When being towed

[Ryan Pittman]

I saw something about towing the boat in the water is bad because water can get sucked into the engine?...is there something I'm supposed to do if say I have to be towed back in by towboat?

 

[feziwig]

take a look here or just search tow valve

https://jetboaters.net/threads/adding-tow-valves-2004-sx230-questions.2314/

 

[Ryan Pittman]

I had to get towed back last year before I ever heard of this...luckily no damage...it wasn't a short trip either

 

[Beachbummer]

You have to be towed fast for some time for it to be a problem. The cooling system relies on high pressure from the pump while under way to provide coming water, and it also relies on the engine exhaust to push water out of places it should not be. If you provide water pressure with no exhaust pressure (engine off) that's when things can go wrong, and if this happens long enough the water will fill the exhaust and ask passages, next it goes in the cylinders.

Even then you are still ok, until you try to start the boat back, and the Piston meets incompressible water. Then you might get unlucky. Bent shaft or damaged valves is the potential result. If you ever suspect water in engine, crank it with no spark plugs. The water will exit via spark plugs holes with some power. Once it's dry again run it like you stole it for an hour, and with luck no consequences will remain.

Now your know

Water ingestion while the engine is running is normally pretty bad. (Is not the starter causing the undesired power, but the power of the engine running at current speed). And it s rare for this to occur without damage.

To avoid it, don't run the engine under water. Bilge alarm and auto bilge pump are your friends.