Did my first splash this weekend. Let’s just say things didn’t quite go as planned. Loaded the dogs and our young adult daughters for a trip up the lake to the beach. We got there and that’s when things happened. Temperature gauge pegged out over 250°. Pulled up on shore let everything cool and fortunately I had enough tools to pull the thermostat cover off. Thermostat was seized shut.
Got that done but unfortunately winds kicked up making it impossible to get far enough out to lower the outdrive. We stayed at the beach hoping the wind would die down enough but no luck. I tried my kicker motor but the waves splashed up and into the cowl causing it to stall out and unable to restart.
Finally after a couple hours we jumped in the water and pushed out far enough to get underway. I have since ordered the new thermostat and a spare water pump belt to avoid any more of these issues…….. for now.