winterizing- water pump question

Boaterguy · Post by **Boaterguy** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 8:07 am

Do you pull the impeller out of your water pump for the winter?

It seems that I have heard somewhere that this is a necessary step.

Any thoughts?

ready123 · Post by **ready123** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 9:10 am

I do so the curved blades won't set.... others at my marina don't. I have not heard any conclusive evidence that what I do is an advantage but since I loosen all the belts too it is not too much extra work.
Main advantage is that at the start of every season I can visually see their condition.....

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 9:49 am

Ready123 has some good points .I know some folks that do remove them and I would think it would help add life to them One other thing you can do is bump the engine over once in a while ( that is good for the enigine) But you will not be able to see the impler condtion.

On the other hand If you pulling the impler anyway why not replace it they are cheap.

If you do remove it and reinstall it . make sure it goes back in in the same way ,if you don't you will twist the blade the other way and shorten the life quikly

ready123 · Post by **ready123** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 10:24 am

prowlersfish wrote:On the other hand If you pulling the impler anyway why not replace it they are cheap.

Up here with our 1/2 yr season, two seasons use is not too much of a stretch.

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 10:44 am

ready123 wrote:
prowlersfish wrote:On the other hand If you pulling the impler anyway why not replace it they are cheap.
Up here with our 1/2 yr season, two seasons use is not too much of a stretch.

true . we have a sail boater that pulls it every year and gets 5-6 years out of them it takes him hours to do it if I would spend hours doing it I would just replace it every few years and not pull it . I sure you don't spend hours doing it ( I hope its easier)

think about it 4 hours labor a year to save 25 bucks LOL but thats a sail boater for you

Boaterguy · Post by **Boaterguy** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 10:58 am

Once again, thanks for the great info.

I will pull it apart and take a look at the impeller.

At this point I am still getting to know the boat, and this will be a good way to practice replacing the impeller. If it looks like it is still in good condition I will reinstall- if not I will order 2 new ones (one back up) and replace in the spring.

thanks

aaronbocknek · Post by **aaronbocknek** » Sun Oct 25, 2009 7:56 am

i do what my dad did on our tri cabin for decades. i 'bump' the impellers twice a month for the engines and genset. besides, it gives me an excuse to tell phil 'i need to go to the boat to do some work'. by now he knows that 'an hour of boat time' is 4 hours of standard time. and with the marina 7 miles from the house, it's an easy excuse!
aaron in baltimore.

mtwolf · Post by **mtwolf** » Sun Oct 25, 2009 9:04 am

Aaron,

I don't pull mine although I do remove the belts every year to prevent the belts from taking a "set." I rebulit my pumps last year so I should be good for awhile.

John
F-31
MD