Favorite Debris Removal Tools

[Icatfish247]

After spending a good half hour trying to remove a piece of plastic that wedged itself tightly into the impeller this weekend, im curious what everyone has in their arsenal in terms of debris removal tools.

My go to options:
1) Reverse Method
2) Needle Nose Pliers
3) Offset Screwdriver(shaped like a double Allen Wrench) - this past weekends winner

Anyone have any other favorites which could save a rough day on the water? Can never be too prepared.

 

[scokill]

Single edge razor blade....the kind used in flat scraper. Also utility knife. Good for rope, twine, etc. Not much risk of cutting yourself as you can only get one hand down there.

 

[Ajax]

Only ever needed the elbow deep five finger approach. Luckily have never had to enter the water.

 

[tdonoughue]

Extreme caution is warranted if you try to enter the water. If you dive under there and get your hand wedged in the grate, it will be the next owner who will remove the debris, not you.

 

[BlackandTan]

Before I ever put my boat in the water for the first time, I bought a set of those 11" needle nose pliers, one is straight and one is bent at a 45 degree angle. After clearing a couple of minor chunks of wood I realized that I would probably never use them. I do keep a good knife for cutting ropes - God forbid I ever suck one up, but I too use the reverse method or just my fingers.

 

[tdonoughue]

Frankly, I can't see the pliers being very useful. I would probably wind up dropping them trying to turn them the right angle to get to the offending element. I think I need to get one of the curved knives with a wrist strap. But usually I have been able to clear with just my fingers. And it is usually a rope, so I only want to cut it as a last resort. That means that I will spend 30 minutes unwinding the @#$@% to save a buck and the afternoon of tubing.

Only one time was I not able to get the thing out with my fingers--that was a piece of wood wedged in the impeller so tight that I wound up pulling the boat, pulling the grate and using a whole set of tools on the bloomin' thing to break it to pieces until the last bit was small enough to get out.

 

[ThatJeepGuy]

Slightly off subject, is it possible to pull the pump housing on a newer Yamaha ? With the Bimini trip coming soon I'm wondering if something gets wedged in there that I can't remove is it possible to remove the pump without pulling the boat out?

 

[robert843]

Slightly off subject, is it possible to pull the pump housing on a newer Yamaha ? With the Bimini trip coming soon I'm wondering if something gets wedged in there that I can't remove is it possible to remove the pump without pulling the boat out?

I dont have the answer to this but the worst you will probably suck up during this trip is seaweed and shouldn't need that extreme of a project to remove. Once about 5 miles out of Ft Lauderdale the water is pretty clean.

 

[njmr2fan]

 

[Gym]

That's pretty handy. Can you post the link for that @njmr2fan?

 

[njmr2fan]

Im not sure where I found mine, But I sure wish I bought 2! Very grippy!

 

[tdonoughue]

Just think how many times you could simultaneously give that idiot on the boat ramp the finger....

 

[Kevin M]

Leatherman tool. I used mine twice this weekend to free a twig (2) that was in the impeller. Plus, it's good for many other tasks like opening beer bottles!

 

[Evildwarf]

Small pocketknife or leather man tool.
Had to whittle a chunk of wood down to toothpicks before it could be removed from the impeller. Wedged incredibly tight.
Small flat bladed screwdriver has been handy as well.

 

[mb300sd]

A large strap wrench. Wrap it around the coupler in the engine compartment and give it a slight turn backwards. I had a rock wedged in there good and that was the only way to get it out.