How The Jet Drive Operates - Mercury Jet 20 Manual

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How The Jet Drive Operates

A jet-driven boat has substantially different handling characteristics compared to a
propeller-driven boat. It is suggested that you adjust yourself to these characteristics
by experimentation in open water at both high and low speeds.
The drive shaft driven impeller draws water up through the water intake (a) and then
redirects it at a high pressure through the water outlet nozzle (b) to create forward
thrust. To obtain reverse, the reverse gate (c) is swung over the outlet nozzle to direct
the water in the opposite direction for reverse operation.
When the jet drive is in neutral, the impeller continues to rotate. However, the reverse
gate is positioned so that some of the forward thrust is diverted to create reverse
thrust. This approximate balancing of forward and reverse thrust will minimize any
boat movement. However, because the impeller is always rotating and creating
thrust when the engine is running, the boat may tend to creep slowly forward or
backward. This is normal for a direct-drive, jet-driven boat. The operator should be
aware of this and use caution whenever the engine is running.
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