If you THINK those "warning" buzzers on your boat engines........

[Skyskier]

are fail safe,......................think again :swear Last year one of those buzzers went off in my Pop's Hallett, we hadn't got more than a couple hundred yards from the dock when outta nowhere this buzzer starts going, Pop immeadiately shut off the engine. We raised the cover, checked everything we could think of. After sitting for 10 15 minutes, tried to turn over the engine and nothing ? locked up,....................

Turns out that the water pump impellar had disintegrated an the engine got hot enough to seize. I asked Pop when the last time the impellar had been changed ? He has the boat winterized/summerized EVERY year, and he say's in 11 years the guy had NEVER changed the impellar And the guy that does his servicing is no rookie, same guy WAS doing it for all this time. He's got a HUGE shop in post falls, big enough he does the servicing and indoor winter storage for a lot of his customers.
We talked to the guy redoing the engine, said they had to "hammer" the pistons outta the block, should have it back in the boat an in the water by next week.

 

[coz]

are fail safe,......................think again :swear Last year one of those buzzers went off in my Pop's Hallett, we hadn't got more than a couple hundred yards from the dock when outta nowhere this buzzer starts going, Pop immeadiately shut off the engine. We raised the cover, checked everything we could think of. After sitting for 10 15 minutes, tried to turn over the engine and nothing ? locked up,....................

Turns out that the water pump impellar had disintegrated an the engine got hot enough to seize. I asked Pop when the last time the impellar had been changed ? He has the boat winterized/summerized EVERY year, and he say's in 11 years the guy had NEVER changed the impellar And the guy that does his servicing is no rookie, same guy WAS doing it for all this time. He's got a HUGE shop in post falls, big enough he does the servicing and indoor winter storage for a lot of his customers.
We talked to the guy redoing the engine, said they had to "hammer" the pistons outta the block, should have it back in the boat an in the water by next week.

Sucks :thumbsdown 11 years is a pretty good run for a piece of rubber (if it's like mine) They say you should change the impellar at every yearly service, and it's a wise choice to keep an extra on board for a "just in case" reassurance. Not sure how pop's boat impellar change is? but on my boat it's right up front and an easy change. Good luck with everything and post some pics of that beautiful country up there :thumbsup

 

[OGShocker]

I've had a buzzer going off on our boat for two years. Still can't figure out the problem so, I cut the wire leading to that high pitched POS.

 

[RiverDave]

Sucks :thumbsdown 11 years is a pretty good run for a piece of rubber (if it's like mine) They say you should change the impellar at every yearly service, and it's a wise choice to keep an extra on board for a "just in case" reassurance. Not sure how pop's boat impellar change is? but on my boat it's right up front and an easy change. Good luck with everything and post some pics of that beautiful country up there :thumbsup

How would you change the impeller while the boat is in the water? Sounds like a potential way to sink the boat to me?

I've had a buzzer going off on our boat for two years. Still can't figure out the problem so, I cut the wire leading to that high pitched POS.

Kinda opened Dana up to some rigging jokes there.. (They actually do ok rigging... just saying)

RD

 

[Zaairman]

How would you change the impeller while the boat is in the water? Sounds like a potential way to sink the boat to me?

Sounds like a potential way to lose your lower unit... :hmm That'd be an "OH FUCK" moment. LOL.

 

[BarryMac]

Have a buddy that use to have a Sea Ray Seville with a 150 outboard on it, he was cruising the lake when his buzzer started going off, couldn't figure out what it was so he had his son cut the wire to it, within 10 minutes the motor froze, turns out the buzzer was his low oil warning. After he had the motor rebuilt he sold the boat, if I remember his words correctly he said "Fuck it, these god damn boats are to much work"...

 

[RiverDave]

Sounds like a potential way to lose your lower unit... :hmm That'd be an "OH FUCK" moment. LOL.

He has a wakeboat.

RD

 

[OGShocker]

Kinda opened Dana up to some rigging jokes there.. (They actually do ok rigging... just saying)

RD

Dana did not rig our boat, Concept One did. The same dickhead that used a 1" screw to mount my depth sound when a 1/2 inch would have been better.:swear

When we put the "new" engine in, it made the sensors/buzzer, null and void...

 

[Bri'sV210]

This past weekend we were boating at our local lake and making our last run for the day when as we were idling out of the no wake zone that stupid high pitched buzzer went off....turned the engine off, popped the engine hatch looked around, started it back up buzzer still going off, shut engine off again, disconnected stupid buzzer, start engine up and proceed to idle out of the no wake zone. Glanced down at the temp gauge and it's reading 240!! Turn off engine....Long story short the impeller's shot! I've had the boat serviced every year (4 years) but never replaced the impeller. I guess four years isn't too bad.....

Funny thing was before the impeller went out I was commenting on how the boat has been turnkey since day one. But I think Karma bit me in the a$$...earlier in the day my 4yr old son was making fun of a guy that was having trouble with his jet ski....I told my son how it's not nice to make fun of someone having engine troubles as Karma will come back on you!! Besides, there's been WAY too many times were I've been the one with the engine troubles.....last thing I would want is a 4yr old laughing at my a$$.

