Rudder Blade Water Pickup

[sport hydro]

I ran my Thunder boat for the first time today and could not get any water through the engine with the Zipkitts blade. I changed the blade with a speed master and the water flowed good. The only difference is the Zip blade was not sharpened before running the boat. Could this have caused the water to be diverted and not getting in through the holes?

 

[Joe Petro]

Our early rudders had kind if small entry holes, and it's a long way to the front of a Tboat...

Open up the inlets to 1/8 and you will get lots of pressure. All gas rudders made in the last year or so have the larger inlets...

Joe

 

[bsmtboy2]

If you have some pipe cleaners run them through the blade and check for blockages. You can also blow canned air through it as well. If you plumbed your water lines to go to the exhaust header first it might be feeding hot water to the head unit. Make sure your using large water lines!!! Joe is here on IW so drop him a pm.

 

[Samuel Hagan JR]

My Uncle had the same problem but with a Speed master rudder and opened up the opening on the rudder and fixed the problem.

 

[anthony_marquart]

I have seen machining debris inside the pickup tube on writers as well

 

[Andy Brown]

I ran my Thunder boat for the first time today and could not get any water through the engine with the Zipkitts blade. I changed the blade with a speed master and the water flowed good. The only difference is the Zip blade was not sharpened before running the boat. Could this have caused the water to be diverted and not getting in through the holes?

A sharp blade will make a big difference. A slightly blunt L.E. will blow a big hole in the water. The pick up hole may not get any water no matter the size if the L.E. is a little too blunt. Make it Sharp! Then if you still need more water go for a bigger hole.

 

[Joe Petro]

Excellent advice Andy. Thanks for that.

Joe