The following are several good examples why you should remove the stock intake grate and install a captivated grate. I am convinced the HydroSurge grate is a poor design. The facts speak to the truth of the matter. I would encourage all Mercury SportJet owners to closely inspect their HydroSurge grate, with a bright light, to
determine if you are the next to be bitten by Mr. Murphy !!!
JetWild Without Tines in Your Pump !!!
SpeedSter240EFI
Rj
*******************************************************
Ok here's the story. I went out on Mission Bay, San Diego about 2 weekends ago with my 2001 Islandia. All went well. Came back to the dock with no problems at all. All was running smoothly. I didn't hit anything. Maybe I ran over some seaweed but definitely no rocks! Got home and flushed out my engine. I hosed off the intake grate when I noticed that one of the tines was missing. On closer examination, the tine was broken but still in the pump. Fortunately no damage. Even when I was flushing the engine I didn't hear any unusual noises. That's my story.
"
"
*******************************************************
Bob - Found tine broken off and didn't even know it had happened.
www.network54.com/Realm/Rjsworld/bobsgrat.jpg"
*******************************************************
I am 17.ks who started the hydro-surge thread on your forum. I can't get pictures of the Hydro-surge at this time because the broken pieces are at the dealer's shop which is 60 miles away. But they are being saved. The Hydro-Surge grate did not break, it simply opened and allowed in debris which included tennis ball size rocks. The incident occured on June 1, 2002 in Long Island Sound near the Norwalk Islands in Connecticut. I knew I was near shallow water, and was creeping to find passage way. I was moving at idle speed. When I realized that I was in too shallow water I steered hard to the right. The stern swung to the left and the engine took in large rocks and oyster shells, and immediately groaned and shut down. I never grounded the boat (the dealer's mechanic concurs based on lack of scratches on fiberglass). The Impeller, stator, and wear ring needed replacement. The boat was towed into harbor by Sea-Tow Inc. The boat was then trailered 60 miles back to the dealer's site in Clinton, CT, behind the dealer's truck. After servicing it was trailered back to Norwalk, CT, where it lives in Indoor Rack Storage. The Sea-Tow was free of charge. The trailering and servicing cost $2263. I believe that had I taken your advice, and insisted on something other than the Hydro-Surge grate, I would
not have suffered this damage. NO PICTURE
*******************************************************
Keith Z. - NO STORY
"
"
*******************************************************
I have a 2000 Sea-Doo challenger 20' with the HydroSurge Grate. For no apparent reason, One of the Tines broke off and was sucked into the impeller. You Can guess the result. New impeller and New Surge Grate.
Labor and parts $1,400. I have been talking with Mercury to see if I can get them to pay for at least part of the repair. They said to take it to a Platinum Mercury dealer get it apart and then call back. My feeling are that they have a bad cast. The boat is at the shop right now. As soon as the boat it taken apart I am going to have the grate sent to Mercury. I will try and get pictures before it is sent. Mike W. - 8/22/03 UpDate: Picture
*******************************************************
Recent 7/13/2003
DanaT over on the www.jetboating.net forum link:
http://www.jetboating.net/jetboating/forums/postview.aspx?forumid=1&postid=20402
Picture posted on link.
*******************************************************
Recent 7/13/2003
SadSeaDoo - No picture, End of boating fun after a number tines broke off and destroyed their jetpump while in 20 feet of water.
*******************************************************