Blastah'- FiveOh
Nuthin' But Salt...
- Location
- Ewa Beach, Oahu, Hawaii, FiveOh Land
Last Wednesday a friend from the mainland, VA, came to visit and we planned to do a lot of riding and reminisce about our riding/racing days. Prior to his arrival I went through the boats eye-balling for loose bolts, broken motor mounts, new plugs, compression checks etc etc. All good. So Thursday morning we start them up in the garage prior to going to the ramp. Blaster started, Wave Runner started, SJ (well...its in pieces on the bench). Got all the gear in the truck and a decided to do a final start of the motors.
Wave Runner...started right up, Blaster...nothing!!!!! Couldnt believe it!! WTF!!!. Swapped out the batteries (the new one was in the WR) and the blaster started right up. Put the B1's battery in the WR and it started. WTF! Shut it off and tried to start it again and nothing!!! WTF! Reached in to see if the battery terminals were tight and the positive wire turned to dust in my hand! WTF! After an hour got it all sorted out and we hit water for a couple of hours during which a big wave jump landing shifted the pipe coupling on the B1 and began spitting exhaust and water inside the hull slowing the fun down a bit.
Sunday rolled and we hit the water with all boats starting perfectly. Then on the first run into the waves I felt HUGE cavitation and then a massive CLUNK. Had to be towed in. On the beach we rolled the B1 over and spotted 2" of the leading edge of the prop broken off! WTF! Shook the pump and the broken piece dropped out! Brand new prop running on brand new bearings spinning inside a new pump wear ring. The day ended...broken prop and wasted wear ring.
Monday night swapped out the SJ Solas prop and Wear Ring into the B1 and hit the water again on Tuesday. Big waves on the South and West side so we had a good time till the B1 sucked up a rope. Up at the wash stand the WR started but the B1 was again silent...not even a click yet the bilge pumps would come on. WTF!!! Opened the hood and found one of the S/S switch wires corroded through at a splice. Pinched them back and the got the boats flushed and home with no further incident.
What a week...
Wave Runner...started right up, Blaster...nothing!!!!! Couldnt believe it!! WTF!!!. Swapped out the batteries (the new one was in the WR) and the blaster started right up. Put the B1's battery in the WR and it started. WTF! Shut it off and tried to start it again and nothing!!! WTF! Reached in to see if the battery terminals were tight and the positive wire turned to dust in my hand! WTF! After an hour got it all sorted out and we hit water for a couple of hours during which a big wave jump landing shifted the pipe coupling on the B1 and began spitting exhaust and water inside the hull slowing the fun down a bit.
Sunday rolled and we hit the water with all boats starting perfectly. Then on the first run into the waves I felt HUGE cavitation and then a massive CLUNK. Had to be towed in. On the beach we rolled the B1 over and spotted 2" of the leading edge of the prop broken off! WTF! Shook the pump and the broken piece dropped out! Brand new prop running on brand new bearings spinning inside a new pump wear ring. The day ended...broken prop and wasted wear ring.
Monday night swapped out the SJ Solas prop and Wear Ring into the B1 and hit the water again on Tuesday. Big waves on the South and West side so we had a good time till the B1 sucked up a rope. Up at the wash stand the WR started but the B1 was again silent...not even a click yet the bilge pumps would come on. WTF!!! Opened the hood and found one of the S/S switch wires corroded through at a splice. Pinched them back and the got the boats flushed and home with no further incident.
What a week...
