Starting Boat w/o Fake-a-Lake

I used to do a "test" crank on my old io (mercruiser) before going to the lake. Is it OK to crank my Centurion for just a few seconds? I would hate to get to the ramp and not have it crank. Thanks

Yeah it should be fine

not the best idea.. you can also remove intake hose on bilge side of intake grate and place it in a bucket full of water with the hose running into the bucket simultaneously.. hate to see you decrease the life of your impellar tenfold by repetitive dry firings.. there is a limited amount of water in that pump housing and it doesn't take but 2-3 cranks to drain it dry when the impellar spins..

Even a few seconds could burn up the impeller. I had a friend who ran his for 10-15 seconds and ruined it which he found out when he got the boat launched and the temp went through he roof.

Let me classify that I am no boat expert. But every time I hook my boat up to the fake a lake, it takes about 6 seconds before water comes out.

One time I ran it, and water didn't start coming out and I turned it off because I could smell the rubber. The fake a lake had slipped and wasn't fully hooked up.

That being said, I think if you just want to hear the engine turn over, I think you would be all right. But I wouldn't even run it 10 seconds. That is my cut off point, if it goes 10 seconds and water isn't spitting out the back, I shut her down.

You can give the key a click just o make sure you have power, but I would avoid letting the engine start.

Thanks guys, don't want to mess anything up. Its the Mercruiser Mag 350 EFI, if I have power, then it should fire right up.

I usually start ours up, but don't let it run at all. Just to make sure the battery still has power.

Iv'e seen an impellar destroyed even with the fake a lake just not getting enough water to the impellar.....wouldn't do it.

I wouldn't do it. I've seen an impellar destroyed even with a fake a lake just not getting enough water to it.

You're fine.

Plus, we can all be honest here, a dead impeller is much less of a catastrophe than being "that guy" at the boat ramp who doesn't have his S#@% together and his boat won't start. and thus, slows every one else down. m

I "blip" my starter once a month during the winter to change the position of the valve springs/valves and change the position of the impeller, but the engine never starts, it just turns over for maybe a second. You're fine if you keep it short.

Been doing it for years & never lost an impeller yet. We will ride in the winter time here. But the boat has to be winterized immediately after. Part of that process is to drain the mufflers, which can be done by running the engine for a few seconds.

Get a Globe impeller. Their guaranteed to run dry for up to 15 minutes, far more time that you'd run the engine dry at one time.

Link to Globe Impellar please?

Nevermind, answered my own question
http://kfgi.com/pages/industries_marine

I don't see anything on the globe page for malibu/indmar/monsoon - anyone know which one I would need?

'01 LSV

Here is MerCruiser:

http://www.marineparts.com/SearchResult.aspx

Here is more:

http://www.defender.com/category.jsp?path=-1|311|53460&id=809302

(Message edited by sydwayz on May 30, 2008)

(Message edited by sydwayz on May 30, 2008)