An inlet grate cleaning system for a water jet propulsion system to be used in a watercraft. The water jet propulsion system has a water passage, the water passage has an inlet and the inlet has a forward area and a rearward area with respect to the watercraft. The inlet grate cleaning system comprises a pump and at least one water intake fluidly connected to the pump. At least one water outlet is also fluidly connected to the pump. The pump is adapted for pumping water from the at least one water intake to the at least one water outlet to create at least one jet of water. The at least one water outlet is positioned so as to direct the at least one jet of water toward an inlet grate.
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