Am I the only moron to have done this?

[AZDANSX230HO]

We have not had the boat out yet this year, so this thread is a good reminder to put in my clean out plugs - I have never forgot to in the past, but being so busy lately I would have probably forgot.

 

[007]

Been there done that. My daughter may have learned a few new words that day as we drifted towards the rocks. Eventually I figured it out, but not without a little lose of dignity along the way.

 

[Emilio22]

Has happened to me a few times. Just find a place to turn off the motors and hop back there and put them in. I have gotten good at this move ;-)

 

[txav8r]

It is really embarrassing when you are strutting around like a peacock all impressed with yourself, and your guests think you are really knowledgable and quite the seaman...then, vroom, VROOM, VROOM, and no movement....the way to manage to save face and manage their expectations of your prowess is to say, "damn, some kind of debris, I can fix it!" Then go back, stick in the plugs, and come back with a piece of noodle I tore off my shore spike pad that lives in the cleanout tray! All you get are oohs and awes for your ability to diagnose and correct in short order! This is the way I wish I had done it...but ironically, I did it just like y'all, and my wife still supported me! I have such a great wife! To think she puts up with a moron!

 

[YamahaForMe]

There are only two types of Yamaha Jet Boat owners:
1) Those that have forgotten to install their clean out plugs
2) Those who are going to forget to install their clean out plugs.

 

[Murf'n'surf]

I've done it exactly once. Couldn't figure out what the hell was wrong.... kept remembering that I took off the stern and bow strap 2 minutes ago....what the hell is wrong? Just give it more juice captain! Well, that didn't work and after I heard the boater at the dock next to me say "...let's hurry up and get away from THAT guy" it became clear in my brain that Captain perfect screwed up.

 

[captras]

We have not had the boat out yet this year, so this thread is a good reminder to put in my clean out plugs - I have never forgot to in the past, but being so busy lately I would have probably forgot.

You can always blame it on the upcoming wedding, Dan!

 

[BlackandTan]

Been there. Done that.

 

[AZDANSX230HO]

You can always blame it on the upcoming wedding, Dan!

Very true, we were supposed to go to the lake last weekend, but we wound up going to the wedding venue to go over everything for several hours, it's booked and done, just need to write a big fat check in a few months.............ouch Lol.

 

[txav8r]

You know, I agree with @Murf'n'surf , you really are only surprised once with this. You hear it, you feel it, you have that puzzled and sinking feeling, and then if it happens again, you know exactly what it is and jump back there and do what your checklist would have helped you remember. Speaking of remembering, I can't remember if I provided my checklist, created in Word, that I have shared many times. You can alter it to help you make sure all of your checks are done. It has a pre departure check, a driveway check, pre launch, launch, and recover check. Check it out!

 

[robert cabrerea]

Ive done it!!! With all the things we have to deal with and then the great feeling when u figure out its not a busted impeller or spun somthing or other. Man you got off easy.

 

[Jp127]

3 cars back in line waiting to launch on a busy weekend. I also had a trusted and experienced boater friend with me. All of a sudden it's our turn. One boat had a dead battery so the other guy helped him. All of a sudden it was our turn!

We jump out of the truck and un-strap everything. Got the boat in the water and off I go. After a little bit of putting around in the no wake zone I see my ski locker lid starting to float.

I jump in the water and realized in our rush I didn't install the drain plug. That's when I found out contacts make good swim goggles for about 30 seconds.

 

[smack]

Adding myself to the wall of shame - did this yesterday (hadn't had the boat out in a couple of months) - had trouble backing it off the lift, limped around the no wake zone, turned off boat, jumped in to swim under and check the intakes, nothing found, open the clean out hatch - D'OH! That was about 30 minutes of trying to figure out what could be causing cavitation - my wife did at least go easy on me.

 

[fireflymedic]

There are only two types of Yamaha Jet Boat owners:
1) Those that have forgotten to install their clean out plugs
2) Those who are going to forget to install their clean out plugs.

Well there are really 3 types
3) those that never take them out even though your sopose to

 

[Hannibal]

Busy Saturday at the Bellaire ramps. Backed the boat in. parked truck/trailer. Started boat to back out. No thrust. Drifted into concrete pilings with wife holding us off with a stick. Finally remembered what I forgot to do. My biggest concern was the engine running for that couple of minutes without water pressure in the cooling line. Put the plug in and haven't forgot it since.

 

[AndyD]

There are only two types of Yamaha Jet Boat owners:
1) Those that have forgotten to install their clean out plugs
2) Those who are going to forget to install their clean out plugs.

More like:

1) Those that have forgotten to install their clean out plugs
2) Those that are lying

 

[jetboater4life]

I just did this today. I think it is the third time in 5 years of boating. I used to have two footballs in my cleanouts. Now I have none and there are a lot of foam chunks floating around the launch. I store my footballs down in the cleanout hole and the plugs laying on top of the cleanout hole after every outing. I chewed up one football last year and now the other one is gone. Time to buy two new 6" nerf footballs.

 

[Patrick L]

I just did this today. Lake Carlyle. Forgot my checklist. Left plugs out. Took off and broke both latch paws. Now I get to call SCBM tomorrow to see if they have the latches in stock so my brother can pick them up tomorrow on his way up to the lake. Of course looks like they don't sell just the paw piece I need for both latches. Luckily no other damage. Looks like if they don't have it in stock I will be trying to repair them with some jb weld to get me thru the week. Currently the only thing hold the lid shut is gravity.

This should have a trophy associated to it.

 

[Bill D]

The stock latches are a pretty standard 2.5" latch. The tricky part is the little lever underneath that catches.

Most marine supply stores / dealerships should have something. Otherwise, you can purchase from Amazon and get it by Saturday.
https://www.amazon.com/Whitecap-Industries-T-Handle-Latch-Chrome/dp/B002JQ5Y9K/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1500640035&sr=8-12&keywords=hatch+latch

 

[justason]

I did it once. on purpose.

When my son was solo-legal to pilot the boat. we launched it. (made sure he had his phone w/him) instead of backing off the trailer I gave it a huge shove ....... told him to start it and go....... As I drove up the ramp I watched him do a mental trouble shoot in my mirror. he nailed it almost right away !!