it would increase the speed which would be nice.what is the purpose of the grate i use my boat on a clean lake with almost no debris ive got the tow rope sucked in it before but now im very careful. I keep thinking i dont need it. I just want to know some reasons before thinking about taking it off. thanks
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why not just take the intake grate off?
- Thread starter thagannn
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atriot:
The grate also keeps your hands and tow line from getting in their by accident. Plastic bottles and sticks seem to head that way every time.
Karl
Karl
About "0" it's not very restrictive now.
230WakeOwnerDallas
New Member
:agree:
:agree::agree::agree::agree::agree::agree::agree:
No need to say what everyone else has said.
:agree::agree::agree::agree::agree::agree::agree:
No need to say what everyone else has said.
Buyers perspective
If I was looking at a used boat, and the intake grate was missing, I'd be doing some head scratching. Wondering why, and what hazards the boat was exposed to. Like removing the hydrosurge grate and replacing it with another makes the boat non-stock, but I can see a clear issue that it is addressing. The need for speed measured in fractions would not do it for me.
But it is America...
If I was looking at a used boat, and the intake grate was missing, I'd be doing some head scratching. Wondering why, and what hazards the boat was exposed to. Like removing the hydrosurge grate and replacing it with another makes the boat non-stock, but I can see a clear issue that it is addressing. The need for speed measured in fractions would not do it for me.
But it is America...
bigbaldbob
New Member
now that i thought about it it is probably better when its there.:agree:
Ok i'm not going to remove it. If Sea doo put it there it's probably does better on then off.
James.Moon
Active Member
I agree taking it off could lead to a lot of trouble. On the Shuswap lake in May even with the grate on, I picked up a small piece of stick that lodged inside somewhere and cavitation occurred with maximum of 8 MPH resulting. When the mechanic found and removed it my new Challenger 180SE does 60MPH again.
Unless you have the special edition Challenger that comes with the jet engine you wont see 60mph on a 180.
Take It Off
I ran my 1995 Speedster for 10 years no grate, for a very good reason - you cant clear a jam with the grate on, especially with the boat in the water.
Same with 2009 Speedster. No grate.
No speed increase. Same number of jams. The grate only keeps very large objects out, almost everything else gets by the grate so it is useless.
There is a real risk - getting your hand stuck in the grate trying to clear debris, and drowning under the boat.
Even on the trailer, you cant reach far enough into the intake with the grate on, to clear a stubborn jam. So the grate will come out anyway.
I ran my 1995 Speedster for 10 years no grate, for a very good reason - you cant clear a jam with the grate on, especially with the boat in the water.
Same with 2009 Speedster. No grate.
No speed increase. Same number of jams. The grate only keeps very large objects out, almost everything else gets by the grate so it is useless.
There is a real risk - getting your hand stuck in the grate trying to clear debris, and drowning under the boat.
Even on the trailer, you cant reach far enough into the intake with the grate on, to clear a stubborn jam. So the grate will come out anyway.
Stevego
The same amount of weeds will get sucked in, grate or no grate. No gain with grate.
Rocks, same story - there is not enough suction to ingest a large rock, and small ones will get past the grate. No gain with grate.
Ropes, tree branches, same story - they all get past the grate. Its useless.
But without the grate, you may be able to clear weeds by backing in reverse, then pull the DESS key and coast in reverse, they will fall out the tunnel. Not so with grate on,
And, youll have to take it off sooner or later anyway, to clear a bad jam.
On the 150 Speedsters, it is held on with a lock nut inside the hull, almost impossible to remove due to intake hoses blocking it. Bad deal. Going to put the lock nut outside soon.
The same amount of weeds will get sucked in, grate or no grate. No gain with grate.
Rocks, same story - there is not enough suction to ingest a large rock, and small ones will get past the grate. No gain with grate.
Ropes, tree branches, same story - they all get past the grate. Its useless.
But without the grate, you may be able to clear weeds by backing in reverse, then pull the DESS key and coast in reverse, they will fall out the tunnel. Not so with grate on,
And, youll have to take it off sooner or later anyway, to clear a bad jam.
On the 150 Speedsters, it is held on with a lock nut inside the hull, almost impossible to remove due to intake hoses blocking it. Bad deal. Going to put the lock nut outside soon.
rlfett
Member
Rather take it off maybe add to it?
Yesterday with it on I was running great down a rather clean water way and felt a slight vibration backed down the boat and when I went to increase again not good. I had to idle all the way home. 7 miles and it sucked got the boat home and after inspection I found what looked like a plastic bottle cap stuck on the blades. This is the 2nd time something very small has shut me down. The first was a fishing lure and some line. So rather then take it off I was going ask if anyone ever added a wire mesh or screen to block the small items? And if so did you see a loss of performance?
Yesterday with it on I was running great down a rather clean water way and felt a slight vibration backed down the boat and when I went to increase again not good. I had to idle all the way home. 7 miles and it sucked got the boat home and after inspection I found what looked like a plastic bottle cap stuck on the blades. This is the 2nd time something very small has shut me down. The first was a fishing lure and some line. So rather then take it off I was going ask if anyone ever added a wire mesh or screen to block the small items? And if so did you see a loss of performance?
ocod
Well-Known Member
i asked same Q after sucking up sea grass and cavitating.
Simple answer is no.
It will restrict amt of water being sucked up b/c screeen will become clogged...
Headhunter
Member
They used to have a screen covering the intake on the older model boats, but then changed it to the grate because they were always clogging with weeds. The trade off is now you get rocks sucked through the grates, which is why everyone is saying they are useless. Trust me from experience, 3 golf ball size rocks = $800.00. Yesterday I had to jump in and clear both intake grates of weeds. There has to be a better design.......
rlfett
Member
Love my boat and would always tell those prop folks to switch over but I have to admit I think someone could design a better intake grate etc. I have learned that if i suck up weeds to turn off the boat, lower the swim ladder jump into the water and hang on reaching up with my feet to remove them. This works 99% of the time. As for sucking up items I have and also spent 500+ to get a new impeller etc. I am much more aware these days of floating debris and try to stay in clean open water. But it's a small trade off for all you get with a jet boat. I know I will never go back to the prop!
murray4schnauzers
New Member
Hi are you talking about a sports boat. I have Utopia and a couple of days ago accidentally drove through a grassy patch and sucked something in. I did not turn off the engine. I forwarded and reversed and turned and did everything I could but nothing worked. Now I think I am facing getting my brother to pull me out of the water with his trailer and try to clean everything on Dry Dock. Just a question please - what do you think the best way to clear the grass is if you are in the water. A few times in the past I have tried forwarding and reversing and somehow it cleared the debris. I will be happy to hear any suggestions
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