Whether you’re washing out your boat’s engine to get rid of silt from your previous visit to the beach or you just want to de-winterize it, you would be required to run the motor on land.
For this purpose, it is a must to know how to hook up water hose to inboard boat motor. To start your boat’s engine on land, you must know where you can attach the water hose as it is not at all advisable to run it without any water.
An inboard motor flusher will be required to hook up a water hose to an inboard motor. This attachment resembles a toilet plunger and is commonly known as fake a lake. It has a rubber cup just like a plunger and a nozzle adjacent to that cup.
How To Hook Up Water Hose To Inboard Boat Motor
Step1:
First of all, attach a garden hose to that nozzle.
Step2:
Now install the flusher underneath the hull to the boat’s water intake.
Step3:
Next, Turn on the water and start your engine. It is as simple as that.
Heading out to the lake, this weekend? but wait, have you checked your boat thoroughly? Make sure that everything is functioning properly before getting to the launching ramp.
After a long winter break, starting the boat’s engine to check whether it’s operating or not, is a requisite for a fun-filled day on the water.
Your vessel requires continuous maintenance in order to run smoothly on the water without giving you any trouble. However, a professional’s help is not required for every day’s maintenance, you can easily do it by yourself.
Some boaters test-run their boat’s engine without water, just to check it before getting to the ramp. This practice is not at all advisable. Even though they do it for a few seconds, but still it can damage their boat.
The engine of the boat will not overheat, but running the engine without water may damage its water pump/impeller. The impeller or rubber pump cools off the engine, it will be damaged if used dry.
Inboard Motor and Outboard Motor
In an inboard motor, the engine is contained inside the hull, whereas, in an outboard motor, it is usually located at the stern. Both these engines require different equipment and tools for their maintenance.
An outboard engine calls for a different type of motor flusher which looks like earmuffs. While on the contrary, the attachment needed for an inboard motor is similar to a toilet plunger. Although both work in the same way.
The repairs with inboard motors are generally complicated as compared to outboard engines however they require less maintenance.
The inboard motors can remain on water for 1500 hrs approximately without any need for maintenance. On the other hand, the outboard motor would give you around 750 hrs without any maintenance.
But there is a downside to the inboard engines. They may not be appropriate for shallow waters with unseen hurdles like rocks etc.
As the motor can not be raised to avoid the obstructions lying at the bottom and can bump into them thus damaging the engine system.
Both have their advantages and disadvantages, it is you who can decide which one is better for you but one thing is common between them.
You can not run them without any water. Not even for a few seconds. If you are required to start your engine on land then make use of a motor flusher, with its help you can easily carry out this activity.
Why Do You Need To Wash Out The Engine
Removing accumulated salts and other impurities. To optimize the performance of your boat’s engine, It is of utmost importance to flush it out on regular basis.
All the vessels used in saltwater should be washed out properly with fresh water to clear out the engine from any salt or silt residue. The passages should be unclogged and flushed out accordingly.
This will reduce the accumulation of these substances in the cooling passages. As a result, the engine’s efficiency will improve, which consequently will lower your maintenance bills.
De-winterizing your Boat
You need to prepare your boat for the laughter-filled days at the lake. It is necessary to test-run your boat’s engine to avoid any surprises at the launch.
Make sure the motor runs before splashing. Check the battery and the engine, if it’s working properly. For this purpose, you need to start the engine on land.
Be careful, not to run it without any circulating water, however, operating it for a few seconds may not harm the engine but it can burn the rubber impeller in your water pump.
Inboard Motor Flusher
Water must circulate through the engine to prevent it from overheating. An inboard motor flusher is an attachment for your inboard boat.
Whenever you want to run the engine on land, use this equipment which will ensure water supply to the system, and then you can safely turn on the engine.
This equipment is very easy to use. It has a suction cup just like a toilet plunger, and close to it is an outlet where you can hook up your garden hose.
The handle of this motor flusher is adjustable. You can adjust it according to the height of your boat.
You don’t need any tools to attach it to the boat. It securely fits on the water intake point underneath your boat’s hull.
The flusher which is commonly known as a fake-a-lake works great for all inboard motors that have a thru-hull water intake point under the hull.
It is a very convenient way to start the boat’s engine even out of water. The boat should be on a trailer or any other raised platform so that you could fix the rubber cap on the intake under the boat.
How To Run An Inboard Motor Out Of Water
1. First of all gear up for the activity. Get yourself a motor flusher. Don’t worry about the price as the item is highly economical.
2. Check your garden hose, make sure that it is attached to the water supply and water is coming through it with full force without any blockade.
3. Now hook up a garden hose to the small nozzle adjacent to the rubber cup. Ensure that there is no kink in the hose, plus it is securely attached to the motor flusher.
You don’t want it to fall while flushing the motor. If the water supply is cut off during the process, it will be terrible for the safety of your engine.
4. Next, go down under the boat and find the water intake point. Its location may vary depending on your boat. However, it is most probably towards the starboard side.
Attach the suction cup to the water inlet. Make sure that it is the right point from where the water is picked up. The rubber cup should cover the entire intake. Confirm that the cup is tightly sticking to the inlet.
5. Now extend the handle of the motor flusher to adjust it according to the height of your boat. The handle should reach the ground while sticking to the water intake point. It has a rubber foot which can keep it in one place.
Make certain that the flusher is fully secured, and everything is firm and steady. All attachments should be fixed accurately. Negligence of any kind is unacceptable at this point as it can be damaging for your marine buddy.
6. Now it’s time to turn on the water, but before that confirm again whether everything is tight and firm, because the flusher may vibrate once the water starts flowing and the engine is turned on.
7. Turn on the water hose and let the water flow for a minute until it reaches the cup and overspills. Now the time has come to switch on the motor.
After starting the motor, go back and check the water supply. You need a continuous supply of water without any breaks. If you have any assistance, assign this task to him so that you would be free to keep an eye on the temperature gauge.
8. The water that is going in through the intake point should come out of the exhaust tip. Confirm whether it is coming out of it or not. If it’s coming out that means everything is working properly.
9. Monitor the temperature gauge. If it’s still cold, watch for any changes. However, It should not go beyond 200 Fahrenheit.
Run the engine at idle position, no need to rev it as it will spin the propellor without water, which could be dangerous.
Keep running the engine till it is warm enough and is at operating temperature. As long as the water supply is intact, you can safely run it for about 10 minutes.
Always switch off the engine before cutting off the water supply. Then go underneath the boat and remove the motor flusher.
You’re all set to have water adventures, this weekend!
Final Words
Now you know how to hook up a water hose to an inboard boat motor. Always remember never to start your boat engine dry.
Whenever you are required to check your motor, make use of a motor flusher. With this equipment, you can safely run your engine with ease even on land.