- Joined
- Sep 23, 2002
- RO Number
- 10265
- Messages
- 9,958
Friend over at MarineMax cooked 2 motors and genny this past weekend. Luckily it was just a hose he blew when he over-heated both motors but he plugged all strainers. He thinks alot was caused by his new slip at MM which he says is low but I think it was more because he ran to Zach's Bay, Hemlock and had his boat loaded up with alot of people. He also ran aground by Zach's on Sunday.
Needless to say if he checked his strainers after every run and watched his running temps it would of helped.
When I am running I watch my temp gauge more than any other gauge. My boat normally runs at the same temp, no matter the water temp, conditions, or how long I am running. I can tell when I am clogging just by that gauge.
Know your running temp. Know how it behaves at idle speed and cruising speed. Too many people wait for the alarm to know something is wrong and that can be too late.
As for A/C units, they should be checked and flushed regularly as they are prone to suck more crap than anything. In fact I always check A/C first when I do strainers as that is a sign of how bad other's may or may not be.
Genny's should be checked after any extended use and periodically as it's highly likely your using it at anchor and that is when you suck debris and mud. Running is not as bad.
Our sandbox is not getting better, it's getting worse and west wind and low tide in the early season is a killer.
Another dumb move I see lots of boats making is going up on plane in low water. If your depth gauge reads less than 3.5', don't attempt to go on plane. You may make it fine and think all is good, but you dragged your stern thru the mud and probably sucked it up as well! Prop Wash stirs the silt and silt these days is thick until it chops up finer.
Stay safe boys!
Needless to say if he checked his strainers after every run and watched his running temps it would of helped.
When I am running I watch my temp gauge more than any other gauge. My boat normally runs at the same temp, no matter the water temp, conditions, or how long I am running. I can tell when I am clogging just by that gauge.
Know your running temp. Know how it behaves at idle speed and cruising speed. Too many people wait for the alarm to know something is wrong and that can be too late.
As for A/C units, they should be checked and flushed regularly as they are prone to suck more crap than anything. In fact I always check A/C first when I do strainers as that is a sign of how bad other's may or may not be.
Genny's should be checked after any extended use and periodically as it's highly likely your using it at anchor and that is when you suck debris and mud. Running is not as bad.
Our sandbox is not getting better, it's getting worse and west wind and low tide in the early season is a killer.
Another dumb move I see lots of boats making is going up on plane in low water. If your depth gauge reads less than 3.5', don't attempt to go on plane. You may make it fine and think all is good, but you dragged your stern thru the mud and probably sucked it up as well! Prop Wash stirs the silt and silt these days is thick until it chops up finer.
Stay safe boys!