But hey.....that's boating!! I don't get pissed anymore I just laugh and reach for the pocket book!!

 

[coz]

How would you change the impeller while the boat is in the water? Sounds like a potential way to sink the boat to me?





RD

It's a can do in my boat, obviously not while the motor's running :hmm It's in here and you can change it while you're in the water :thumbsup

Lift the motorbox, remove screws, pull impellar, install new, re-screw & go :thumbsup

BTW: My last boat had a mercruiser and I bought it new, had it for 8 years and never replaced the impellar.

 

[RiverDave]

What stops the water from entering the boat as soon as you unscrew that dealio?

RD

 

[OGShocker]

What stops the water from entering the boat as soon as you unscrew that dealio?

RD

Dana....Bobby, pulled the screw out and repaired the bottom. That John guy is a dutchbug!

 

[rivergames]

A new impeller is like $40. Why wouldnt you want to replace it every year??????

Say you dont replace the impeller every year. 3 years down the rode you drive up to the river to go boating and bring some buddies. You pull off the launch ramp and then your impeller breaks. If you dont notice the temp gauge, you burn up your motor. Now your rebuilding the motor and stuck with no boat for the weekend. I guess just for a piece of mind, i'de spend the extra $40 a year and throw in a new impeller. But hey thats just me, what do i know

 

[RiverDave]

Dana....Bobby, pulled the screw out and repaired the bottom. That John guy is a dutchbug!

I was referring to COZ's impeller and removing it.. What are you talking about?

RD

 

[OGShocker]

I was referring to COZ's impeller and removing it.. What are you talking about?

RD

My ass hair. Never mind...

 

[coz]

What stops the water from entering the boat as soon as you unscrew that dealio?

RD

That's what the impellar does, draws water into the engine, so if it's not spinning then no water is being drawn in, if I started the boat without the cap then water would be pouring in the dealio is the raw water pump

 

[SodarSki73]

That's what the impellar does, draws water into the engine, so if it's not spinning then no water is being drawn in, if I started the boat without the cap then water would be pouring in the dealio is the raw water pump

Actually, it is because the water pump is place above the waterline of the boat, but your explanation works, too!

 

[rivergames]

Actually, it is because the water pump is place above the waterline of the boat, but your explanation works, too!

So if you had a electirc water pump that is mounted to the rear floor board, and tried to take the cover off the pump while in the water, then water would rush in becuase its below the water line. Correct?

 

[SodarSki73]

So if you had a electirc water pump that is mounted to the rear floor board, and tried to take the cover off the pump while in the water, then water would rush in becuase its below the water line. Correct?

All depends on how the hose is run. If the hose to the pump never goes higher than the waterline, then yes, water will rush in. If the hose runs above the waterline (almost like a reverse drain trap, then water will not flow in).

On boats that the water pump is located below the waterline (read yachts, etc.) they use a valve on the through hull to allow for the flow to be shut off to change an impeller pump. I have been 30 miles offshore before, changing an impeller.

 

[coz]

I have been 30 miles offshore before, changing an impeller.

We keep telling ya Sodar............you can't go fishing 30 miles off shore with that MasterCraft..............it's a wakeboard/ski boat

 

[Racey]

Who needs warning buzzers when you have gauges...... They aren't just there to fill in space on the dash! :smackhead

 

[OGShocker]

Who needs warning buzzers when you have gauges...... They aren't just there to fill in space on the dash! :smackhead

Gauges?

 

[sean]

i was lucky enough to have this happen after launching at site 6. i figured one more trip and i would change this impeller...

 

[sean]

lucky for me the pump was easy to get to and i carry tools so, simple fix on the water and off to boating. like said before if you take the hose end higher than the water line no sinky. i always carry a spare impeller and a cheap bottle of dish soap juuust in case

 

[coz]

i was lucky enough to have this happen after launching at site 6. i figured one more trip and i would change this impeller...

Um...........yeah.............time for a new one

 

[sean]

i like to get every last cent of use out of my stuff

 

[spectras only]

It's about time Mercruiser would put/design a seacock for the transom assy where the water supply hose fitted to that cheap azz plastic fitting . There are boats with a heavy azz [ like mine] that this fitting would be below the waterline and water will gush in unless you pinch the hose to the raw water pump before removing it. This hose is heavy walled so would be difficult to pinch though. I'd suggest to install a shut off valve between the transom assy and the raw water pump.

Ps; I have analogue gauges backing up my Smartcraft buzzers [ system to scan the mode buttons for functions are PITA ] and water pressure gauge is a good investment for any boat.
You can never have too many gauges , lol

 

[Zaairman]

When I first bought my 200 Merc outboard, my marine mechanic buddy agreed to pick it up for me and get it running and ready to go. First time he started it, he noticed that it was running a bit warm, so he shut it down right away.