can you change an impeller with boat in water?

[jayh]

i dont have a trailer and i dont have a lift...im out of options and i was wondering if i can change the impeller while the boat is in the water?
1997 mercruiser 5.7
1997 alpha one drive
i was told the drive is gen 2

 

[Don S]

Re: can you change an impeller with boat in water?

No way can you do an Alpha in the water, has to be out of the water. You have to remove the lower unit from the upper.

 

[Coors]

Re: can you change an impeller with boat in water?

He could, if he had a cobra..

 

[Bondo]

Re: can you change an impeller with boat in water?

Ayuh,....

It Could be done on an Alpha,......

'Course the Hard part would be getting all the Seawater out of the outdrive,+ getting fresh Oil into it.......

And,.......
It would seem to Me, that Scuba Gear might be Mandatory......
Especially if you happened to Drop anything....

 

[jayh]

Re: can you change an impeller with boat in water?

Ayuh,....

It Could be done on an Alpha,......

'Course the Hard part would be getting all the Seawater out of the outdrive,+ getting fresh Oil into it.......

And,.......
It would seem to Me, that Scuba Gear might be Mandatory......
Especially if you happened to Drop anything....

I live by a shoal so its crystal blu water so I do all my cleaning maint with no problems there. I have never removed the lower unit so I have no idea what to expect. Since there's oil that will spill guess its a no go.
sucks not having a trailer

 

[BAYLINER185]

Re: can you change an impeller with boat in water?

Well MABE and a BIG one at that......Could you beach the boat and do the job?

You would have to get really up there on shore but that may be the last resort to a DIY water pump change....OF course that means if your existing pump is bad you will be running with little or no cooling now and cause damage trying to get the boat to a beach area.

Its SO much easier out of the water!

 

[Don S]

Re: can you change an impeller with boat in water?

Even with the drive tilted all the way up, the drive would still hang below the boat and you wouldn't be able to get the drive off or anything else while just beaching the boat. Unless you dug a big hole under the drive.
If that boat lives in the water all the time, then you better be thinking about pulling the outdrive and checking the bellows, gimbal bearing, ujoints, alignment, all the maintenance items that can't be done in the water.

 

[airframer]

Re: can you change an impeller with boat in water?

seems like your best bet is to just borrow a trailor. it couldn't be that hard to find one

 

[jayh]

Re: can you change an impeller with boat in water?

I clean it every weekend at the sandbar. All reg maint like that is done. I get under the boat with goggles scrape etc... Clean outdrive etc...
I don't know anyone with a boat so no trailer to borrow. I live in a highrise, there is no place to store or have a trailer within 30 minutes of it place

 

[jayh]

Re: can you change an impeller with boat in water?

I'm just gonna have to fi nd a trailer to rent

 

[Don S]

Re: can you change an impeller with boat in water?

I clean it every weekend at the sandbar. All reg maint like that is done. I get under the boat with goggles scrape etc... Clean outdrive etc...

I'm not referring to the cleaning maintenance, i'm referring to things that have to have the outdrive pulled off the boat to check, repair, or replace.

 

[jayh]

Re: can you change an impeller with boat in water?

I'm not referring to the cleaning maintenance, i'm referring to things that have to have the outdrive pulled off the boat to check, repair, or replace.

Yes I did everything this spring about 2500 in work

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: can you change an impeller with boat in water?

I would think they'd change the raw pump if they pulled the drive...especially if they charged you that much!!!

 

[Don S]

Re: can you change an impeller with boat in water?

I would think they'd change the raw pump if they pulled the drive...especially if they charged you that much!!!

I pull drives all the time and don't take it apart. I do ask if they want an impeller replaced if I have the drive off, but it's not really a requirement.

And since we have no idea what was done for that $2500 how can you say they should have done the impeller after charging that much. Doesn't make sense.

 

[jayh]

Re: can you change an impeller with boat in water?

I would think they'd change the raw pump if they pulled the drive...especially if they charged you that much!!!

I had full service done manifolds gimble etc etc the impeller was changed before as was the water pump... But I'm having a overheat problem so I'm wanting to check everything incasethe mechanic lied and didnt replace what he said he did. I have a thread below this about my overheating problem if you have any suggestions

 

[JustJason]

Re: can you change an impeller with boat in water?

pull the raw water line that comes up from the transom plate to the tstat housing off. Start the engine and run it for a few seconds and give it 1 quick blip of the throttle to see if its pumping water at idle and also increasing its pressure at higher rpm.... don't run the engine for more than 15 seconds or so though.