[Bug Stomper]

I habitually flush the Sparks after a day on the brackish Chesapeake Bay after each ride and trailering them home.

Got home last night after dark and didn't flush like I normally would. Was going to do it this morning when it was decided both would be taken out again this afternoon.

I can see letting them sit a week without flushing would be a no-go. Just a day or two shouldn't hurt right?

I ask because I've seen pics here on the forum of rusted impellars after salt water....though the bay is brackish and not like ocean water...

 

[JohnSWE]

All impellers got some surfacerust on them. I'm always flushing my ski after use. I really don't think you'll damage it by flushing it a day later or so.

 

[chaydizzle84]

Should be fine dude. I ride in the Potomac and haven't had any issues with rust. I do shoot some fluid on the impellor after every use though. That def helps.

 

[Slasher]

If it's fresh water then it's fine ...

 

[serpent710]

I think you will be fine. I spray a film all over the pump and housing bolts after I am done but then again I go in the ocean.

 

[seaking]

If it's fresh water then it's fine ...

That's what I have been hearing from a number of people.

 

[Bug Stomper]

I ended up going 3 days before I finally did flush them. Several cups of water did come out of the system on each at motor start. I've got the surface rust on the impellers. And wet sand in the foot wells had dried to a hard salt lick. Looks like brackish water is still salty enough.

 

[winter]

I ride in the Potomac, and right now mine is sitting in the salt water next to my sailboat for the night. Sometimes I go 3 days that way.

No big deal, If the time frame is short. My old jet ski was in for about 6 days, and then I noticed scum on the bottom.

 

[brandonebs]

I ride in only freshwater and flush it after every use. This thing is my baby, why let it get dirty inside. I flush it for a minute at most then store it. Its easy and simple. Even in fresh water you can suck up dirt and anything else in the water. Always air on the side of caution. Always flush it no matter what

 

[seaking]

I ride in only freshwater and flush it after every use. This thing is my baby, why let it get dirty inside. I flush it for a minute at most then store it. Its easy and simple. Even in fresh water you can suck up dirt and anything else in the water. Always air on the side of caution. Always flush it no matter what

Thanks for sharing that, good to hear it also from someone else. Is the spark your first PWC or do you come from a background in PWC's?

Welcome to the forum!

 

[Bug Stomper]

I ride in the Potomac, and right now mine is sitting in the salt water next to my sailboat for the night. Sometimes I go 3 days that way.

No big deal, If the time frame is short. My old jet ski was in for about 6 days, and then I noticed scum on the bottom.

I was in Mill Creek this past Friday just north of Annapolis. Rode up to a buddy's floating pier and walking off the pier looked at the stern of his boat in the water. His propeller and the externals of his inboard were completely covered over in gunk. His waterline didn't look good either. You mention 6 days and you see scum. I didn't know it happened that fast. His power boat must have been in the water forever. I'd be freaking out if my nozzle on on my Spark looked like that. Though mine get pulled at the end of the day to dry but until you flush a little bit of Chesapeake Bay still lingers in there.

 

[brandonebs]

My first PWC was a 1994 Seadoo SPX. Bought two off a guy, the other was an XP. The both of them were rusted completely. The casing on the engine looked horrible. I got the SPX to run and even then I flushed it after every ride even though it was practically already shot. Sold it then bought my 3 UP spark. Have 12 hours on it right now, rode it in 2 different lakes. The second i took it out of the water I brought it home to flush it out for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Then shut it off and hit the gas for the excess water to come out. Doing this you lower the risk of the engine getting corroded. Keep your spark nice and clean inside, and you'll have it for a long time. The mechanic when I bought it told me I didn't even need to flush it out when I bought it if I was going in freshwater. Don't listen to the stealership, it takes 1 minute to do, Im positive you will not regret it.

 

[Bug Stomper]

I agree. In fact I was reading the winter storage section of the Spark Maintenance manual and there is a whole section about draining water to avoid freezing expansion damage in the engine. I can't remember exactly the words but it's a procedure I'll have to follow soon come winter.

I started running the rpms up too having not done it my first couple flushes. Rev everytime after turning off water hose now and water always spurts out.

 

[Cory MacSween]

I have 40 hours on my spark and all it see's is the St.Lawrence river. I have never flushed it once, it never spends more than a day in the water it always comes out and dries off. The impeller, nozzle and water outlet all look like the day I rolled it out of the dealerships parking lot. I have had boats all my life and all they have ever been in is fresh water and I have never seen scum build up unless it's been in the water for over a couple of weeks straight. I don't see the need for flushing my sea-doo with the same water I'm riding in. Come winterizing though I'm probably going to run some rv anti-freeze through the exhaust cooler to ensure there is no left over water to freeze. But these sparks with a closed cooling system are going to be a breeze to winterize.