dry start set up

Here is one discussion about fake-a-lakes and plumbing in fittings.

one discussion

Most people just disconnect the raw water intake hose from the thru-hull fitting and stick a garden hose into it, and retighten the hose clamp. One cautionary note with that arrangement, if you rev the motor the water pump will over draw the hose and collapse the hose, cutting off the water. Another method is to use a short length of hose connected to your raw water intake hose (similar to above) and put that small length of hose into a bucket. Have your garden hose running into the bucket and have the motor draw from the bucket. Keep you eye on it to make sure you dont out pace the hose filling the bucket.

From my own experience, the bucket method is better. I used the hose method, which forced water into my engine. I therefore didnt recognize that my raw water pump was starting to fail, which it did later in the season. Using the bucket method, you are also testing your pump.

Finally, don't shift your boat into forward or reverse in the driveway. The strut bearing and shaft log are lubed by lake water and running them dry will fry them.