Starting the engine out of the water?

[Utemachine]

First off, I love this board. There have been some very helpful members and thanks for putting up with my Direct Drive & Tige noobness.

The guy I bought the boat from wouldn't start the boat for even one second without hooking the hose up. On an I/O it is perfectly acceptable to start the boat without a fake lake for atleast 15 seconds or so. Can this be done on a direct drive?

I usually like to turn her over before heading to the launch ramp and hooking up the garden hose to that hose on the motor is a serious pain. Thanks!

[dingleberry]

I think it would be hard on the impeller, and would be likely to shorten it's lifespan. Also, never put the boat into gear if running out of the water.

Instead of hooking up the hose to the engine, why not get a fake-a-lake? That's pretty quick to use.

[Utemachine]

See, that's why I love this site! I didn't even know a fake lake existed for these boats. I will own one tomorrow.

[SPBFAN]

Yes, I say never run the boat out of water with out a fake lake hooked up. It will for certain shorten the life of your impeller and on that boat if it is the Merc Cruiser engine it will kill the Pump. $280.00 to replace it and $30.00 for the impeller kit plus time.

[dogbert]

Also, never, ever put the boat in gear when it's not in the water!

[samw]

never,never,never,never run with out water not for even one sec!

[moved2ski]

you can make a fake a lake out of a plunger and a plastic gargen hose fitting.

[Utemachine]

you can make a fake a lake out of a plunger and a plastic gargen hose fitting.

I LOVE a good functional DIY. I assume you use the old school style plunger? Have you made one?

[kko]

I guess I am the odd man out. I start my boat every time I go to take it out just to make sure she is going to fire when I get there. I shut it off as soon as I hear it roar. Maybe a second-2 at most. I change my impeller every year and never seen any signs of wear on it what so ever.Never had an impeller failure either. 15 seconds is pushing it IMPO.
The waterpump system on these boats is really not that different or the exact same depending wich motor you had on your I/O. So really no difference then you did before. Be careful with the fake a lake they fall off easy when you climb in and out of boat.
I use this one when I do need to run my boat on trailer for what ever reason. It stays on no qustions asked.

[talltigeguy]

I wouldn't be so excited to say not one second. What do you think happens every spring after the water was fully drained from the engine? It runs for a few seconds without water when you fire it up.

And for guys like me who ride in the winter but have a chance of freezing, I do that several times in the winter.

[KonaKing]

I wouldn't be so excited to say not one second. What do you think happens every spring after the water was fully drained from the engine? It runs for a few seconds without water when you fire it up.

And for guys like me who ride in the winter but have a chance of freezing, I do that several times in the winter.

Ya but you live in St George. My boat is staying down there this year. Year round skiing in sand hollow.

[raythompson]

Even I/O's should not be started without water. The shaft to the lower unit is turning and that drives the pump for water. The pump is pretty much the same design as inboards, just located inside the lower unit. The changing of the gears is located in the lowest part of the housing.

And actually the same information applies to outboards. There is still a pump in the lower unit. So even on I/O's and outboards you are spinning the pump dry. And that is never good as friction will quickly destroy the vanes.

So my advice is to NEVER run a boat engine without some sort of water supply.

[Utemachine]

Even I/O's should not be started without water. The shaft to the lower unit is turning and that drives the pump for water. The pump is pretty much the same design as inboards, just located inside the lower unit. The changing of the gears is located in the lowest part of the housing.

And actually the same information applies to outboards. There is still a pump in the lower unit. So even on I/O's and outboards you are spinning the pump dry. And that is never good as friction will quickly destroy the vanes.

So my advice is to NEVER run a boat engine without some sort of water supply.

I bought my I/O brand new and owned it for 14 years and never had one problem from turning it over before heading to the lake. My old boat mechanic was the one who told me it was not a problem at all as long as you shut it off before the engine started to build heat. Either way, I'm going to get a fake lake and use that when I am going to turn it over.

[laserfish]

Another thing you will learn about inboards, and I cannot explain why, but you will need to replace the raw water impeller annually. Some do it every other year, but you are taking a chance when you do of a ruined weekend. I know from experience. I owned outboards for years and never changed an impeller, buy an inboard and have had two come apart. Most guys on this board have had similar experiences, that is why we change them every year as part of the spring maintenance. Starting out of the water just increases the chance of failure. Have fun with the new boat, you will not regret the change.