7 replies to this topic

[BigRed]

The lake my cottage is on is not all that deep (8ft-25ft) and can develop weed patches late in the season where you can see vegetation on the water surface.

Should I be concerned with riding over these patches?

Thanks in advance,

[Doooer]

The lake my cottage is on is not all that deep (8ft-25ft) and can develop weed patches late in the season where you can see vegetation on the water surface.

Should I be concerned with riding over these patches?

Thanks in advance,

In a word...YES! Especially at slower speeds. You don't mention which vessel you have but, If you have the infamous Merc hydrosurge grate you should be ok...provided you don't break a tine and suck it through the pump. If you have a Merc 11 tine rock grate, you'll definitely get clogged going through weeds. The 6 tine fixed grate seems to work ok, but in weeds, I'd go with the hydrosurge in spite of its reputation.

If you have rotax, I don't think there'll be an issue...but not having a rotax I really don't know.

[BigRed]

The lake my cottage is on is not all that deep (8ft-25ft) and can develop weed patches late in the season where you can see vegetation on the water surface.

Should I be concerned with riding over these patches? 

Thanks in advance,

In a word...YES! Especially at slower speeds. You don't mention which vessel you have but, If you have the infamous Merc hydrosurge grate you should be ok...provided you don't break a tine and suck it through the pump. If you have a Merc 11 tine rock grate, you'll definitely get clogged going through weeds. The 6 tine fixed grate seems to work ok, but in weeds, I'd go with the hydrosurge in spite of its reputation.

If you have rotax, I don't think there'll be an issue...but not having a rotax I really don't know.

I just purchased a 2005 sportster 4-tec. So I guess we are talking about a rotax engine.

Does this mean I'm OK or is there a mod I can do to the intake to better protect the engine?

[stevenh]

The lake my cottage is on is not all that deep (8ft-25ft) and can develop weed patches late in the season where you can see vegetation on the water surface.

Should I be concerned with riding over these patches? 

Thanks in advance,

In a word...YES! Especially at slower speeds. You don't mention which vessel you have but, If you have the infamous Merc hydrosurge grate you should be ok...provided you don't break a tine and suck it through the pump. If you have a Merc 11 tine rock grate, you'll definitely get clogged going through weeds. The 6 tine fixed grate seems to work ok, but in weeds, I'd go with the hydrosurge in spite of its reputation.

If you have rotax, I don't think there'll be an issue...but not having a rotax I really don't know.

I just purchased a 2005 sportster 4-tec. So I guess we are talking about a rotax engine.

Does this mean I'm OK or is there a mod I can do to the intake to better protect the engine?

I don't think you have a choice in grates with the 4-tec intake. The standard three prong grate will work OK (it will let small, soft stuff through and most of it will just get chewed up). The only time I have problems with my 4-tec ('03 Sportster) is with really tough sea-weed (ocean). It won't always get through, man that stuff is tough. I don't think normal lake weeds will be much of a problem, but you might have to go swimming from time to time. That's just the nature of Jet drives...

Your best bet is to go as fast as safe and practical when going through weed beds, don't idle through.

Steve

[cAn'T sWim]

The lake my cottage is on is not all that deep (8ft-25ft) and can develop weed patches late in the season where you can see vegetation on the water surface.

Should I be concerned with riding over these patches?

Thanks in advance,

I agree with Dooer on this....

I can tell you from experience about weeds. I operate my Boat quite a bit on Lake Erie inside Long Point Bay. Lots and Lots of weeds......ONLY once did I have a problem and I just kept open the throttle and using reverse a few times. Hydro-surge works perfectly and chews up the weeds. This is the only reason I keep my hydro-surge and have never needed to go under the boat yet.

[thumper]

and watch out for ski ropes!

is anyone aware of an modified grille that can be fitted without imparing the pumps performance?

[cAn'T sWim]

and watch out for ski ropes!

is anyone aware of an modified grille that can be fitted without imparing the pumps performance?

Doo a search....lots of info available.

[tiggerman]

and watch out for ski ropes!

is anyone aware of an modified grille that can be fitted without imparing the pumps performance?

For the 4 TEC, no. I haven't seen anything except for maybe a ski...