List of things NOT to do to your Jet Boat...

[Eclipse1701d]

Since we have a mix of newbies and seasoned vets, I thought it would be fun to list some things one should NOT do to there boat...

I'm gonna start with:

Run your boat, out of the water, with no hose attached for more than 30 seconds! :facepalm:

 

[go_panthers]

Good idea. I'll contribute this one:

Don't treat it like you do your car (walk out, get in, go). It is not. It usually sits for longer periods, runs at higher RPMs, and is in a much harsher environment when used. Proactive maintenance is a must.

 

[moochy]

Don't forget to start the engine before turning on the hose.

 

[Eclipse1701d]

Don't forget to start the engine before turning on the hose.

And, don't forget to turn off the hose BEFORE you turn off the engine!

 

[cheappc]

Do NOT charge your boat battery while still in the boat attached with a running car/truck or you WILL FRY THE BOAT COMPUTER (use a battery tender unattached to the boat cables)

 

[pvamax]

Do NOT run over the tow rope!

 

[X-Runner]

Do NOT charge your boat battery while still in the boat attached with a running car/truck or you WILL FRY THE BOAT COMPUTER (use a battery tender unattached to the boat cables)

Wait, what?I always have mine hooked up to the Battery Tender when not in use. I have the battery Switch turned off when i do, but is this not the correct way to do this?

Just to clarify;

I have an actual Battery Tender brand charger
It is hooked up to the battery with the supplied battery connections from the Battery Tender kit(bolted to the terminals and i only have to plug it in)
The boat's battery switch is turned OFF

 

[cheappc]

Wait, what?I always have mine hooked up to the Battery Tender when not in use. I have the battery Switch turned off when i do, but is this not the correct way to do this?

Just to clarify;

I have an actual Battery Tender brand charger
It is hooked up to the battery with the supplied battery connections from the Battery Tender kit(bolted to the terminals and i only have to plug it in)
The boat's battery switch is turned OFF

Maybe someone else can chime in, but back when i had my 1997 Sportster that was a big no no, remember even when your batter switch is set to off, the bilge is still hooked up.. I rather be safe than sorry... so i complete remove the both positive and negative, but thats my opinion, now I highly recommend not having the cables attached if charging from a running car/truck...

 

[pete63]

Maybe someone else can chime in, but back when i had my 1997 Sportster that was a big no no, remember even when your batter switch is set to off, the bilge is still hooked up.. I rather be safe than sorry... so i complete remove the both positive and negative, but thats my opinion, now I highly recommend not having the cables attached if charging from a running car/truck...

what happens if the the is outside and it rains, or moored on the water?
its perfectly fine to use a battery tender and switch off.

 

[go_panthers]

I installed a permanent on-board charger on mine. Love it. Never worry about a dead battery.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Seadoobuddy]

Nice, how does it charge the battery?
Is it plugged it while in your garage/dock?

 

[go_panthers]

Yes. The port is a male three prong plug. I installed it mainly for coastal trips where she is in the water for a week or two. I didn't want the boat to sink from a big storm and dead battery. I do, though, plug it in all the time whether on the trailer or at the dock.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[xintersecty]

Do not grunt tighten the impeller. Needs to be torque tighten to a 100 foot pounds.

 

[Dr Honda]

................

(do not) Run your boat, out of the water, with no hose attached for more than 30 seconds! :facepalm:

Actually... don't run it that long, out of water period. The carbon seal is cooled and lubed via the lake water. So... running it "on the trailer" will be running it dry... and it will soon eat itself.

So... keep the flushes to a minimum, and do not rev the engine. (idle only)

 

[X-Runner]

Lots of good stuff in here. The battery thing has still got me stumped. The previous owner of my boat had it the same way i do for almost 6 years.

Anyways, in the manual for oil changes, it says to get the engine up to normal operating temp. How do i do that to change the oil if i cant run it for but a few seconds?

 

[pvamax]

Lots of good stuff in here. The battery thing has still got me stumped. The previous owner of my boat had it the same way i do for almost 6 years.

Anyways, in the manual for oil changes, it says to get the engine up to normal operating temp. How do i do that to change the oil if i cant run it for but a few seconds?

You can run it with the hose attached for several minutes to get the engine temp up.

 

[pete63]

Lots of good stuff in here. The battery thing has still got me stumped. The previous owner of my boat had it the same way i do for almost 6 years.

Anyways, in the manual for oil changes, it says to get the engine up to normal operating temp. How do i do that to change the oil if i cant run it for but a few seconds?

follow the manual, the important thing is engine on, water on. water off engine off.
you can run for a few minutes without any problems. the engine warms up fast because there is no water on the ride plate (the boats radiator). also note the higher revs time on second pic.

 

[Eclipse1701d]

Good point pete63. I learn something from this forum all the time. Never realized the ride plate acts as a radiator. I wonder how the gulf temperatures affect it, where I live. Water temperature is up to 90° Fahrenheit...

 

[ZRX Guy]

Ok, so what is going on that you have to cut the water prior to cutting the engine off?? and vice versa?

 

[ZRX Guy]

Do NOT charge your boat battery while still in the boat attached with a running car/truck or you WILL FRY THE BOAT COMPUTER (use a battery tender unattached to the boat cables)

So does this mean you can still jump the boat with a car if the car isn't running??

 

[X-Runner]

Ok, so what is going on that you have to cut the water prior to cutting the engine off?? and vice versa?

You will flood the engine if you run the water with the engine off. Always start the engine first. And shut the water off first.

Thanks Pete63. I was reading my book and was going to follow that, but i have seen in several threads over the last few months that i shouldnt run the engine for but a few seconds and/or minutes. But it makes sense that it does not need very long because of the ride plate being the radiator for the engine.

 

[ZRX Guy]

Wouldn't the cooling system be a closed system? How can you flood the engine? I guess I'm not getting the mechanics of how it works, plus the engine itself seems to have it own self contained cooling system. My bad for not reading the manual yet.

 

[X-Runner]

No problem. The water from the hose cools the exhaust system. Not the engine.

If you turn the water on with the engine off, it will find its way into the engine. With the engine on, the water is kept out because of exhaust pressure.

 

[pete63]

Wouldn't the cooling system be a closed system? How can you flood the engine? I guess I'm not getting the mechanics of how it works, plus the engine itself seems to have it own self contained cooling system. My bad for not reading the manual yet.

i think you need to do some catch up reading!!
read though the forum on different topics and read the manual.

 

[Chakane]

While the motor is cooled in a closed loop system through the ride plate, the exhaust pipes are cooled through water from the venturi coming up through the exhaust pipes and out the exhaust port. When you plug your hose in, the pressure forces water into the exhaust and the exhaust pressure forces it out. Without the exhaust pressure of the motor running, the water would fill the exhaust chambers and eventually run back inside the motor through any open exhaust valves/ports. This is the same reason you need to be careful towing the vessels because going too quick, without clamping the cooling hose to the exhaust manifold, will allow water to travel up and into the exhaust, fill the pipes and then into the motor. By including instructions to turn the water on only after the engine is running and off before you shut it down, prevents any water getting into the motor due to the exhaust gasses pushing it out.