How is everyone cooling their boats while running out of water

[dcoblack]

the perko flush pro is nice, and I have one on my 220, but I am thinking that it might be time for a better solution. there are a couple issues with the flush pro - first, its made of clear plastic, so the lakes that require inspection might make you run through a full decon because they can see water in it. second, the hose fill port is also plastic, and doesn't give a lot confidence that it wont leak air or water during normal operation (which is probably why it has an anti-siphon valve). lastly, it doesn't have an form of pressure relief when you crank up the hose.

If you wanted to make your own you would need a shut-off valve, check valve (optional if you don't mind closing the shut off valve every time you use it), water inlet T, and a pressure relief valve (optional, install dump line before check/shut-off valve).

I have the exact same concerns you mention, and that's why I would prefer the brass valves instead. There must be a reason why no manufacturers (at least that I know of) add these flush valves from the factory. The check valve is unnecessarry if I will be in there anyways to hook up the hose because I would only be adding the one step of turning the handle. My current setup is hull intake, 45 deg. elbow, shut off valve, hose, then strainer.

Maybe this is a dumb question, but what purpose would the pressure relief valve serve, and where would I locate it?

[pSchwade]

the perko flush pro is nice, and I have one on my 220, but I am thinking that it might be time for a better solution. there are a couple issues with the flush pro - first, its made of clear plastic, so the lakes that require inspection might make you run through a full decon because they can see water in it. second, the hose fill port is also plastic, and doesn't give a lot confidence that it wont leak air or water during normal operation (which is probably why it has an anti-siphon valve). lastly, it doesn't have an form of pressure relief when you crank up the hose.

If you wanted to make your own you would need a shut-off valve, check valve (optional if you don't mind closing the shut off valve every time you use it), water inlet T, and a pressure relief valve (optional, install dump line before check/shut-off valve).

[gmustangt]

In the past we have pulled the water intake hose off downstream of the strainer and stick a hose in it.

[prowake]

just get a perko flush pro and have a dedicated short hose to connect to another hose. don't make it complicated.

[dcoblack]

I have been having a few issues with my boat and putting it in water every time I want to test it isn't ideal, so I want to see what everyone is doing for cooling. I usually disconnect the hose above the valve and drop it in a bucket, but I have concerns about the about the water pressure while raising the RPM's. I have seen the kits you can buy for this, but I don't like the plastic they are constructed with. I have considered switching the shut off valve under the water strainer with a 3 way valve where I can switch the source to a hose, but am not sure if it will work. The picture below is similar to what I was thinking. Does anyone else have ideas, concerns, or suggestions about doing this?