Anchor and clogged impeller question

[Sikiguya]

Well, it was such a crappy day yesterday, we almost gave up the hopes of going boating. Then the sun came up in the early afternoon so off we went. Everything went super perfect(except the guy that took forever at the gas pump...not pumping gas but just taking up time.....another time to rant). We got out and decide to anchor so the kids can play at the beach. I put a danforth anchor off the bow and a river anchor of the stern. The bottom is sandy...we cannot stay still at all...any advice????...funny, my wife asked me,"What do the guys on the Seadoo Forum use??":rofl:

Second, coming in to dock, there was a traffic jamp at the loading ramp. Since I was idling in 4 foot water, I didn't have any problems. Once I was getting it close to the dock, my wife asked me..."Is there suppose to smoke like that?" I looked back and didn't see anything. I just assumed that she meant the exhaust. After we trailer, I did find that the impeller had some weed on them. About an handful of it. Should I panic?...and what should I check? Nothing on the panel light up or anything. How much does come from the exhaust??

 

[rookie101]

I have always used Danforth anchors and have had good luck with them. Are you letting enough rope out (or to be technical when talking about anchor line 'RODE"). The general rule of thumb is you need five times the length as height. As an example, if your cleat that the rope is tied to is ten feet from the bottom, you need fifty feet of rope out too keep the proper angle on the anchor.

About your seaweed, if you didn't overheat, I wouldn't worry about it. Just clean the jet out and flush the engine to make sure nothing is obstructing the cooling path for the exhaust.

Aaron:cheers:

 

[Sikiguya]

More info

Thanks Aaron! That was the problem...I didn't give it enough line. I will definitely give that a try the next time.

I forgot to mention that I accidentally had the blower on...we were coming in from a close area of the lake at the end of the day. Since we realized that we were short a couple of PFD for a couple of adults, we just cruised into the ramp area. Would the smoke be normal exhaust being suck out? Or would that cause other problem.

I cleared both impellers without much trouble Now, how do I flush? Are you talking about about the garden hose attachment?..which I don't have! I thought that was just to run water to cool engine while testing... I plan to wash and wax the boat this afternoon...anything I can do to check it?

So, what should I look for if it happens again. Is there a warning on the dash? I read in a post from a year ago that there should be a buzzer...Is it a beep or a buzz? There was just the beeping from the depth finder as we were right next to the ramps. Would the check engine or oil light come on?

 

[rookie101]

Are you saying smoke was coming out of the engine compartment?? If so that is not normal. Your engines still use raw water to keep the exhaust cool. If the jets were plugged up the exhaust may have been getting to hot and smoking. Have a look at the engines to see if anything looks like it got really hot.

Yeah I am talking about the garden hose attachment. Running the engines on the hose for a few minuets will flush the exhaust and the raw water intakes in the pumps. I don't have your engine package in my Uboat, so give Craig or Karl a shout and they should be able to talk you through it.

Aaron

 

[Sikiguya]

I didn't see it..

While I was trying to maneveur the boat to the dock. My wife asked me if smoke was normal. I glanced back and didn't see anything. She said that there were smoke coming from the vent on the swim deck.

I did pop the engine and look around...but I don't know what I am looking for...Everything looks okay. I check the foam and it doesn't look like it melted or sign of excess heat. Where should I look? Is it worth a trip to the dealer to have them check it out???

 

[rookie101]

That's the last place I would ever recommend:rofl:

Don't worry about it yet, it may have just been steam. Give the boat a flush and keep an eye on it next time out.

Aaron:cheers:

 

[Sikiguya]

Mystery smoke/steam?

Okay, sat my wife down and gave her the third degree as to what she saw. She said that it didn't smell like anything was burning. It was a whitish looking smoke/steam coming out. She akin it to like a fog machine in a horror setting. She said that it didn't smell like gas or smoke....but it had a strange odor to it...that she can't place.??????? BRP offer a fog machine option to these boats?:ack:

 

[rookie101]

Make sure your antifreeze is full and have a look for any leaks.


Aaron:cheers:

 

[Sikiguya]

They are half...

Looking at it...it isn't at the max. It isn't at the min. It is right where the rib in the bottle is. It is higher in one than the other...just a bit. I can see any place that is leaking...any suggestion as what specific area to look?:redface:

 

[sporsterjoel]

on my boat when im anchored in shallow water i use 2 anchors one at the fron and back.

 

[rookie101]

Looking at it...it isn't at the max. It isn't at the min. It is right where the rib in the bottle is. It is higher in one than the other...just a bit. I can see any place that is leaking...any suggestion as what specific area to look?:redface:

You would see green under one of the engines if you had a leak. Just use the boat and keep an eye on it. It could have been steam from the exhaust that looked like it was coming out of the vent, or any oil/water/antifreeze that had been spilled on the exhaust.

Use the boat, and after about a half hour of running open the engine compartment and see if there is any signs of steam or smoke. Remember to shut the engines off and don't touch anything in case you burn yourself. I'm sure you're probably fine, but it doesn't hurt to have a look.

Aaron:cheers:

 

[Sikiguya]

Thanks!

Thanks Aaron.:cheers::cheers::cheers:

That is the conclusion that I have reached. I really don't want to run it to the dealer and have it sit there for a couple of weeks. I think we will drop it in and stay close to the ramps and run it for a few to see. I see nothing at the bottom of the engine compartment. Is the coolant level okay? Should it be at the max??

 

[rookie101]

It'll be fine where it is. Just mention to the dealer when you take it in for service to top up all the fluids. That way you'll get an idea of how through they are.

Aaron:cheers:

 

[Craigmri]

Jim,

As for the Anchoring Aaron is right(as usual) general the "scope" os 5 to 1 which means for every foot of water you want 5 feet of anchor line. I have 100 feet of anchor line and used a sharpie marker and marked the line every 10' so I know how much I've dispatched. I mark a single line for 10', at 20' I mark two lines etc.... This way I always know how much line I've extended. Your usually better off letting out more line than not enough. when you have what you feel is enough line put the boat in reverse and back up to set the anchor. You'll know if it grabs.

As for the white smoke, what she probably saw was some exhaust steam coming from the water line at the stern. If you didnt have any alarms your fine. You said you looked back and saw nothing so i'm confident it was just a little normal exhaust steam. I see it on mine all the time when I'm behind the boat waiting to be wakeboard.

Craig