This left me stranded 6 miles up the coast…

[AZMark]

I've pulled those out through the grate side with long pliers while on the trailer without pulling the pump.

 

[1WetBoat]

Clean out ports are a must on a jet boat. Why other manufacturers do not use them is beyond me......

Patented by Yamaha.

 

[Miitch]

@Guy in a Boat Clearly it would have saved my day if i had them and was more informed... in that moment i wish i did have them! maybe its just me, but ive been fortunate enough to only ever suck up something on two occasions. The first time was a friend driving over the rope while i was wakeboarding! but ill take the blame none the less LOL. but yes. as @1WetBoat said, Yamaha has patented the cleanout ports.. Would be nice to see a boat with the low speed maneuverability of a rotax and the cleanout ports of a yamaha.

@AZMark I did try looking in through the grate when i pulled out of the water but i wasnt able to see anything.. Pulling the pump and realizing what it was, i probably would have been able to remove it from the grate side had i looked harder

 

[Guy in a Boat]

@Guy in a Boat Clearly it would have saved my day if i had them and was more informed... in that moment i wish i did have them! maybe its just me, but ive been fortunate enough to only ever suck up something on two occasions. The first time was a friend driving over the rope while i was wakeboarding! but ill take the blame none the less LOL. but yes. as @1WetBoat said, Yamaha has patented the cleanout ports.. Would be nice to see a boat with the low speed maneuverability of a rotax and the cleanout ports of a yamaha.

@AZMark I did try looking in through the grate when i pulled out of the water but i wasnt able to see anything.. Pulling the pump and realizing what it was, i probably would have been able to remove it from the grate side had i looked harder

The pipe I mentioned was on a Sugar Sand jet drive and it did not have ports. Luckily it left about six feet hanging out under the grate I was able to get ahold with my foot and pull it back the way it came in. I was cruising in about 4' of water and ran over someones fish trap they built outside the fishing zone. Ive learned that no matter what something will always happen to everyone lol

 

[Mesa50]

We had the same thing happen. Sucked up wood about the size of piece of lawn mulch. A terrible vibration ensued. I could feel the wood through the clean out port, but couldn’t get it loose. My wife stuck her little hand in and had it out 2 seconds later, and we were on our way again.

 

[Sean R]

This first time we sucked something up I stuck my bare hand down the clean out port, while look at my wife I said "it feels like plastic or thin rubber" She's said, "I hope its not a condom". Fortunately it was a Kroger bag and now I put a glove on first, till I figure out what the obstruction is. ?

 

[Ronnie]

For that price you won't care if or when you drop it in the water ?

But If you drop it in the water before you are done using it price will be irrelevant. I put a short bungee cord on mine just in case it slips out of my hand. I have not had to use it yet and hope I never do but am glad to have it onboard.

 

[drewkaree]

A clean out port and hook blades for a utility knife would have worked (since it was wood). It might have taken a little whittling and perhaps a couple of blades, but you'd have gotten it out.
Hook blades are a must have if you have a Yamaha with clean out ports. It is much safer and easier to pull towards you as you try to whittle these things out. Works really well on rope too!

$4.97 for 10 and Home depot!

View attachment 157684

A folding hawksbill knife is what I prefer, just for extra clearing ability, not sure how it'd do in this situation though, since I haven't experienced it

 

[ripler]

Been there done that many times and yes the cleanout ports saved the day.

 

[2kwik4u]

@Miitch Was looking for a thread for another member and found these pictures I posted. Have a skim through these, and you can see how the cleanout port location relates to the front of the impeller

https://jetboaters.net/threads/hero-or-zero-resealed-my-jet-pump.17845/

 

[Miitch]

@Miitch Was looking for a thread for another member and found these pictures I posted. Have a skim through these, and you can see how the cleanout port location relates to the front of the impeller

https://jetboaters.net/threads/hero-or-zero-resealed-my-jet-pump.17845/

Thats much more clear.. Quite close to the impeller, which means if i had cleanouts (and not so sausage like hands) id probably have resolved the issue on the water.

 

[Guy in a Boat]

Patented by Yamaha.

Doesnt mean another manufacturer couldnt design their own clean out right? Its like not having a spare tire or jack on your car. Fix it right there or get towed in. May be a good reason Chaparral or Scarab hasnt done this yet.

 

[ripler]

Yamaha could license their patent for the clean out ports just like Malibu licenses wake towers to every other manufacturer that puts a tower on their boat.

I always hated to stick my have down I the clean out ports fearing what I was going to pull out.

 

[Guy in a Boat]

Yamaha could license their patent for the clean out ports just like Malibu licenses wake towers to every other manufacturer that puts a tower on their boat.

I always hated to stick my have down I the clean out ports fearing what I was going to pull out.

Like a snake or something? Lol. Whatever you find down there better be dead man lol. Only thing I worry about is reaching down to not find a prop or missing part of my prop.