The unsung hero behind the "jet pump"?
What if there was no "intake gate"?
The “intake gate” is the part that serves as the entrance for the water flow that sends water to the pump, and it helps the pump to better grip the water surface.
PWCs generate thrust (forward motion) by drawing water into a jet pump, compressing it, and expelling it.
This is a common system used in all models, and no matter how high-powered the engine is at full throttle, it will not be able to move a PWC without a pump to convert that energy into propulsion.
Now, I would like to talk about the mechanism by which PWC advances.
Click here to learn more about the mechanisms surrounding the pump.
The engine is started and the energy generated turns a propeller called an "impeller," which sucks in water through the "intake gate."
The water is compressed and rectified by the impeller and vanes in the jet pump, and then ejected from the pump nozzle to generate thrust.
Jet propulsion expels the same amount of water it sucks in, so if vinyl or other material sticks to the "intake gate" at the suction port and obstructs it, the amount of water sucked in will decrease compared to normal, and cavitation (air mixing with the water) will occur between the gate and the jet pump.
This will naturally reduce the amount of fuel injected, leading to a decrease in thrust.
Cavitation can also be caused if objects such as plastic bottle caps or ropes are sucked in through the gate.
If hard objects such as stones or pieces of wood are sucked in, the impeller can deform and cause cavitation. If, in a worse case scenario, the object passes through the impeller and reaches the jet pump, it can damage the vanes and cause cavitation.
In particular, today's PWCs have high horsepower, so they can suck in a huge amount of water with each stroke.
In shallow water, there is a risk of inhaling sand, stones, etc. along with the water.
Always start and move through water that is at least about thigh-deep from the bottom.
The "intake gate" is the unsung hero that supports the "jet pump," which is the lifeblood of propulsion.
Without the intake gate, the water flow would not be created properly, the boat would not bite into the water surface as well as cavitation, and it would also affect the sense of balance and interfere with driving.
It's not just a matter of pumping water.
By matching the intake gate with the jet pump, we have achieved overwhelming acceleration performance.
By upgrading the “intake gate”, you can increase the amount of water sucked into the pump, suppress cavitation, and expect improved handling on rough water surfaces.
One example is the UNLIMITED's "intake gate," a new wing design that dramatically increases hook-up.
It improves top speed, turning and handling in rough waters and significantly reduces cavitation.
The water intake at the rear of the gate is designed to be higher than usual (4mm higher), allowing more water to be sent to the pump.
It is ideal for racing as well as free riding.
In addition, each manufacturer sells an "intake gate" for upgrade purposes, and they come in a variety of shapes, such as the number of frames, wing designs, and the degree of protrusion from the underhull.
These differences in shape have been calculated and created by each manufacturer, taking into account factors such as the balance between water resistance and bite into the water surface.
Please choose the one that best suits your riding style.