Water Pump

[secondcurve]

I have a small pontoon boat that I use to putt around in. It is powered by a 25 horse power 4stroke. I typically use about a quarter of a tank of gas a year and I rarely open the motor up. The question I have is how often should I change the water pump? The boat and motor are in their fifth season.

Thanks

[NoBozo]

Not to worry. Your "rubber" impeller is good for a decade..even if you don't use it...Much. If you were to leave the engine Un-Turned for a decade it would then be advisable to replace it. NB

[secondcurve]

Originally Posted by NoBozo

Not to worry. Your "rubber" impeller is good for a decade..even if you don't use it...Much. If you were to leave the engine Un-Turned for a decade it would then be advisable to replace it. NB

Thanks No Bozo

[jrc]

I guess it depends on how bad a stranding would be. If the pump fails you will be stuck somewhere with an overheated engine. I had to get towed from the middle of the Broads on a busy July 3rd when mine failed. It ruined boating that day and the rest of the holiday weekend getting it fixed.

So I would consider having the motor inspected, tuned, oil changed and the impeller changed after this season is done. Five years is a good life. Mine failed in my fourth season.

Yours may last for ten years or longer but only you can weigh the cost of maintenance against the inconvenience of a breakdown.

[Woodsy]

I replace the water pump impeller on my 502/Bravo setup every 3 years religiously. Its cheap insurance! A failed pump will most likely require a tow and could quite possibly take out an engine.

Not worth the risk in my book!

Woodsy

[minnabristol]

If it is a Yamaha I would say every 5-10 years. Impellers actually get worse sitting than they do running. When sitting dry the rubber can adhere to the outer housing and when you start it you will pull chunks off. I have serviced many Yamaha 4 stroke outboards and if the pressure coming out of the little squirting hole in the back is strong you are probably good. I would also say if you store it for long run some propylene glycol through a set of muffs before you put it away and that will lubricate it from sticking.
-Happy Boating.

[secondcurve]

I plan to have it looked at this year in the off season. It is a Mercury. How expensive of a job is it to have the water pump swapped out.

Thanks

[Scott's Yott]

Very easy to do yourself probably cost 20-30 $

about 100-150 for marina to do it

[LIforrelaxin]

I replace the water pump impeller every 2 years in my boat... It is done as part of the yearly maintenance...

As Woodsy points out, it is cheap insurance.

Having had one fail, as JRC did, it sucks being stranded... I noticed very quickly as the engine started to run hotter then normal and shut things down immediately.... but my day and weekend where over....