Running Boat Out of Water

[Familyman]

After reading previous posts, it seems like most of the solutions for driveway running involve permmanetly cutting into the cooling hoses. And it appears that most people dont like the fake-a-lake... Looking for a solution to just perfrom annual oil change. What would a typical dealer use to warm up the oil and run the boat after the change? Do they just do it cold or is there another temporary means used out there that I just haven't run across? Thanks

[slob02]

RE: Running Boat Out of Water

I change my oil and then run the boat while I run antifreeze through it.

[jos]

RE: Running Boat Out of Water

Buy yourself a 2 or 3 gallon suction set.
Would not do dipstick cold, water possibly will not come while lowest.
Draws it cold through the pan hose.
Its a clean methode.
Can also do it after your last ride when still hot and in the water. Poor new oil and ride it again for distribution.

[jchamlin]

RE: Running Boat Out of Water

If you can reach it, try loosening the water intake hose from the hull (near the transmission on a direct drive boat) and jam a garden hose into it. You may have to play with the water pressure but I don't think it takes much. I thought about the fake-a-lake too but $50 is ridiculous for what it is.

[IDSkier]

RE: Running Boat Out of Water

I built an adapter that plugs into the water inlet line. It consists of a 1" king nipple, a 1" to 3/4" reducer coupling, and a 3/4" to garden hose adapter. You can purchase all of these items at Lowe's or home depot for under $10.

[wildsv211]

RE: Running Boat Out of Water

I made a fake a wake clone for less than 10 dollars at the local hardware store. 1 toilet plunger... 1 female garden hose repair kit and about 5 minutes with my hand drill. You do not need the adjustable handle if you only use it on one boat... just cut the wooden plunger handle off to the right length and you saved yourself 50 dollars..

[jmo]

RE: Running Boat Out of Water

you don't have to cut the hoses, just pull the hose off of the intake to the raw water strainer and attach a piece of clear tubing (from home depot) to the strainer input and put the other end in a 5 gallon bucket, then keep a running hose in the bucket and fire her up, just watch the water level in the bucket, if you throttle her up it will draw the water faster than the hose will be able to fill it. I bought a 10' section of hose so I can leave the bucket on the ground outside the boat.

HTH's,

JMO

[SuperSquirt]

RE: Running Boat Out of Water

I've always had a Flush-Pro on my water line which allows you to connect a garden hose to it. It works flawlessly with its check valve and doesn't spill any water in the boat. Just connect it and turn on the hose, and start your motot, its that easy.

I also use JMO's method of sucking water out a bucket when I run antifreeze through the motor each year.

[jhiestand]

RE: Running Boat Out of Water

I doubt most dealers would go to the trouble of running the boat prior to warm oil up prior to changing. A lot of folks use a pump (I use a Jabsco drill pump to expedite empty, also).

The one advantage with a fake-a-lake setup is it relies on your impeller to draw water, just like the lake. Simply removing the intake and jamming your garden hose in won't give you an indication of impeller issues since you're bypassing it.

Back to your original question tho, a drill pump will do wonders when connected to your oil drain line, even with "cold" oil.

[DanielC]

RE: Running Boat Out of Water

I used to work for a Correct Craft dealer. We never ran a boat without supplying water to the boat. Yes, supplying water to a boat is a hassle, to change the oil. This is why an oil change on your boat costs more than an oil change on your car.
Do not run your boat with out supplying water to it. Ever. It probably will damage your impeller, and you will not know there is anything wrong until you are off the trailer, and away from the ramp in many cases, with a boat that is overheating.

[SuperSquirt]

Re: RE: Running Boat Out of Water

I doubt most dealers would go to the trouble of running the boat prior to warm oil up prior to changing. A lot of folks use a pump (I use a Jabsco drill pump to expedite empty, also).

The one advantage with a fake-a-lake setup is it relies on your impeller to draw water, just like the lake. Simply removing the intake and jamming your garden hose in won't give you an indication of impeller issues since you're bypassing it.

Back to your original question tho, a drill pump will do wonders when connected to your oil drain line, even with "cold" oil.

Just to clear things up here since jhiestand doesn't know what the Flush-Pro actually is, its an adapter system that installs into the water pump line right after the sea strainer. The garden hose connects into the Flush-Pro adapter by spinning it like a handle. Once it is connected and you turn on the water hose, the Flush-Pro doesn't allow water into the line until it gets suction from the impeller.

It is by far the easiest way to start an engine on land, and your impeller will still get its needed water. The impeller pump and its housing are connected to the motor with pulleys, and the Flush-Pro is supposed to go in between the pump and the sea strainer.

[jhiestand]

Hey SuperSquirt, since you're obviously calling me out take note I made no comment at all regarding the FlushPro setup so thanks for straightening everyone out the fact I obviously know nothing about it. I contrasted a fake-a-lake to disconnecting from the intake and putting a water hose in.

And I also made NO reference that dealers run boats without supplying water while out of the water. I wrote (and meant) that I wouldn't be surprised if they just changed the oil when it was cold. Using a pump to assist drawing the oil out does a pretty good job, I've found better even than simply gravity-draining piping-hot oil.

Apparently I need to start getting my posts proofread. Yellow_Flash_Colorz:

[DanielC]

When I worked at the dealer, we had a spare water strainer bowl, that we drilled a hole into the bottom of, and had a garden hose fitting on it. On the "off" brand boats that did not have a water strainer, we used a "Fake-A-Lake".
We also ran the engines before changing the oil.

[tadelfio]

I am in strong opposition to the Flush Pro. I had one on my boat and had NOTHING but problems with it up to the point where it literally broke in half while on the lake one day. After that I made a fake a lake for less than $10 with all parts I got at a dollar store. It works FLAWLESSLY. I can't beleive I spent all that money on the FlushPro. I know that many people use those things with no problems but I am not one of those people and I will tell you, I will never use or suggest one ever again.

[Laptom]

When I worked at the dealer, we had a spare water strainer bowl, that we drilled a hole into the bottom of, and had a garden hose fitting on it. On the "off" brand boats that did not have a water strainer, we used a "Fake-A-Lake".
We also ran the engines before changing the oil.

This is how we do it. I bought a second water strainer bowl and drilled a water hose fitting on it. You should clean the water strainer filter anyway. Just screw the other one onto it. Connect the water hose on it and ready! Mostly we let it suck out water out a bucket this way (for winterization with anti-frees).