sea-doo- utopia .. grass in the impeller or whatever

[murray4schnauzers]

Hi yesterday I accidentally had it too close to Shore and ran through a large area of grass. When I noticed it and it was thick I got out of there but sadly I've lost my power. I had to limp back to the marina at about 5 miles an hour. Any suggestions on how I can clear the grass out without pulling the boat out of the water. A couple of years ago the same thing happened and I reversed and forwarded the boat a few times and while it cleared it. But this time I can't seem to clear it. It's a real bother to pull the boat out because I don't have a trailer and I have to call someone. What do you recommend. Is there any experience on this out there. Thanks a lot

 

[renomaan]

Depends on if its just on the gates or all the way up into the wear ring and propellers.
Ive donned a scuba mask, held my breath and one hand on rope to topside, floated under far enough to grab grass on the gates and pull all of it off. You can also try getting the boat to go as fast in reverse as possible, cut the engines and coast...the waterflow sometimes will flow back thru the props and flush the gates off.

Unfortunately, this is the Achilles heel of these boats! Yamaha's have a top servicable trap you can open and remove the cluster and reinstall the grate basket.

I usually limp back, put it up on the trailer and clean the gate. then look in from the rear flow directors and see if its clogging the props. If so you need to drop the gates (remove the Allenscrew thru the ball pivot) reach way up in and start pulling out the grass. I keep long pokers and pullers as well as 2ft long 1/4" drill bits with a drill in the fix kit.

Ive gotten little branches that get severed but not cut all the way by the prop, they spin on the wear ring and the engine will lose thrust and the clutch will cause the haul to shake. After the gate is dropped, I have drilled multiple holes thru the wood so I can reach way up there and break it away from the prop.

Its a big PIA

 

[Nick Lawson]

As Reno said jump under with mask and have a look, I have used a wire coat hanger to pull weed out by using the hook

 

[Eclipse1701d]

If it is beginning to clog, pick up speed, go in a circle, and cut the engines. This usually clears it. If not, get in the water, hold on to the rear tow eye, with one arm, and reach under with the other to clear the debris. You don't even have to dunk your head! It's not that bad, guys!

 

[murray4schnauzers]

I thank you each for this. What I noticed was that both engines responded equally bad.. showing same low revs. Must mean both are clogged? Have I got that right. Im nit sure of the physical mechanics down there . I figured 2 intake locations, 1 for each motor?

 

[JPass]

I thank you each for this. What I noticed was that both engines responded equally bad.. showing same low revs. Must mean both are clogged? Have I got that right. Im nit sure of the physical mechanics down there . I figured 2 intake locations, 1 for each motor?

Yes, 1 intake per motor. If you have a snorkel mask, you may want to find a nice shallow area where you can have a look at the underside of your boat so you're a little more familiar with where things are (being that you don't have a trailer).

 

[Coastiejoe]

If you are going to snorkel or scuba below your boat you don't want it to be in a shallow area. The boat moves up and down due to waves and wakes and it can easily crush down on you. The hull is stronger than your head. You want enough depth that you can barely stand up.

I also recommend running a line around the boat as it will give you something to hold onto.

 

[JPass]

If you are going to snorkel or scuba below your boat you don't want it to be in a shallow area. The boat moves up and down due to waves and wakes and it can easily crush down on you. The hull is stronger than your head. You want enough depth that you can barely stand up.

Only if you're going under the boat in the surf or in an area where there's a lot of wakes. We boat on lakes mostly, and getting under the boat in the shallows is pretty common. By shallow, we're talking 3 - 4 ft, not anything too shallow that we need to worry about being crushed by the boat due to waves.

 

[enut]

I had to reach under the boat once to clean off the grates. I was able to reach under without dunking my head and pull the weeds away from the grate.
I have been thinking about something to try. Using a boat hook that I already had, just stand on the swim ladder and clean away the weeds from the intake. Only your feet would get wet if this works.
See pics, the boat hook won't scratch the hull and fits right into the grate if necessary. I will give this a try next time I get stuck.




What do you guys think?