So after removing my motor from my boat and completely tearing it down (not a good end to the season) I find that the block is filled with sand.  And by filled I mean allot 16lbs. to be exact.  Anyone else encountered this and does anyone run a filter on the water supply from the jet???  I have a panther jet powered by a 460, any tips aside from the obvious "dont drive over sand"; this is definetly years of sand abuse especially since I only drove the boat 3 times before blowing it up due to overheating and running lean.

The first time I took apart my motor, I had found the same thing.... the motor didn't ever over heat or anything, but it had a large beach in the block and heads.

I don't run anything to filter sand still, but I'm alot more aware in starting it in shallow waters. Up here I don't think sand is an issue, but down in Martinez where everything is sand it happens over time

If you have big wads of cash laying around, you could get a sea strainer.

But I saw awhile back someone had a strainer from McMaster Carr that they installed, and they even posted the part #, I'm wanting to say it was TJS, but not one hundred percent on that. It uses a fine wire mesh to filter out all the sediment from the water, and probably even gets more than a sea strainer would. I'll try to find it for you.