Curiosity

[93SkiNautique]

I know its not good for the boat but if you were to fire up you boat for a quick couple seconds out of water would it be bad for it? Cause i've heard of people who do that before they leave to go out just to make sure she'll fire, they say its not bad for it because the engine doesnt heat up that fast and the waters only there to cool it down. Remember i'm entirely new to the boat world so if this is a dumb question bare with me, there may be more to come Yellow_Flash_Colorz: . Thanks all.

Jon

[NautiqueJeff]

RE: Curiosity

One thing to keep in mind is that without water, the impeller has nothing to lubricate it. It can get ripped apart pretty quickly without water.

[93SkiNautique]

So youre saying its probably best just to leave it until we get to the water. Does it effect the impeller if i run it in neutral?

[Flux]

Yes, Impeller is run by the engine, either crank or belt. Running it dry is the way to fry it. Even when you start the boat in the water after trailering, it's gonna run dry until it primes itself. The more you drystart, the more you degrade it. If you drystart your engine here and there, be sure to change out your impeller every year, which should be done anyway.

[bkhallpass]

You're not going to kill it, but why risk it. A fake a lake cost lest than
20 bucks. Simply hook it to the garden hose, position under the boat
and over the fresh water pickup, turn on the hose, and run it as long as
you like.

BKH

[ag4ever]

I will test fire it before making the trip to the lake. As soon as it starts, I kill it. There is still water in the impeller housing from the last trip to keep the impeller lubricated. if it ran more than 5 seconds, then I would attach a water hose.

[darrel409]

concur w/ age4ever, there will still be water at the impeller from last trip. Have the same 5 second rule.

[93SkiNautique]

Cool, thanks for the help...if that fake a lake thing is only 20 bucks then its worth picking one up. That can be used to winterize the boat as well right?

[bkhallpass]

Cool, thanks for the help...if that fake a lake thing is only 20 bucks then its worth picking one up. That can be used to winterize the boat as well right?

???????

Not sure what you mean. Being in CA, I don't winterize. But, as
I understand it, winterizing involves getting all of the water out of the
engine, hoses, etc. so that in a freeze the water won't expand and
break something.

The fake a lake is used to pump water into the system. Not sure how
this would help winterize.

BKH

[surroundsound64]

Don't use it to winterize the boat.

I go by the same rule as above mentioned... crank it and as soon as it fires I kill it. The engine won't make but 1 revolution or so started.

To winterize, I have always unhooked all the hoses and drained them manually. Then I fill them with antifreeze and fire up the boat. Let it run for a few seconds, untill it starts to blow out the exhaust. I'll be getting a new impeller in the spring anyway.

When I do replace the impeller, I always save the one I take out, if it's in reasonable shape, and keep it in the boat incase I ever mess one up at the lake.

[93SkiNautique]

Whats it cost for a new impeller these days?

[JAG]

It sounds like you may not be familiar with winterizing either.

IF you live in a cold (freezing winters) climate and need to winterize you'll need to do several things.
Top off your fuel tank and add Stabil to the fuel. This will prevent moisture from collecting in the tank and also keep the fuel from deteriorating over the winter. You shouldn't have to drain fuel from the carb if you added the fuel stabilizer.
You can use the fake-a-lake to run the engine if you want to fog it with fogging oil. Fogging oil is available at marine stores. I would only do this for long term storage. Run the engine till its warm, remove the flame arrestor, and spray the fogging oil down the carb throat while the engine is running. If there are any mosquitos left in the area there won't be after this. If the engine doesn't stall in the process shut it down when heavy smoke appears from the exhuast. this will coat the cylinders with anticorrosion lubricant. If you do this pull the spark plugs and clean the excess oil off.
Now, unless you have a closed cooling system you will need to do the following.
Remove the drain plugs on the engine block and manifold. There is 1 small plug on each side of the block and 1 on each manifold on the backend. After water is drained replace the plugs.
Next, remove the lower cooling hoses from the water pumps and drain the water. The idea hear is to open up all the low points on the block and drain out the water. Once the water is drained re-connect the hoses.
Next, for added insurance, disconnect some cooling lines at a high point on the engine and poor some anti freeze into the block.
Next, remove and drain the intake filter stariner.
Next, tilt the entire boat as far back as possible to drain any water that may be in the exhuast system.
If you have a closed cooling system you won't have to drain the block but you will need to drain the manifolds and raw water side of the system. Make sure the cooling system has a antifreeze mix in the tank.

[NautiqueJeff]

Whats it cost for a new impeller these days?

$21.95 from White Lake. Mid-Ohio might offer them for slightly less. SkiDim has them too.

[JAG]

Impellers are not expensive and easy to replace. Always inspect it after long term storage. Good idea to keep a spare around.
Get one at skidim.com

[SGY]

Why do you need to test fire the boat? This is my third CC and I've never had a CC not start at the lake.