Outboard pre-start warm up… Harmful?

[Bailey Boat]

Wow....doesn't sound like a place I would want to launch ! I live in a state that allows open carry, I am also licensed to carry, we had some crime issues at one local ramp for one summer, nobody ever even talked to me when I was carrying. Sad that we can't have DNR or local police handle the issues....

Here in NC we have DOT "Traffic cameras" and there must be a MILLION of them to view at your leisure. WHY, oh WHY can't we have a few located on the boat ramp/parking areas to monitor THAT activity?? I've posed that question to NCDOT and the NCWRC but have never received an answer...... ?????????

Sorry for the thread drift, I got carried away.... To the subject, No, I don't start the engine until it's deep enough in the water to cover the inlet ports. By this time I have already checked the battery state and I know the engine so I am confident that it will start within the first 5 revolutions.

 

[OldSailor85]

Do you open carry?

Sure sounds like it.

 

[wmk0002]

I personally would not do the dry starts. I would test at home prior to pulling out of the driveway to the lake. If this is a fishing boat, I would not worry about any of that and use the trolling motor to dock the boat and then troll away from the busy dock/launch and crank up the motor if it didnt start right away for some reason.

That said, if it was very brief and you change your impeller often (like annually) it's probably not a big deal. On top of changing just the impeller you would probably want to change the cup housing as well fairly often which can add a somewhat significant cost to it all depending on your model.