[Bug Stomper]

...and nothing bad happened.

No flooding of the engine, nothing detrimental, and the Spark ran fine after being towed by a 20ft Crownliner at about 5kts for half a mile or so.

Manual says max tow speed is 13kts and you should clamp off "the hose" water supply.

Never got a chance to clamp a hose. And even if I did have a chance didn't have any. My two Sparks berthed off a Crownliner 20 we were using as a mother ship. I'd gone for a quick jaunt. Coming back I see the mothership motoring with the Spark in tow. My first thought was oh ****. But what can you do it was already being towed and our friend had to move his 20 footer out of the shallows to deeper water.

After move/towing operations were done. I checked the towed Spark and nothing apparent was wrong. It ran great.

So with my exp I guess towing a Spark can be done if you have to without clamping the water supply hose.

 

[Rthonb]

Last night we got a rope stuck in our intake we had to be towed 3 miles at 5 knots by a 40 foot boat. I forgot to clamp and the hull half filled with water. When I got it out of the lake I unplugged the drain cap and it drained. Nothing seems to be wrong . Should I be worried?

 

[serpent710]

If you both towed at the same speed, why would one fill and the other not?

 

[seaking]

if you started it up and everything seems fine then i guess that might be the all clear to put it back in the water without worry of anything going wrong.

 

[Rthonb]

That's the interesting question isn't it.

 

[Rthonb]

I think I'm going to start it up on land in my driveway tonight to see if any lights come one

 

[Straightbangin]

I have been hearing a lot of people saying either their hull stays super dry or its full of water. Some of the people saying it are ones that own two Sparks ( with their wife or whatnot) and doing the same type of riding but totally different story on how dry the inside stays. I swear I heard my dealer say it had a bilge pump in it but he was wrong on a bunch of other things so not sure I trust his words anymore. i'd keep the plug out and the front tipped up a little and also fluid film the inside if you haven't already. I prefer the red wand it comes with better than the spray wand you can buy ( honestly I thought it sucked) I bought a hose clamp but I need to remember to figure out where it goes next time I'm out.

 

[Bug Stomper]

Yeah its interesting same tow and Rthonb had water and mine didn't. Rthonb did yours start ok?

I have two sparks that stay super dry. As evidenced by when I unscrew the bilge plug there has never been any water....maybe a few drops around the threads.

Wish I had more confidence to tow. Hard though when the manual says don't do it without clamping this, but you really have to be on shore to reach some hose way in the back. Most likely the situation you'd have is you're out on the water and need a tow. How are you going to float next to your Spark with your arm in the engine compartment, waves pounding you. Most likely you'd just tow at that point....if you have someone to tow you lest you recreate the movie "Castaway".

 

[Straightbangin]

It be nice if skis became so evolved that you could just press a button to clamp off the hose

 

[Bug Stomper]

I have thought the same thing.

"The USCG found a Sea Doo adrift offshore. No sign of the boater however a USCG LT did say it appears the boater was attempting some kind of repair to his troubled craft as an engine access panel was missing and some type of clamp from Harbor Frieght was found in the foot well. The search for the boater continues."

 

[Straightbangin]

geeeezeeee

 

[Rthonb]

I took mine out yesterday for seven hours no problem. It drained really well. The hull was half full when I drained it I'd say. I didn't have much of a choice I was in trouble and needed a tow. I will keep a clamp with me from now on though. I have the day off work tomorrow 100 f temps the last few days so I'm taking it out again. What makes water enter the hull when under tow? I don't get it?

 

[Sarge707]

I have thought the same thing.

"The USCG found a Sea Doo adrift offshore. No sign of the boater however a USCG LT did say it appears the boater was attempting some kind of repair to his troubled craft as an engine access panel was missing and some type of clamp from Harbor Frieght was found in the foot well. The search for the boater continues."

