Rudely interrupted

[buckbuck]

Heather's surf run was interrupted when the boat suddenly slowed. Fox River is a bit low right now. Glad I own a jetboat.

 

[Dixie Highway]

Lol it wouldn’t stop raining May-June, now we need some....

 

[drewkaree]

C'mon up north a bit! The Wolf is still a touch high and running fast!

 

[Brad460]

C'mon up north a bit! The Wolf is still a touch high and running fast!

We are going to put in on Lake Winnebago next weekend and head up toward Fremont. Any recommendations where to launch? Good sand bars? Places to eat?

Sorry don’t mean to hijack...

 

[212xcarbon]

We launch usually at rainbow park in Oshkosh. Multiple launches and good parking.

 

[drewkaree]

You missed the barge party this weekend! I'll shoot you a PM or start a thread for you so we don't threadjack buckbuck's funny post

 

[2kwik4u]

@buckbuck Not 100% certain what I'm seeing there. Are you pumping mud at the beginning? Did you actually run aground? What kind f depth was that? I'm guessing like 16in?

Forgive my ignorance, I'm just curious.

I'm spoiled with very deep water where I boat. It's all small rivers that were dammed up to fill in the valleys with water. It's really uncommon for us to be in less than 20ft. I have to work at finding places where we can just step off the back of the boat and not be neck deep in water.

 

[Joatmon]

@buckbuck Not 100% certain what I'm seeing there. Are you pumping mud at the beginning? Did you actually run aground? What kind f depth was that? I'm guessing like 16in?

Forgive my ignorance, I'm just curious.

I'm spoiled with very deep water where I boat. It's all small rivers that were dammed up to fill in the valleys with water. It's really uncommon for us to be in less than 20ft. I have to work at finding places where we can just step off the back of the boat and not be neck deep in water.

You are not far from the twin lakes, Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley. The only deep part of those lakes is the main channel (original river). Bays and open water are relatively shallow. If you really want to make a trip come to Estero Bay in Fort Myers. During low tide there are not many places deeper than 2 feet.

 

[2kwik4u]

You are not far from the twin lakes, Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley. The only deep part of those lakes is the main channel (original river). Bays and open water are relatively shallow. If you really want to make a trip come to Estero Bay in Fort Myers. During low tide there are not many places deeper than 2 feet.

Never had the boat on Kentucky Lake or Barkley. Been to Cumberland, Dale Hollow, Rough RIver, Nolin, Green, Patoka (IN), Taylorsville, and Douglass (TN). Wife rented a pontoon one year during her annual girls only trip on KY Lake. She didn't venture far from the marina though.

I think I'd be a nervous wreck in 2ft of water constantly. So used to "hitting bottom" being something you just don' thave to worry about. Even 25-30ft off the shoreline it's usually in the 15-20ft range.

 

[Joatmon]

Never had the boat on Kentucky Lake or Barkley. Been to Cumberland, Dale Hollow, Rough RIver, Nolin, Green, Patoka (IN), Taylorsville, and Douglass (TN). Wife rented a pontoon one year during her annual girls only trip on KY Lake. She didn't venture far from the marina though.

I think I'd be a nervous wreck in 2ft of water constantly. So used to "hitting bottom" being something you just don' thave to worry about. Even 25-30ft off the shoreline it's usually in the 15-20ft range.

I rarely jet boat in Estero bay because it is so shallow and have to stay in the channels. Drug bottom too many times. My fishing boat has a 4” draft so it is my go to bay boat.

 

[haknslash]

Yea we don’t have real shallow lakes or rivers like that here. I mean we have shallow areas to avoid on a few lakes and rivers but they are outside of the channel. For surfing you’ll want a minimum of 15’ depth or the wave drastically turns to nothing.

No way I’d want that stuff going through the cooling system!! For sure would make me nervous with any of the newer boats with the AK rudder. Snap that thing off hard enough on bottom you might bust the drain plug too.

 

[Joatmon]

Roug

Yea we don’t have real shallow lakes or rivers like that here. I mean we have shallow areas to avoid on a few lakes and rivers but they are outside of the channel. For surfing you’ll want a minimum of 15’ depth or the wave drastically turns to nothing.

No way I’d want that stuff going through the cooling system!! For sure would make me nervous with any of the newer boats with the AK rudder. Snap that thing off hard enough on bottom you might bust the drain plug too.

Fortunately the Scarab has a self contained cooling system. Jet drive in shallow water is definitely an advantage over prop drive. Two of the main reasons I chose the jet drive.

