Seaweed NIGHTMARE

[I know You know]

So we are on vacation in the Florida Keys for the next several weeks hoping to enjoy our new 210 FSH. The water is riddled with patches of Seaweed, I have spent more time on my knees cleaning the intakes than running the boat, we are one more bad day away from dumping this nightmare at the local Yamaha dealer and selling it, i think we made a huge mistake buying a Jet boat, never had this problem with any of my outboard or OI we have owned in the past.

 

[DieselCamel]

What’s your speed when your hitting these patches of sea weed. You would expect most of it to get chopped up without issue. The faster the better.

 

[I know You know]

So we are on vacation in the Florida Keys for the next several weeks hoping to enjoy our new 210 FSH. The water is riddled with patches of Seaweed, I have spent more time on my knees cleaning the intakes than running the boat, we are one more bad day away from dumping this nightmare at the local Yamaha dealer and selling it, i think we made a huge mistake buying a Jet boat, never had this problem with any of my outboard or OI we have owned in the past.

Unfortunately I am in a no wake channel so I am at idle speed for about 2 blocks before I hit open water.

 

[Ralph MIA]

Dude, that was me the past two weekends. I’ve never seen the seaweed this bad.

Let’s see if someone has an ingenious solution. This might just be the price we pay for having a jet boat.

 

[Julian]

Jet boats don't do well with long weedy channels.

Have you tried using the reverse manuever, it might be faster than cleaning them manually, but if they are too clogged it won't work.

 

[I know You know]

Jet boats don't do well with long weedy channels.

Have you tried using the reverse manuever, it might be faster than cleaning them manually, but if they are too clogged it won't work.

Julian I can't do the reverse maneuver in the channel because its right and I have boats on both sides, so my only choice is to limp out of the channel and then try either or, I'm just really frustrated right now, I love the boat and have done several upgrades to make it my own but this is really frustrating.

 

[CraigAR]

Maybe try no wake mode and max it to the highest rpm, should bump up to about 2600 rpm's turning the impeller faster and keeping your speed around 6 mph while barely pushing a wake. I have to drive through many slow speed canals with weeds and never have a problem.

 

[Julian]

When we had to deal with a long weedy channel on a lake we stayed on in WI, I would run one engine first until it clogged, then shut it down and start the 2nd engine. This would get us twice as far (and usually through the worst of it). then once we made it out, if the 2nd engine wasn't totally clogged I'd do the reverse manuever in the open to clear both intakes. Worst case I did it manually.

Is this channel where you live, or just a vacation spot?

 

[I know You know]

When we had to deal with a long weedy channel on a lake we stayed on in WI, I would run one engine first until it clogged, then shut it down and start the 2nd engine. This would get us twice as far (and usually through the worst of it). then once we made it out, if the 2nd engine wasn't totally clogged I'd do the reverse manuever in the open to clear both intakes. Worst case I did it manually.

Is this channel where you live, or just a vacation spot?

It's a vacation spot, if it was my home I would be putting the boat up for sale tomorrow...we've even had a problem with our skis, something that I have never had an issue with.

 

[I know You know]

Dude, that was me the past two weekends. I’ve never seen the seaweed this bad.

Let’s see if someone has an ingenious solution. This might just be the price we pay for having a jet boat.

Ralph are you running your boat in the keys?

 

[Sbrown]

I can tell you that after many years of running O/B, I/B and I/O, when we got into heavy weeds and eelgrass, the props get just as fouled as the jets do. Plus they have a skeg hanging down that just seems to catch everything. The water intakes on the lower units can get blocked fairly easy and cause overheating issues. I honestly see no advantages to any drive system other than airboat or hovercraft when running through heavy weed choked areas.

 

[I know You know]

I can tell you that after many years of running O/B, I/B and I/O, when we got into heavy weeds and eelgrass, the props get just as fouled as the jets do. Plus they have a skeg hanging down that just seems to catch everything. The water intakes on the lower units can get blocked fairly easy and cause overheating issues. I honestly see no advantages to any drive system other than airboat or hovercraft when running through heavy weed choked areas.

Sbrown what's frustrating is that no one in our channel is having problems except for the two of us that have jet boats, the OB folks are riding up and down the channel as if nothing....uuurrrgggjhh

 

[Sbrown]

Sbrown what's frustrating is that no one in our channel is having problems except for the two of us that have jet boats, the OB folks are riding up and down the channel as if nothing....uuurrrgggjhh

Oh, I guess I didn't realize other people weren't having a problem. I can see how that would be incredibly frustrating, watching other boaters cruising by while you're having problems . I've only been in a jet boat for a year and there are times when I question that decision, same as you.

 

[Tailwaters]

I was warned up front if you boat in an area that has lots of grass or pads this may not be the boat for you. Fortunately where I boat in Lake Michigan mostly we don't have those problems. I did suck up a tow rope a couple weeks ago. Forgot to shut the motor down while the kids were making adjustments on the tube and by the time I remembered neutral is still in gear it was too late. Got lucky as I was able to pull the clean out plug and pull the rope out.

 

[Frank Marshall]

Just a shot in the dark, but would a trolling motor work? Do you have plans for one when you get home?

 

[ClemsonTiger]

Ah, yet another SoFlo resident burned by the FSH...welcome to the club bro!

Made for freshwater lakes.....

 

[ClemsonTiger]

Just a shot in the dark, but would a trolling motor work? Do you have plans for one when you get home?

Would literally take forever to get to clear open water using a trolling motor...

 

[Tailwaters]

Not an option in my book. If I had weeds and grass to deal with on a regular bases I would never have even considered a jet boat.

 

[PaulyB]

Is the seaweed floating or is it getting sucked up off the bottom?

 

[ClemsonTiger]

Is the seaweed floating or is it getting sucked up off the bottom?

Floating, always floating. Sargassum weed