6 replies to this topic

[LSR]

I live on a lake in central Maine and my dock is, unfortunately, in 15"-20" of water. (The variation is based on rainfall and how far they open the dam.) The bottom around the dock is sand and mud, no rocks or weeds.

We've been using an outboard runabout, but we have to paddle out, or often my son pulls the boat into water deep enough to drop the motor. It's a pain. An I/O would be no better.

So, the question is: Is this enough water for a Sportster? I would come in to the dock bow first and back out, although the boat could be spun around if need be to depart bow first as well.

Any advice would be appreciated. I have to say that the Sportster looks like a really FUN boat. My non-water summer transportation is a turbocharged Miata, which is a kick. As Mazda says, "Zoom-Zoom."

Thanks.

[Yuji]

The advice I've been given is don't run in any less then three feet of water, and never punch the throttle in less then 6 ft. SeaDoo boats have a 12" draft but they still need some depth so you don't suck in rocks, weeds, sand etc.

[thumper]

i would go for the doo anyways - how far do you have to go to get over 3feet of water?

[BigRed]

The lake our cottage is on is about 28" low this year leaving water depth on the one side of the dock 24" to 36" deep.

We also own a runabout with an outboard so I've been keeping my sportster on this shallow side of the dock. I have had no problems. You do want to be careful while in the shallow water. Spend as little time as possible at this depth and keep your throtle backed off.

The operators manual does say not to operate in less than 36".

Mooring it in shallow water does have one benefit......great place to wash the boat down and get it sparkling.

Your are right, the sportster is a ton of fun on the water.

[LSR]

i would go for the doo anyways - how far do you have to go to get over 3feet of water?

I would probably have to go out another 50 feet to get to a 36" depth. The kind of dock system I have adds on in 10' sections (@$500 per section), and I could certainly put on one more to get another 3"-5" depth. The bottom is very well packed mud-sand that turns entirely to mud about 20' beyond the dock. I could obviously chug the boat in an out very slowly.

What is the problem with getting a little mud or sand into the jet -- won't it go right through?

Thanks again, folks.

[stevenh]

i would go for the doo anyways - how far do you have to go to get over 3feet of water?

I would probably have to go out another 50 feet to get to a 36" depth. The kind of dock system I have adds on in 10' sections (@$500 per section), and I could certainly put on one more to get another 3"-5" depth. The bottom is very well packed mud-sand that turns entirely to mud about 20' beyond the dock. I could obviously chug the boat in an out very slowly.

What is the problem with getting a little mud or sand into the jet -- won't it go right through?

Thanks again, folks.

If the bottom is hard packed, you won't have a problem at idle with 24" or even less depth. You just can't throttle up until you get a bit deeper. For the most part, sand and mud will go through but rocks and heavy weeds won't. Depending on the model, you want to watch the sand/mud going through the jet since some of the water that goes through the jet is used to cool the engine on the 2-strokers and to cool the exhaust on 2 and 4 stroke boats. You would probably be fine given the bottom you describe.

Steve

[thumper]

sounds like you should be ok - well packed sand and mud shouldnt give you too much problem - i would go for it - just push off as far as you can each time you start up.