Leaves in water causing motor to run weird?

[catfighter]

So I took my boat out today and ran it a little bit. It ran well at first, then it starts revving high and was bogging down. Now I've run this thing for like 6 hours and nothing like this has happened.

The difference today may have been all the leaves collecting on the shaft. Maybe the extra leaves are causing excess drag and slowing down the boat? Would this case cavitation as well?

 

[F_R]

Re: Leaves in water causing motor to run weird?

So I took my boat out today and ran it a little bit. It ran well at first, then it starts revving high and was bogging down. Now I've run this thing for like 6 hours and nothing like this has happened.

The difference today may have been all the leaves collecting on the shaft. Maybe the extra leaves are causing excess drag and slowing down the boat? Would this case cavitation as well?

Absolutely!! Anything looping around the leading edge of the lower unit will make air bubbles and cause cavitation. It is much worse on some rigs than others. I've had boats and motors that wouldn't get out of their own way with just one blade of sea grass looped around it.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Leaves in water causing motor to run weird?

We usually get a lot of "stringy" weeds late in the season here. You don't know it is hanging onto the lower unit while you are trolling through the mile long no wake zone but as soon as you hit it you know. I got into the habit of giving it a little rev in reverse to clear it before we set off. Worked well.

 

[catfighter]

Re: Leaves in water causing motor to run weird?

Whew! Okay. I thought maybe I screwed something up on the motor.

Other boats were going slow today, too. But then again I did see some monster boats tearing through the leaves with no problem. They were in-boards, though. Maybe that made the difference.

My motor only weighs 50# so I don't have a problem tilting it up to loosen the leaves (while in neutral, of course).

Thanks for the help!

 

[Forgotten]

Re: Leaves in water causing motor to run weird?

Its real easy to tilt it up in reverse lol

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Leaves in water causing motor to run weird?

Give the reverse thing a try next time