 

[swatski]

Heather's surf run was interrupted when the boat suddenly slowed. Fox River is a bit low right now. Glad I own a jetboat.

Okay, @buckbuck, I raise you (granted, not surfing at the time).

This is my only way out during low water times, I would say a good 6" is a minimum though, lol. It's all silt but still takes a bit of... dedication.
The video clip is a bit off, it gets pretty tight behind that bend (and I had to focus somewhat on driving, lol). No alcohol is involved, just pure dedication to be out on the water. My FLorida friends think I'm nuts, but hey, its Midwest and we do what we can.

--

 

[Joatmon]

Ouch. That sand and grit has to abrasive to the impeller and liner.

Saying that. Been there powering through a sand bar so shallow the boat is tilted on one side of the V bottom. I just grit my teeth and power through to deeper water. Jet drive not failed me yet. Do that with a prop.

 

[2kwik4u]

Okay, @buckbuck, I raise you (granted, not surfing at the time).

This is my only way out during low water times, I would say a good 6" is a minimum though, lol. It's all silt but still takes a bit of... dedication.
The video clip is a bit off, it gets pretty tight behind that bend (and I had to focus somewhat on driving, lol). No alcohol is involved, just pure dedication to be out on the water. My FLorida friends think I'm nuts, but hey, its Midwest and we do what we can.
View attachment 101896

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Wonder if you came through with a bit more throttle if you could "reshape" that channel a little with the jet wash. Looked like you were still getting clear-sh water to the jets, and the mud was getting stirred in between the two sprays.

I seriously can't imagine boating in that shallow of water. You guys are nuts.

 

[Joatmon]

I don’t do it on purpose. When I started boating In Florida I did not realize the waters were so shallow in the bays and the Gulf inlets. I would wonder outside the channel and get caught in shallow water. I now stay in the channel unless I really know the depth and proceed slowly.

 

[swatski]

Ouch. That sand and grit has to abrasive to the impeller and liner.

Saying that. Been there powering through a sand bar so shallow the boat is tilted on one side of the V bottom. I just grit my teeth and power through to deeper water. Jet drive not failed me yet. Do that with a prop.

Well, us midwestern boaters have different challenges... The biggest one: no ocean here! lol

This is my sixth season on that river with a Yamaha jet boat, compared to some 5(?) years beforehand with outboards so also raw water cooled, same exact river place, same issues with clogging. Water here is silty but neutral pH and there is not much corrosion, especially if dry slipping (marina electric current can be very corrosive). Compared to, say, south FL salt the motors here last forever.

As far as clogging the cooling passages, the usual culprit is internal corrosion and aluminum oxide deposits buildup.

Silt is not an issue for cooling at all, at least in my experience, as long as one makes a habit to run WOT for a while every now and then to blow it all out!

I may pull the head out of shear curiosity at some point, but I would be shocked if my cooling passages are anything but completely clean.

I'm probably as attentive to my pumps' hygiene as any jet boater on this forum, I don't really see a lot of damage from anything but gravel and rocks - which can eat impellers and plastic wear rings in an instant. If I suck in twigs or wooden debris - pull pump quick is a fix, no harm.

--

 

[haknslash]

Roug

Fortunately the Scarab has a self contained cooling system. Jet drive in shallow water is definitely an advantage over prop drive. Two of the main reasons I chose the jet drive.

I’m not too familiar with BRP engines but I thought it still used raw water for other parts in addition to closed cooling. I could certainly be wrong though as I’m just not that familiar with BRP engines. My Raptor engine is also “closed cooled” but it also has raw water cooling in other places.

 

[haknslash]

Wonder if you came through with a bit more throttle if you could "reshape" that channel a little with the jet wash. Looked like you were still getting clear-sh water to the jets, and the mud was getting stirred in between the two sprays.

I seriously can't imagine boating in that shallow of water. You guys are nuts.

Haha this has me thinking. Get one of those fly board things and have someone dredge out a deeper channel using a PWC. That way you could direct the jet straight down lol. Man that would be a huge mud wash and amazing to see lol. Someone do it!!!

 

[Joatmon]

I’m not too familiar with BRP engines but I thought it still used raw water for other parts in addition to closed cooling. I could certainly be wrong though as I’m just not that familiar with BRP engines. My Raptor engine is also “closed cooled” but it also has raw water cooling in other places.

The exhaust manifold does use raw water for cooling. That is why it is important to flush the exhaust afterwards especially in salt water. The self contained engine cooling uses anti-freeze so I don’t get sand into the engine head cooling chambers. Anyway you look at it sucking in mud or sand is not good. I’m getting better about staying off the bottom.