Tips for getting through harbor weed bed?

[MNdrifter]

Are there any tips/techniques to reduce weed ingestion?
I wet slip my boat at a marina on the upper Mississippi. This year we have an terrible infestation of watermilfoil. Just getting from my slip to the marina entrance is enough to overheat the engines. The return trip to the slip is even worse because the engines are already warm from running up the river.
One trick that helps getting out is just running on one engine at a time. When the first gets plugged and heats up, shut it down and go the rest of the way on the other engine. I've tried this on the way back into the marina but since the engines are already hot, I don't make it all the way back to the slip.

Once I'm in the main channel, I do a modified "reverse maneuver". With one engine off and in forward, I run the other engine in reverse and point the reverse thrust in the direction of the non-running intake grate. The combination of reverse flow and turbulence cleared the intake surprisingly well. Then I do the same thing again for the other engine.

I've complained about the weeds to the marina manager but I don't know what they can do about the weeds. I've also asked to be allowed to use a slip closer to the entrance for the rest of the season. Still awaiting an answer on that request.

 

[ncnmra]

Drive backwards?

 

[mrmeaniemeateaterman]

100% guaranteed to work

 

[mrmeaniemeateaterman]

@MNdrifter that really sucks. Looking at the MN dnr website looks like the watermilfoil is a big problem and not really getting better. http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives/ais/infested.html On top of that I'm sure you are paying big bucks for access to the marina and not being able to use it "joyfully".
If area not too deep may also want to consider a push pole if paddles aren't your thing. http://thesuperstick.com/ While you may look funny in MN with it, I see them pretty often here near coast of NC.
Because as you are well aware, if engines are running you are sucking up weeds.

 

[Zeus2013]

I have a funny solution to your problem. I launch in a canal off the Grest South Bay. There are times the ramps have a foot or more deep with weeds.

Many people carry a rake and move the weeds out of the way while at the slowest speed.

Some people also use the rake as they load the boat as you can get A LOT of weeds stuck between the hill and bunks.

 

[arew~SX230]

A couple of trolling motors?

 

[Gym]

If this is just a problem this year and not an annual issue I would consider finding another marina or going back on your trailer and launch & retrieve until the problem is resolved. You don't want to keep overheating your engines. Is it possible to go on a mooring ball?

 

[Ronnie]

No solution here but I understand your pain. Some years the hyacinth is so bad that one of the marinas I launch from advises everyone not to launch from there. The last time it happened they gave me a free launch pass for the next time around and recommended other marinas that don't have a hyacinth problem. Good luck on finding a fix for your problem.

 

[SCSTWG]

I use my boat on two lakes/ One of the lakes is very shallow and by July is filled with weeds. By that point, I am only using the other lake which is much nicer and has no growth at all. As much as I like owning a jetboat, if I were only using my boat in a lake that was filled with weeds I would get an I/O. Jets are great, but they aren't perfect for every application.