yeah I'm not sure; if I make a scale intake grate, like a real boat, I'm afraid a rock could be physically pushed through by flexing the metal. Then my other worry, if I use a mesh screen, it'll make the motor work too hard and there's more chance for cavitation. I think to a degree I can accept some pebble of very small size, figuring out what size that is is the tough part.

The pebbles that have chewed the impeller were about 1/4" in diameter. Perhaps I just need something that wont allow anything over an 1/8". The situation I have is here in the NE US, all the rivers are lined with glacial stone, so the rocks are round and in every size imaginable. When the pebble gets in there you dont even hear it, it just rolls around like a BB, unfortunately like a sandpaper BB. Tonite I need something to do, so I'm going on a hunch and I'm going to take a piece of brass plate and attempt to cut slits in it. I'll get back to ya on this.

Umi- yeah I do like doing the stationary thing. On the far side of that stream the water is about 6" deep and has many standing waves. It's really fun but nerve wracking as well, since one wrong move and the boat either flips, goes under, or slams a rock. It's definitely a skill. I will get plenty of practice this year, you cant just go out and be an expert on the first day. With real boats I'm used to currents, but primarily only deep water, which is why this "sport" is so interesting to me. I really want a actual jet boat now.

~QS