Clearing weeds from prop

[Arminius]

The outdrive is very sensitive to weeds. It is relatively easy to clean it by hand with the oval port removed from the swim platform. We find calmer water to ski in closer to shore where the milfoil grows. The overheat alarm is routine. The speedo seldom works and we've got a cupholder mount for an Android phone with the big speedo GPS app. Thought my transmission was blown when I couldn't get on plane. Raised outdrive to trailer position and observed and cleaned it through oval hole in platform. Only a long wrapped string of weed interfered with propulsion by my High 5 prop.
This is a lot touchier than an outboard but the removal of the port lets me see what going on immediately and clean.
The "prop port" is now available for use, as appropriate.

 

[GypsmJim]

When I had an I/O, simply putting it into reverse for a few seconds would clear the weeds.

 

[Arminius]

Additionally, I now have an excuse for having a hole in the swim platform very similar to what you might find in an outhouse.
I first raised this issue in a discussion in which the learned result seemed to be that the port was there to reduce the noise of trapped air. Mitch posted a photo of his boat with twin 4.3's which also had twin ports. This indicates the ports are there to enable access to the props. While I am at the helm, my prop port may be used as convenient.

Courtesy of TechMitch