Hi folks.   I finally have a bass boat again, and it seems I recall briefly starting and running my old 70hp Merc momentarily with the foot of the motor in a large container full of water (with the motor in neutral).  I have a 150 Optimax now, and wish to just see if it will start and run before dragging it to the lake (not so close).  

1. Is this OK?  I have a giant country garbage container  

2. It seems I use to know of a hose attachment that would clamp to the water intake and allow for this.  It was not a flush unit.  Does this really exist, or is it my faulty memory?

Thanks for any comments.  Stop me, fast   ;D

You can use muffs or a large container of water.

Don't overdo it and don't run it for more than a few minutes.

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_58531_200002007_200000000_200002000_200-2-7

I use one of these...

I've got a large 96 gallon garbage can that works pretty well for running my 150 in.  It's sorta a pain the actually get the OB into it but once in and filled up you can run that motor just like you would at the lake.

If it's just for a quick test fire than a set of muffs will do fine.

It has a place on the back of the motor to hook a water hose. It should have

a little white piece that came with it to screw in the motor. If you have this just hook the hose up and let her rip. If it don't, go to your merc dealer and get

one. 8-)

Doing it in the can full of water is fine, and safer than the muffs.  You cannot put it into gear on the muffs, you can with the can.  It will blow some water out, just make sure you are not anywhere the water will hurt something.  Also, run it with the cover off.  The exhaust may accumulate in the can, and by taking the cover off, it will be able to get cleaner air, than trying to reburn exhaust.

Y'all are great.  I'm glad I found this place.  It started right up today in the can, and I'm going to check on that attatchment for the back of the motor and get a set of muffs as well.  

I'm taking her to the lake tomorrow for it's virgin voyage!  It's a '05 Triton 186 with 150 Opti.  It is much more boat than I've ever had before, so I'm pretty pumped  

Forget the can. Go to your dealer and ask for a set of muffs to hook up to your garden hose. Make sure she is spitting water. You can put it in gear, just don't  rev it to high. They do it at the local ranger dealer all the time. Also, I have a jet which has a screw in muff for this purpose. A tank is used at the dealer for checking issues under a load.

Do like justfishn said forget the can and get the muffs.  In the can the engine may not be getting enough water to cool it.  You don't want to destroy the engine by over heating it.  The muffs force the water up into the cooling system.  Which ever method you use make certain the engine is spitting out the pee hole on the back.  You don't want to put the engine in gear out of the water anyway.

TD

If you fish brackish water and like to flush your motor or just like to run it in the yard from time to time, make the neighbors happy and don't mess with the muffs.   For less than $100, you can go to a local feed store and get a galvanized stock tank about four feet long (about 100 gallon) that will slide right under the motor trimed up and then trim it down.  Makes a great run tank, very quit and motor can run about 1/2 hour before the water starts getting warm enough that you need to turn it off.   In some areas, you will have the cops at your door before you get it cranked up good on the muffs.

They also make plastic tanks but they cost more and don't hold up as well as the galvanized for this use.

You cannot put it into gear with the muffs.  The motor has to be run under load or it will rev higher than safe.  

On the subject of muffs, I've had a hard time getting a set that will fit my motor.  Started with a round set, didn't work.  Now on a rectangular set, but I can't get a good seal.  Going to have to do some afro-engineering it seems.