I've been wondering . . .

caricoa28 wrote: I was told that water sitting in there for long periods of time could be harmful.

WOW!!! You had better run home and drain your toilet too!!!

You might blow the water out of the exhaust hoses but your not going to blow the cooling water out of the manifold and risers internal passages. At that point you'd be better off to raise the front of the boat to drain the pipes.

The quick start will not harm the impeller, it's still holding water. Save it for the quick start prior to your next outing though, water will preven corrosion (caused by air). It's only harmful if it will freeze, but blowing them out won't be enough to save you anyways.

I would hesitate to run the engine (and therefore the RWP) out of the water unless water was being supplied. The impeller in the RWP is certain to fail if run dry for even very short periods. In other words, it's better to keep water in the pump, so it is not run dry for even very short periods of time.
-=Grant=-

GMacLaren wrote:    The pickup hose on the '72 also has a strainer in line. I thought it might have been included for boats being used in warmer waters, where plant growth might cause pickup problems. I had never seen one, 'til I got my first CC.

No, on a 72 I don't even think it was a factory option. A PO installed it.

GMacLaren wrote: The pickup hose on the '72 also has a strainer in line. If I do my boating on clean water lakes, is this device needed? A good idea? I've been thinking of not re-installing it when I do the plumbing. -=Grant=-

No, I have none on any of my boats. Evidently in the 80's, lakes got weedier/dirtier!

Every boat I've had from the late 60's an early 70's (when the dual pocket chryslers were common) had the dual pickups regardless of which engine was installed. The fords have the 2nd pickup looped as shown above. The chryslers (at least the earlier ones) had a dedicated line to each. Ease of manufacturing to always drill 2 holes I imagine.

The under/over tranny routing of the hose makes adding a tee easier, as well as draining the tranny cooler. Not sure id go out of my way to make the change on an older boat though... Might depend on how the trans cooler is mounted.

Grant,
Since your Skier has a Ford, it was ether repowered at one time or more likely the factory installed dual pickups for ether a Ford or Chrysler. Times and money was tough back then so they never really knew which engines would show up first!

I believe Holman Moody's were dual. My Escort and dad's Waukesha are routed and set up just like your Waukesha.

I also have never seen one with 2 pick ups, where are they located?