A Grenthemen water hopper was a recreational water craft in which one changed gears to increase the power of the vehicle. The hopper's engine had a tendency to stall when the clutch was inadvertently let go of, or "popped".
Both William T. Riker and Geordi La Forge have operated Grenthemen water hoppers, and have had experience with that type of malfunction. (TNG: "Peak Performance")