8 replies to this topic

[scotth]

We had our second trip ended yesterday with another small stick wedged between the impeller and the housing. The engine fired normal, but cavitated with the throttle. Both times we were at the sandbar. We had to idle home nearly 5 miles. Once the boat was out of the water, I removed a small stick from the front of the impeller.

Has anyone experienced this before? Is there anyway for this not to happen?

[fialoe]

Not that I know of! Its just a case of bad luck. I suppose you could keep away from the stick and the dipers too!

[thumper]

well i was thinking of glassing a piece of half inch stainless mesh across my intake as the sportster has two bars with a gap big enough for a small forest to go through - luckily - touch wood- our waters in the uk are very clean - all the crap goes to the french coast - i think if you could sand down the area around the intake then resin a mesh over it then reglass and apply gelcoat it may work - but seems a lot of work - but i have had the misfortune of sucking a ski rope throughmine so i can see the benefits!!!!

[stevenh]

well i was thinking of glassing a piece of half inch stainless mesh across my intake as the sportster has two bars with a gap big enough for a small forest to go through - luckily - touch wood- our waters in the uk are very clean - all the crap goes to the french coast - i think if you could sand down the area around the intake then resin a mesh over it then reglass and apply gelcoat it may work - but seems a lot of work - but i have had the misfortune of sucking a ski rope throughmine so i can see the benefits!!!!

I think the challenge would be covering the opening with something that won't break up the water flow and will still provide some level of protection. I have the wide grate on my S200 as well and so far have been lucky. I really try to keep an eye out for floating debris when driving and steer clear when I can. I think any sort of screen or mesh would resist the water flow too much.

Steve

[calamar]

hi everyone, im from mexico. From what i read, what happened to you is a very unfortunate and rare event. I think that there is no way of protecting the water intake without disturbing the water flow. What i would recomend is try to avoid messy zones. I also had a problem with a ski rope. The whole freaking rope tangled all over the axle and the impeller, so i had to cut it all and buy a new one. Cheers to everyone!!!!!!!!

[thumper]

i hear what you are saying about the water flow - but i am sure that not having intake problems would probably overide the slight loss of water flow - even if it was detectable at all - just an idea - imagine pouring a litre of water over your girlfriend - she would be unhappy - if you did it through a sieve with say half to one inch holes - would she still be as unhappy or would she say - that wasnt to bad the water flow was different
i will try it and report back

[thumper]

nearly forgot - th eonly possible downside i can see with a mesh is that small weeds would block it quicker by becoming stuck to the mesh - but possibly forward momentum would keep it clear if it was manufactured correctly - just my opinion

[fialoe]

The old ski rope things are a bugger. I have sucked one of my ropes up too. What a pain. Haven't done it since mind so a lesson well learnt! Guess a couple of floats on the rope helps too.

[Yuji]

This is the nature of the beast guys...you're going to suck debris up into the pump once in a while. Just be careful in shallow water (2ft or less) and avoid weeds/debris and you'll be fine. You'd notice a huge performance loss with mesh on your intake so you'll have to rely on your current ICS grate. I've been fortunate, only once have I sucked anything up that caused cavitation and it cleared itself after a short burst of the throttle. May as well get the bad luck out of the way.. now she'll be clear sailing for you!