Towing Jet Skis - Where do I Pinch-off Water intake line??

I have new, used 2000 Kawasaki Ultra 150 and 2000 Kawasaki 1100 STX DI
Jet Skis. I will be towing both of these jet skis behind a houseboat
this summer. I already know to keep it slow; ~5mph; tow them with
near-empty fuel tanks so they are not nose-heavy; use long enough tow
ropes to keep them out of the houseboat's wake; and to pinch off the
water intake lines so the engine is not flooded.

I would like to install an inline ball-valves in the water intake lines
rather than pinch-off the tubes. However, I really do not know which
line(s) on each of these jet skis is the water intake.

Which line(s) should I install the ball valve on each of these jet
skis?

The ultra 150 has a machined hole in the upper left side of the housing
on the pump (if looking into pump from rear of ski). This tube enters
the hull, and winds its way over to the cylinder head where it seems to
enter somewhere underneath the head (out of view and easy reach). This
ski also has a tube that seems to exit the top rear of the exhaust
pipe, and then exits the hull above the pump housing. My owners manual
(not service manual) labels this hose as "cooling hose", however it
seems that this is more of a vent or discharge hose... So, I do not
know if I should install the ball valve in one or both of these hoses,
or somewhere else altogether.

The 1100 STX DI seems to have a somewhat different set up. This ski has
the same machined hole in the pump housing, with a tube that enters the
hull and then appears to enter the exhaust manifold via a brass "T"
fitting. This ski then has a tube that exits the rear underside of the
exhaust pipe which also exits the rear of the hull above the pump
housing. So, I have the same question on this ski... Which tube or
tubes should I install the ball valve(s) in?

Other obvious differences in these two skis are the set-up of the
cooling system flush pipe stubs (where you hook-up the garden hose).
The 1100 STX DI's has an integrated short tube that plugs into the top
of the cylinder head. Wheras the the ultra 150's flushing inlet is off
by itself, with no other tubes associated with it.

If you are familiar with these skis, and could provide me some guidance
on where I need to install the ball valves, I would really appreciate
it. If you have any other towing tips that you could share, that would
be great too. Hopefully the jet ski gods will bestow some good jet ski
karma on you for helping me.

Thanks in advance,
TW

Which ever line comes from the machined hole in the pump. It will have a
screen on the inlet side of the pump. I'd do one other thing. I'd put a
reminder tag on the throttle that I had my ball valve shut. Maybe use a
velcro-style zip tie, that can store the tag around the ball valve when in
the operational open mode?

--
mark
www.hydrotoys.com
<Dick_Danger2000 RemoveThis @yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1142010522.913658.208360@e56g2000cwe.googlegroups.com...
>I have new, used 2000 Kawasaki Ultra 150 and 2000 Kawasaki 1100 STX DI
> Jet Skis. I will be towing both of these jet skis behind a houseboat
> this summer. I already know to keep it slow; ~5mph; tow them with
> near-empty fuel tanks so they are not nose-heavy; use long enough tow
> ropes to keep them out of the houseboat's wake; and to pinch off the
> water intake lines so the engine is not flooded.
>
> I would like to install an inline ball-valves in the water intake lines
> rather than pinch-off the tubes. However, I really do not know which
> line(s) on each of these jet skis is the water intake.
>
> Which line(s) should I install the ball valve on each of these jet
> skis?
>
> The ultra 150 has a machined hole in the upper left side of the housing
> on the pump (if looking into pump from rear of ski). This tube enters
> the hull, and winds its way over to the cylinder head where it seems to
> enter somewhere underneath the head (out of view and easy reach). This
> ski also has a tube that seems to exit the top rear of the exhaust
> pipe, and then exits the hull above the pump housing. My owners manual
> (not service manual) labels this hose as "cooling hose", however it
> seems that this is more of a vent or discharge hose... So, I do not
> know if I should install the ball valve in one or both of these hoses,
> or somewhere else altogether.
>
> The 1100 STX DI seems to have a somewhat different set up. This ski has
> the same machined hole in the pump housing, with a tube that enters the
> hull and then appears to enter the exhaust manifold via a brass "T"
> fitting. This ski then has a tube that exits the rear underside of the
> exhaust pipe which also exits the rear of the hull above the pump
> housing. So, I have the same question on this ski... Which tube or
> tubes should I install the ball valve(s) in?
>
> Other obvious differences in these two skis are the set-up of the
> cooling system flush pipe stubs (where you hook-up the garden hose).
> The 1100 STX DI's has an integrated short tube that plugs into the top
> of the cylinder head. Wheras the the ultra 150's flushing inlet is off
> by itself, with no other tubes associated with it.
>
> If you are familiar with these skis, and could provide me some guidance
> on where I need to install the ball valves, I would really appreciate
> it. If you have any other towing tips that you could share, that would
> be great too. Hopefully the jet ski gods will bestow some good jet ski
> karma on you for helping me.
>
> Thanks in advance,
> TW
>