Can impellar be changed in water?

[KnotConnected]

I want to take a 60 mile weekend trip late July, and want to replace the impellar before I go. Previous owner said he replaced it late last year before I bought the boat, but I'd like to do it just incase he was fulla $h1t.

Question is: Can i replace the impellar while the boat is in the water, or will the hoses flood the bildge as soon as I remove them? I understood there should be an easily-accesable petcock for every through-hull, but i can't easily trace the source of the hoses and don't see any petcocks other than for the freshwater system's intake. I'd hate to crawl into the bildge all gung-ho about maintenance and end up creating an ad-lib waterpark.

Thanks!

 

[BRICH1260]

Re: Can impellar be changed in water?

What type of engine?

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Can impellar be changed in water?

just clamp the hoses shut

 

[81 Checkmate]

Re: Can impellar be changed in water?

What type of outdrive do ya have.....I/O or OB ??????

I wouldn't attempt it on either drive in the water.... Just me....... to many things that can go wrong!

 

[GoFastr]

Re: Can impellar be changed in water?

If you're asking 'cause you're thinking to risk it on the one that's in there, then if it fails change in the water, it's bad reasoning. One can "attempt" to do anything in an emergent situation given there's no other option. But here (ASSuming it's on a trailer or lift right now) nip the concern in the bud and change it now.

Impellers are one of things you do to a boat when bought used (heck even new not knowing what the dealer's done on the pre-delivery) right off along with fresh oils, plugs and wires etc to get a new fresh baseline for future maintenance just like one would with a car or truck when bought used.

60 mikes is a long way and I'm saying that not even knowing what type, age or motor you're referring to. Good luck...Play smarter not harder.

 

[BonairII]

Re: Can impellar be changed in water?

What type of outdrive do ya have.....I/O or OB ??????

I wouldn't attempt it on either drive in the water.... Just me....... to many things that can go wrong!

It would all depend on what water we're talking about. If the PO could pull his boat into waist deep water....certainly he could change an impeller.

If he's contemplating an impeller change while floating in deep water....not a chance.

IMO, if the impeller is at all "suspect" then change it out BEFORE putting the boat back in service.

 

[KnotConnected]

Re: Can impellar be changed in water?

If you're asking 'cause you're thinking to risk it on the one that's in there, then if it fails change in the water, it's bad reasoning. One can "attempt" to do anything in an emergent situation given there's no other option. But here (ASSuming it's on a trailer or lift right now) nip the concern in the bud and change it now.

Impellers are one of things you do to a boat when bought used (heck even new not knowing what the dealer's done on the pre-delivery) right off along with fresh oils, plugs and wires etc to get a new fresh baseline for future maintenance just like one would with a car or truck when bought used.

60 mikes is a long way and I'm saying that not even knowing what type, age or motor you're referring to. Good luck...Play smarter not harder.

No, it's in the water now and I want to change it so i know its good, BEFORE issues come up. I was just wondering if i can do it in the slip, or if i'll have to schedule a time to have them pull the boat out with a travel lift.

It's a single Mercruiser 7.4 Bravo III sitting in a 1994 Larson Cabrio 280 (sorry, shoulda mentioned that before hand)

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Can impellar be changed in water?

Folks read his first post... he said it was in the engine compartment and had HOSES

It isn't in the outdrive... as stated above YES you can change it in the water. Just clamp off the hose(s)

BikeMaster Hose Clamp Crimper Tool Kit from SportbikeTrackGear.com

EDIT: Don says it's wire reenforced... If that be the case then def don't clamp it...

a bag of tapered wooden plugs are a good thing to have on any boat with thruhulls and one of then would work well tho plug it off or as Don says rags stuffed in will do ...

 

[Mischief Managed]

Re: Can impellar be changed in water?

No, it's in the water now and I want to change it so i know its good, BEFORE issues come up. I was just wondering if i can do it in the slip, or if i'll have to schedule a time to have them pull the boat out with a travel lift.

It's a single Mercruiser 7.4 Bravo III sitting in a 1994 Larson Cabrio 280 (sorry, shoulda mentioned that before hand)

Yes, this can be done in the water. Clamp the hose and go for it. If it's like my 7.4 MPI, a 1/4" drive ratchet makes pump removal very easy.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Can impellar be changed in water?

only if your socket set floats.

While it's a good idea to change impellers (at least on OB's) frequently, how frequent really depends on your water: high salt, or sandy conditions, are the hardest on them.

A 60 mile trip is a good day's boating for me, so I wouldn't sweat over it for that reason.

 

[MarkSee]

Re: Can impellar be changed in water?

Question is: Can i replace the impellar while the boat is in the water......I understood there should be an easily-accesable petcock for every through-hull........

First, I'm with HC that 60 miles is really nothing and maybe just plan on having a spare (impeller and housing kit I would suggest) onboard just in case.

I assume you have no cooling issues now?

You mention about a thru-hull but many a Bravo drive gets water fed from the pickup in the drive and not a thru-hull. Sure yours does get water from a thru-hull especially since you don't see one in plain sight?

Have you changed the impeller/housing before yourself when hauled out to know what you're in for? I say that because access to the hoses and back of the housing can vary greatly between boats.
My 'Dancer has no access from behind and being right next to the starboard stringer means pulling the whole pulley assembly forward to take the hoses off. And to get the pulley off from the block means removing the lower water circ. pump hose which also will dump some water into the bilge...or bucket you have on hand ideally.

I'll assume you have the single piece plastic housing like I do and if you measure the fittings the hoses go on, they're right about 1.28 inches. So if you buy a couple of those tapered rubber plugs you can shove those in the hoses to keep water from rushing in.


Mark

 

[GoFastr]

Re: Can impellar be changed in water?

"It's a single Mercruiser 7.4 Bravo III sitting in a 1994 Larson Cabrio 280 (sorry, shoulda mentioned that before hand)"

Gotcha. Was thinking outboard or alpha drive. I'm sure many a boater has had to change one while in the water in an unexpected situation where they had no choice. I never have and I've had many Alpha's and even more of the Bravo series in singles and twins. However you decide to do it IF you decide to do it. I would take the added measure of using a real tight fitting set of flush ears and place over the water intakes to assist in reducing backflow pressure. Interesting to hear from those who have actually done it.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Can impellar be changed in water?

off topic but since so many commented,
you can't change an alpha in the water unless you pull the whole drive (which would allow LOTS of water into the boat FAST) because you would get water in the gear oil.

 

[Don S]

Re: Can impellar be changed in water?

DO NOT for any reason clamp off the intake hose. It's ribbed/reinforced to prevent if from collapsing from a vacuum do to restriction, and if you clamp it you will close it off permanently.

Pull the intake hose off and stuff a rag in it, or a wooden tapered plug (yeah they sell them for boats).

A rag will dribble, a little, or you could just raise the end of the hose up above the water line. It's not like some cartoon where you pull a 1.5" hose off and the boat sinks instantly. You do ( or should) have a bilge pump that should handle dribbles.

 

[GasCan II]

Re: Can impellar be changed in water?

I used a piece of PVC pipe with a cap glued on it and inserted into the supply hose and put a clamp on it until I was done just to be sure.
25 Ft. ProLine 5.7 merc Bravo II drive. Done in the slip !
Hope this helps !