the engine, if it decides to run away will be much easier to stop if it's not hot.
I had a run away, when the engine was hot after running all day. This was the first and only time in 20 years I've run the engine to clear it out. When the engine was cold, it would idle on the trailer /rev up / down just fine.
I believe the engines are more likely to run away when they are hot. This is only anecdotal, however.
My run away was not killed until the engine destroyed the crank. Choke, fuel off, even pulled the plug wires. it just RAN till... it stopped.
Runaways can be bad news, very hard on wrist bearings with fragile plastic cages.
No issues here though (YET).
Shutdown after arrival from a day on the lake:
I blow the water out of the sportster each time after unloading passengers and crew. This typically is just after running 20 minutes at a constant 5300rpm across the lake. Upon arrival to dock I hoist the boat partially and start it, then run at ~3500RPM while pumping water for a minute or two, then return throttle to idle just prior to final hoisting out. Once the pump comes unhooked and the water is blown out of the exhaust, I shut it down.
No signs of runaway yet, even if I goose the throttle.
I do make sure my choke linkage works properly and it's always within reach, and I can also drop the boat back in the water in an instant if runaway was to occur.
"This was the first and only time in 20 years I've run the engine to clear it out."
I'm looking forward to reading all about how you care for your 951 skis, I thought surely you would blow the water out of the exhaust after pulling it out of the water. So do you sometimes fog them or what, just gas and go, only run them in the water, or what?