on the weekends. I'll be outa town this weekend or we'd be out there. A week from Sunday is our first group outing. Will be seven of us total. I guess we'll hit the party cove, check out sneaky pete's etc. I might try to buy a tube off craigs list before then just so we have something else to do.

Have fun out there this weeekend!

 

[texasmojo]

The water is always choppy at lewisville. You are gonna feel the difference in weight with 7 people. I dont know if you have bumpers but get some big ones if you plan on docking at petes. I got some nasty scratches on my decals for using small hull hugger bumpers. I highly recommend the BIG BERTHA tube from walmart. Its a blast with two people in it. They just dropped the price from $100 to $75. I tried one of those flat wake tubes and was dissapointed.

 

[robertm]

Finally had time to read through most of the Operators Manual this weekend. One thing I noticed is the fueling procedure is different than what the dealer told me.

Dealer said to run the blower 5 minutes before fueling AND while you fuel. Manual said to run for 5 minutes before then turn off while fueling.

So, do you run the blower while fueling or not??

thanks!

 

[markj602]

i don't run it while fueling.. just a few minutes afterward and right before i start it. i think the main thing you want to look for is fumes in the engine compartment before you start it.