why not just take the intake grate off?

[ialonso]

with plastic bags I've jumped in a reached from under the boat to clean. has happened twice...

I found out I can plane on one engine...the exhaust won't be overwhelmed with water if the engine is running... If you have a twin engine boat you could possibly plane with both engines running, but only one providing good power. keep the other one running to prevent water flow from getting into the wrong places.

 

[utah997]

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?

I thought about this as well. But yeah, I think grass/weeds etc would plug it up pretty fast.

 

[ORION '95 Speedster]

Shut your boat off, and put the selector in "forward". Make sure its in forward, not neutral or reverse. Then have another boat back of to the back of your boat. Have then go full throttle in order to "back-flush" your jet drive. If that doesn't work, you need to have a helper stay in the boat as rescue, and go under the boat. Use some $2 goggles from WalMart so that you can see. Swim under the boat, and reach your hands into the intake grate to remove debris. If anyone starts the engine while you are sticking your hand into the impeller, then your jet drive will get REALLY clogged up. Oh, and you will likely drown because you are "handcuffed" to the bottom of the boat. So take the keys with you when you go under the boat...

 

[dmiles]

Sometimes, for reasons I never expected, I'm really glad that I'm an experienced scuba diver who usually has his gear with him....