Mercruiser water pump.

[Valv]

Ok, another question for the experts. My Mercruiser 350, coming from a boat with transmission, has a belt driven water pump. I am installing an outdrive. My question is, do I have to remove belt driven pump and rely on same-old-pain-in-the-...-impeller in lower unit, or I have the possibility of using existing pump. In this case where on the hull do I place water intake (or can I use outdrive intake?). Also what do I do with outdrive impeller ?<br /><br />Thanks guys.<br /><br />Val

 

[ODDD1]

Re: Mercruiser water pump.

valv, the accepted practice would call for the pump in the outdrive being used....the engine driven seapump is a nice piece with lots of extra capacity, but will require a thru hull pickup under the motor, with requisite seacock....I really dont like putting more holes in a boat underwater....the intake on the drive is undersize for the pump, cavitation on the suction side would be a problem....if using the engine driven seapump, the waterhose in the bell housing of the outdrive can be cut and the pump left alone....<br />I see 2 probs with using a hull intake on a stern drive boat....1 sometime in the course of its life, somebody will put a set of flushing ears on the outdrive and start it up, destroying you engine seapump in short order....2 It aint easy getting water on a thru hull intake to run the boat out of the water....<br /> finally, I would argue the point of 'pain in the outdrive impellers".....ever try to change a engine driven pump in the tight confines of a small boat? I'll take the outdrive pump, thanks.....

 

[Valv]

Re: Mercruiser water pump.

ODDD1 thanks for the advice. You are right, I can see somebody putting muffs on lower unit and revv motor up....."she doesn't pump"....I will have to test it also. I probably can use the extra belt for power steering. I just always felt lower units pumps are a pain...but belt driven are the same thing, they have a rubber impeller in it.<br /><br />Val