Need Help, Flip my STV and it is laying up side down in the river

[JPEROG]

I’d highly recommend you tear the engine down as soon as you get it out. If it can’t happen immediately then try to get all the water out and get it fired but I’d still fog it and tear it down. It’s very difficult to get all the water out unless it comes completely apart. It’ll collect in the bottom cap and eventually ruin a crank

This is absolute truth. The cap is a cup and needs to be dumped and cleaned. Had a friend that lost 2 cranks because he was sure that he had run the motors enough to be okay.

Joe

[H2OPERF]

If you can't get one apart rightaway also a good idea to use a big syringe filled with oil and push some into the upper and lower mains thru the oil transfer line while its idling..I have also done this on engines that have been sitting for a long time, it takes a while for oil to get circulating from bottom to top. An omc rep told me around 8 hours of on plane running to completely get one cleared out and dfi engines must be torn down,,, dave

[Whaaaaat]

I've never torn down a engine just because it went swimming. Flush with fresh water. Then remove lower and run without water, allow it to run until the overheat alarm sounds, shut down allow to cool then repeat a few times. Any water in the engine will steam out. If you leave water in it long enough to disassemble the engine you will have rust by the time you get it apart.

These procedures are adapted from various PWC service manuals.

[timmc6]

Don't forget to disassemble Starter as it will hold water in the bottom and ruin the brushes.Good luck.

[JPEROG]

There is not one PWC with a vertical crank in it. Apples and oranges- Pull it down, clean, and fog for no regrets.

Joe

[MattGreen]

Don’t forget the possibility of it ingesting some sand/silt while it was done there, especially if a lot of effort is required to flip the boat (potentially disturbing the bottom if shallow). Been down this road before - Merc S3000 post barrel roll in a shallow river, full of brown crud.

Matt

[Whaaaaat]

There is not one PWC with a vertical crank in it. Apples and oranges- Pull it down, clean, and fog for no regrets.

Joe

The science is sound in my method. Water boils at 212 degrees at sea level. Keep motor over 212, alarm is 240ish I believe, water evaporates. Size, shape, orientation, of any internal parts is completely irrelevant.
For a motor that was under less than 24 hours, in clean water, a tear down is overkill. I know there's plenty of OCD boaters on here who wouldn't be able to sleep at night until there motor was in pieces on there bench, but it just isn't necessary.

There is a very very short amount of time to work with after a swim in salt water before rust starts. I'll continue to use my method as it's the fastest and simplest way to eliminate water.

[XstreamVking]

This one might have went down running. I would do an tear down and inspect since it's a hi-po motor.

[perfmarine1]

Boat will flip over fairly easy underwater, just be careful when it's coming around because they have a tendency to keep rolling

[H2OPERF]

There is not one PWC with a vertical crank in it. Apples and oranges- Pull it down, clean, and fog for no regrets.

Joe

Exactly.. jet ski cranks have holes in the port runner bases that drain/direct excess oil right in to the main bearings, no crank seal rings many differences.

[97 TWISTER]

I believe they got it handled last Friday. It was fighting them and wanted to keep twisting/rolling on them. I said there's no book and some go easier than other. I have probably had no 2 go exactly the same it's no different than a car off the road in the trees. After 20 yrs of towing biz there are one's similar but none the same. We had a float plane upside down once that we ran strap under to tail and one around prop pulled from each end. It went so well no damage caused it almost looked like we knew what we were doing lol. I haven't heard from anyone since Friday so I'm assuming no news is good? Thanks to all that helped and offered suggestions.

[speedy]

John Moore and buddies help me get the boat flipped over, motor went to local mercury dealer for cleansing. 3 broken ribs and 2 crack vertebrae.
Lost the engine cowl and real cowl/seat. Thanks for the comments, Pelican lake drags was in northern Wi so other where to help!

[Bodhi]

Good to hear, hope you get up and running soon!

[scott reierson]

was this a blue 1984 needle nose stv???

[JPEROG]

Did you have a lifeline on? Not looking to bash on you if not, just curious. It takes a hard hit to break ribs through one-I am glad that you are going to be okay, we can always replace boats.

Joe