Went out to the lake yesterday, took my dog :)

[cheappc]

Well I took my boat out yesterday, took my dog with me, it was scary I started the boat too close to shore thinking my dog wanted to jump out, and I heard the propeller eat some rocks (bad sound, but not terrible) but then my boat didn't want to move/rev bad cavitation.. it was revving to 3500 rpm and wouldn't move, from my past experience, this could be very bad, I had something stuck on my impeller or I messed up the wear ring when I ate those rocks, SO I DIDN'T REV IT UP ANY MORE.? experience has taught me if I force the throttle, I can burn something up....

So I limped to the beach to reach underneath and I felt a small branch caught up in there and carefully ripped it off, also a nice fellow boater came over and asked me if I wanted some help, I said ok, feeling dumb he looked through my pump noticed nothing was there ... After I went underneath and ripped off that small branch my boat ran great, do you guys think I messed something up? (also I will be getting a actual vest for my dog! )

Video of me and my dog boating:
[video]youtube.com/watch?v=WM_cMwKeKa4&feature=plcp[/video]
[youtube]WM_cMwKeKa4[/youtube]


Here is me last week at Lake Elsinore:

 

[sandman98]

good lookin' dog.

but he's probably better off with nothing on him than a jacket strapped around his belly, if you don't have a vest that fits him. many dogs can swim instinctually (at least keep their heads above water), provided straps and a flotation device aren't getting tangled in his legs.

just my 0.02.

 

[RFoster130]

I doubt you did any major damage if it ran fine once you got the stick out. Prolly just gouged the wear ring a bit.

 

[Seadoobuddy]

good lookin' dog.

but he's probably better off with nothing on him than a jacket strapped around his belly, if you don't have a vest that fits him. many dogs can swim instinctually (at least keep their heads above water), provided straps and a flotation device aren't getting tangled in his legs.

just my 0.02.

I agree. if you have a "make shift" vest on his rump, it may force his head under water a bit.
A real doggy vest is best. It will allow him to float without him working hard.

 

[cheappc]

good lookin' dog.

but he's probably better off with nothing on him than a jacket strapped around his belly, if you don't have a vest that fits him. many dogs can swim instinctually (at least keep their heads above water), provided straps and a flotation device aren't getting tangled in his legs.

just my 0.02.

I just ordered him a Life Vest XL Yellow:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Fido-Float-Doggie-Life-Preserver-Swim-Vest-Yellow-Sz-XL-/321133591975?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ac50dbda7

Thanks for the compliment, I was afraid if he jumped out (I would jump after him)... but I tried putting that life vest around his chest area , Im not worrying about it anymore since soon Ill be getting his actual life vest in a couple of days.

Rfoster130
"I doubt you did any major damage if it ran fine once you got the stick out. Prolly just gouged the wear ring a bit."

Wow, I figured I did some damage, that sucks, because I didnt have any damage before that, this is the first time something like that happens to me, and I think I took my new boat out at least 11 times before this, so I learned a big big lesson, never started too close to shore, even if the depth finder says 3 feet, I think I should started in at least 5 feet away from shore as much as possible.

 

[timeman]

Just be glad it wasn't a rock. I've had a couple of sticks get stuck that required my having to put the boat on the trailer to remove, no biggie, just a very minor scratch in the wear ring , not enough to change the performance noticeably. The proximity to shore may not insure this won't happen again, I sucked mine up in deeper waters, after all, they're wood. (have the same vest for my dog)

 

[cheappc]

Just be glad it wasn't a rock. I've had a couple of sticks get stuck that required my having to put the boat on the trailer to remove, no biggie, just a very minor scratch in the wear ring , not enough to change the performance noticeably. The proximity to shore may not insure this won't happen again, I sucked mine up in deeper waters, after all, they're wood. (have the same vest for my dog)

So did you limp back to launch? I was able to limp back to the beach area at 2000 to 3000 rpm, and luckily for me dive under and pull the stick free, now I understand how awesome it is to have that ability to go to reach the impeller pump grate area "while on the boat" (ive seen that ability on the Yamaha SX190).

Man, Im glad it wasnt a rock, that would have probably ruined my summer out boating.. but I have to be very careful... as a matter of fact I think there is someone who sells a "pump grate" that minimizes this problem...

 

[timeman]

Yeah, a rock would most likely take a huge toll on the impeller. My boat shook and shuddered all the way back to the dock. I tried clearing it by reversing which usually works, the stick got chewed off until there was just a small knot that had grooved itself onto the rear impeller fins. It was a bitch to remove because it was so far back, no way it could be done under water,(unless Aqua-man owned the boat). Who'd of thunk that one stupid little piece of wood could rob the boat of all it's power.

I occasionally suck up a stick, almost always reverse them out w/o any harm, they are about an inch in diameter so they just squeeze through the grate, I would be afraid using a grate with smaller openings might restrict the intake flow and rob performance? If you find one that works well please post about it.

 

[cheappc]

After reading your post last night, I kept searching and searching, and I found nothing. So I guess we are going to have to live with it. Just be careful. I did the reverse procedure as you mentioned when it initially happened, but It didnt work, and I tried little by little, luckily we both got back the dock/launch area. I do carry on board 2 emergency paddles (if would even help a little bit).

 

[timeman]

You're way ahead of me...I have one old wooden paddle,(not sure why?) but I ALWAYS keep a stash of brew-ski's, a cute wife, and an old guys desperate face, to help bribe someone into towing me back to civilization...... Jet boats have their drawbacks, but so does hitting a log, a rock etc with your prop and out-drive. With all things in life comes a learning curve..This,(jet-boating) is one of them!