starting your boats
 

i was wondering how many of you guys if any start there boats for a second to "get all the water out"after you have pulled it out on the trailer at the marina????i was told by a boat guy to start my new engine after pulling it out,but i think it is hard on the seapump?

I personally would not start mine out of the water or off a hose, if you want to get water out of the engine pull the water plugs and let her drain. Steve

That "boat guy" is an idiot.

i aways do mine, Just for a second after i drained the the exaust 100% of the time. Fire it and run for 2 seconds and turn off. Change the impeller every year and it shows no sign of heat damage. I figure that a $10 impeller is better off dead than a Block and pistons if there is moisture in there. I do have a borderline cam for reversion though. Jas

Wouldn't a simple drain cock be a better approach?

Besides, the impeller pump doesn't do well with air. Something needs to push that water out of the engine and it's typically going to be more water.

Where do you buy Merc impellers for $10?

I've run mine for a second or two without a hose. Depending on your cooling system layout, there's usually going to be enough residual water in the system to lubricate the impeller for a short "bump", but I wouldn't run the engines until no water was coming out of the pipes. By that point, the impeller(s) would definitely be toast. Of course, if you've drained all the water out of the system, don't even think about it....

In 8 seasons, I've only lost 2 impellers, both to trash blocking the water inlets. One made it through the few seconds I was without pressure, but failed the very next time out. Life lesson: If you loose WP at speed for more than an instant - better check that impeller!

the theory is to dry the exhaust out of moisture in the exhaust chamber, manifolds etc.. except for the impeller it is good for the engine. ( don't forget, most high performance engines pull water back to the exhaust valve at idle.)

Bravo impellers don't react particularly well to running dry - even if only for a second. I NEVER start mine dry and when on the hose, only at idle speed. Drying the pipes of moisture is a great idea but discovering a bad impeller next weekend when I launch my boat for a ride would really piss me off.

I didn't say I did it. Just good in theory. (I have dry pipes)

Absolutely correct!

This subject just rings a bell with me. I burnt up a FEW (:D) bravo impellers on my Formula. All it takes is a split second without water to damage one. Changing the impeller is nothing compared to finding all of the missing pieces that wind up in the oil cooler etc:mad: