We took our brand new 2008 Challenger 180 SE to Bass Lake (outside Fresno CA) for our vacation. I'm not new to boating (owned 2 previous boats) but I am new to jet boats. We got the boat in the water just fine but getting out of of the slip under power was an experience. We get out on the lake and the boat jumps on plane pretty good with 4 adults and gear loaded on board.
After a few laps of the lake we break out the tube and our sons jump on. All is good until I forget about the intake under the boat and suck up my own tow line. I'm thankful it happened at idle and not under power. The boat stalls out and we limp into shore. Our sons don the scuba mask and with knife in hand and go under to free the line. We pull out about 2 feet and try to turn the motor over. YEAH, it starts. We idle out of the no wake zone but can't get on plane. The wife is in a panic and I'm trying to convince her the problem is solvable.
We tie up in our slip and call it a day by firing up my laptop and try to locate a dealer to help. No dealers within a reasonable driving range so I log on to this site and do a search and find the problem is simple. While I'm on the site I also lookup some threads on low speed handling.
Next day we pull the boat out of the water and crawl under to discover some more line is still wrapped around the shaft. We break out the socket set and start removing the screws that hold the grate. The 3 aft screws come out with no issues the forward screw has been torqued down so hard it has shifted off center to the point where you can't get 3/4 of the socket to fit.
Our 2002 Xterra has a rod that is used to lower the spare tire (18" long rod with a small prong on one end that forms a T. We reach in and start working the T under the knot and it gives way!
We relaunch and idle out of the no wake zone and push the throttle forward and ZOOM, up on plane and away we go!
We had a great time on Bass Lake and with the help of the members of this site solved a common problem and I improved my slow speed handling. Thanks to everyone who contributes to this site with their problems, solutions and advice.
After a few laps of the lake we break out the tube and our sons jump on. All is good until I forget about the intake under the boat and suck up my own tow line. I'm thankful it happened at idle and not under power. The boat stalls out and we limp into shore. Our sons don the scuba mask and with knife in hand and go under to free the line. We pull out about 2 feet and try to turn the motor over. YEAH, it starts. We idle out of the no wake zone but can't get on plane. The wife is in a panic and I'm trying to convince her the problem is solvable.
We tie up in our slip and call it a day by firing up my laptop and try to locate a dealer to help. No dealers within a reasonable driving range so I log on to this site and do a search and find the problem is simple. While I'm on the site I also lookup some threads on low speed handling.
Next day we pull the boat out of the water and crawl under to discover some more line is still wrapped around the shaft. We break out the socket set and start removing the screws that hold the grate. The 3 aft screws come out with no issues the forward screw has been torqued down so hard it has shifted off center to the point where you can't get 3/4 of the socket to fit.
Our 2002 Xterra has a rod that is used to lower the spare tire (18" long rod with a small prong on one end that forms a T. We reach in and start working the T under the knot and it gives way!
We relaunch and idle out of the no wake zone and push the throttle forward and ZOOM, up on plane and away we go!
We had a great time on Bass Lake and with the help of the members of this site solved a common problem and I improved my slow speed handling. Thanks to everyone who contributes to this site with their problems, solutions and advice.
