Racheting/ non racheting gears and dogs.

[NZ Sidewinder]

As far as updates go, this is where I'm now at with lower units on race boats.
No more nose cone pickups.
IMO the best pickup for circuit racing at high speed on flat water uses a pair of shallow tangental skimmers mounted on the transom at the pad that feed the water gallery at the base of the pump.
The hoses go from these pickups, up to the underside of the wings and then down to the same holes that a usual after market nose cone uses.
A 1/4inch drain hole is drilled through the filler into the lowest of the original water pickup holes.
This hole also acts as a primer for the pump at the ramp.
This system provides high volumes of low pressure water to the pump.
I've seen nose cone water feeds force water past the pump at 30psi.
That's bad.
I was behind a boat in a race recently when his power head suddenly sent smoke or steam out all the vents.
Nose cone pickup had picked up crap from the beach.
Motor was toasted.