can weeds stick in your impellar and slow the boat?

[thagannn]

i went up a bay giving someone a ride in my speedster 150 and the depth was 3ft the farthest we went up. there are weeds that grow and i was wondering if they can get caught in the impellar because i may have sucked up some. any ways the boat wouldnt go over 50mph when it usually goes over 60mph. also when it was full throttle going 50 the rpm's were very high

 

[kustomkarl]

What happened is the weeds are blocking the water from running into the jet pump. Try to avoid weeds and debris as it will cause performance problems and possible over heat condition too. The water is forced from the spinning impeller in the jet pump into the engine to cool the engine. If you get anything in the impeller you need to remove it so it runs ok again. Weeds sometimes will come out on there own when runs, but sticks or things like plastic bags floating will just stay in the pump. Plastic bottles won't pass through to easy either... Shut it down remove the dess lanyard and remove the weeds. It usually is easily done on the trailer or reaching under to get the big stuff out can be a real pain.

Karl

 

[scooper77515]

I have jetskied in areas with heavy weeds, and have sucked up plastic grocery and ice bags. You can tell when you suck up a bag pretty quickly since you immediately lose 80-90% of your thrust. Hop off, pull out the trash, and hope it is all out. You can tell when you gun it.

Weeds are worse because they often slowly build up, so you slowly lose power. You will need to stop and pull them out more often if you are in a weedy area.

 

[garypabcor]

Weeds

Has anyone thought of anything to remove the weeds from the grate without making a visit under the boat?

 

[Craigmri]

Ics

Seadoo tried the ICS(Inlet Clearance System) but the effectiveness was questionable and the system was apparently problematic according to my service shop manager so Seadoo eliminated it.

Yamaha has access plugs in the swim platform that give some access to clogged matter. How effective this is I do not know.

Craig

Has anyone thought of anything to remove the weeds from the grate without making a visit under the boat?

 

[kustomkarl]

The ICS system just allowed you access to the pump easier...the weeds were still in the jet pump area.

Karl

 

[Craigmri]

Makes sense

Karl,

If my C-180 had the ICS at least it would have saved me several hours and lots of blood removing the intake grate. :-(

Craig

The ICS system just allowed you access to the pump easier...the weeds were still in the jet pump area.

Karl

 

[ncarbon]

I had an 06 180 with ICS. Grate stuck down.....lots of ICS issues. I also saw a post were the tine broke off and went through the pump.....I am glad my 07 has fixed grates. No pump clog yet, but I have that tool, long flexible shaft, press plunger and fingers open up and grab.....I fish things out that I drop in the engine compartment, maybe it would pull debris.??...I guess I am glad I don't deal with weeds that much.


Ned

 

[garypabcor]

weeds

Thanks Ned. What tool are you referring to? Can I use one and the "fingers" to assist with removing the weeds from my fixed grate without the underwater visits?

 

[ncarbon]

Well I have pulled sticks with it, but regretably all from underwater. I have a twin engine, and one engine has sucked up something before, so I shut it off and use reverse and the other engine to force water down the other pump freeing the debris up.

 

[Craigmri]

Claw grabber tool

I think Ned means a tool like this??

Craig

 

[garypabcor]

weeds

Thanks Ned and Craig. Looks like I'm staying wet. Atleast I'll have some meat on my fingers at the end of the day. Craig, can you advise where I might find this tool? Thanks. Gary

 

[Craigmri]

Try this

Here's an inexpensive version but I think you can find better.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=94162

Craig

Thanks Ned and Craig. Looks like I'm staying wet. Atleast I'll have some meat on my fingers at the end of the day. Craig, can you advise where I might find this tool? Thanks. Gary

 

[scooper77515]

my 97 challenger has a Weed Remover, never used it, and doubt it would work effectively. No weeds around here anyways.

Should I remove it to prevent future possible mishaps, and possibly increase water flow into the jet?

 

[kustomkarl]

Remove it, and the next day you'll pick up a plastic bottle...:ack: Murphy's law. Removing the grate won't give you anything... but a plastic bottle stuck in the impeller...you won't gain anything.

Karl

 

[scooper77515]

Yeah, good point.

 

[phough5757]

How about rope?

Picked up some thing not sure what. Shut off the boat and pulled the Lanyard.
Wife on one side Me on the other. We used a dock line and put it in the water
behind the boat. Pushed it under the pumps and used a sawing motion
side to side moving to the front. It worked and found nothing when it was on
the trailer.

 

[garypabcor]

Good idea. We will try it. Thanks