"The Coast Guard Later caught a Great White and found a Sea Doo life vest in its stomach?" [/QUOTE]

 

[Straightbangin]

the manual says if the hose is not clamped when the engine is not running and it is being towed, water will accumulate in the exhaust system and will enter the engine and cause damage. Page 72. Glad that yours was towed unclamped but is okay

 

[Rthonb]

Thanks! I saw that too. I just have a hard time picturing how water gets in there. #stupidmoment

 

[Sarge707]

I took mine out yesterday for seven hours no problem. It drained really well. The hull was half full when I drained it I'd say. I didn't have much of a choice I was in trouble and needed a tow. I will keep a clamp with me from now on though. I have the day off work tomorrow 100 f temps the last few days so I'm taking it out again. What makes water enter the hull when under tow? I don't get it?

My understanding ( Someone will correct me if I,m wrong) is that the exhaust is water cooled by water entering through a side opening in the pump and going by hose to the exhaust manifold and then the water returns out the flush attachment tube. This stream of water is force fed so going to fast in a tow situation could fill the exhaust manifold and somehow over flow into the actual engine because he engine isn,t running which helps pump out the exhaust manifold water during "Normal Operation?"
You do not want water in the engine!!!
The over turning aspect is completely different because water is getting into the hull and you want to Turn it over as quick as possible -Start and run for several minutes UNDER 5,000 rpm,s to let the manual ( Suction ) bilge pump slowly siphon the water out.

 

[rv245]

My understanding ( Someone will correct me if I,m wrong) is that the exhaust is water cooled by water entering through a side opening in the pump and going by hose to the exhaust manifold and then the water returns out the flush attachment tube. This stream of water is force fed so going to fast in a tow situation could fill the exhaust manifold and somehow over flow into the actual engine because he engine isn,t running which helps pump out the exhaust manifold water during "Normal Operation?"
You do not want water in the engine!!!
The over turning aspect is completely different because water is getting into the hull and you want to Turn it over as quick as possible -Start and run for several minutes UNDER 5,000 rpm,s to let the manual ( Suction ) bilge pump slowly siphon the water out.

My understanding is that Sparks do not come with a bidge pump. A bilge drain, yes, pump no. It's an accessory and in the catalog. I had them installed on both of ours. Mainly because I didn't want to have the ski dock and next thing you know it's taking on water. I've also had the tops off and seen it in there and also heard it running shortly after we put the top back on. If you have a bilge pump there should an outlet on the side of the ski. Mine is on the left side on the top part of the hull in the back. This also could explain why some people have water in their hulls and some don't.

 

[Straightbangin]

Rthomb - I hear ya. I wish instead of the safety dvd they included with the owners manual they included a dvd with the top off going over all the parts and what they do. It would have been far more helpful (especially for PWC newbies like me)

My sales guy said something about the bilge pump in my ski. I don't know if mine automatically had one included ( I bought it fully loaded because it was the last one they had for the year )and that's why there is a bilge pump, or if its because he just thought one was in there ( he has been wrong about a lot of info he has given me )

RV245 how much was it for the part and install ( in case I dont have one ) and want to have installed, in the future.

If you have a bilge pump there should an outlet on the side of the ski. Mine is on the left side on the top part of the hull in the back. This also could explain why some people have water in their hulls and some don't.

oooo, can you share a pic please? (if you get a chance)

Stupid question, does the ski have to be on for the bilge pump to work? I know nothing about bilge pumps other than the little hand held ones.

 

[Sarge707]

Bilge Pump VS Bailer Explained! The Spark has the Bailer Vacuum system!


Why are they there?.... it's always better to have a back up system than to let your ski sink. The bailers work with the engine power... and the bilge pump is electric... so it's 2 separate power sources.


The bailers work from the jet pump. The hoses are mounted in the pump nozzle, where they are in a vacuum. that suction just draws the water up the bailer pick-ups, and it goes out the pump nozzle while you are riding around.

 

[Straightbangin]

im guessing it comes with the bailer and the bilge pump is what you have to pay extra for? it makes sense that the bailer works with engine power, but how do you get the bilge pump to start?

Thanks!