Mariner Water Pump Gasket Material

[minuteman62-64]

My '82 Mariner, 30 HP, eats impellers - as a result, I end up replacing the impellers way before any wear on the pump housing/base plate assembly. Most of the time I end up trashing the gasket when I disassemble the pump. So far, the only way I've been able to find replacement gaskets (the one between the pump housing and base plate) is by purchasing an entire pump kit. So, given my in-bred Yankee thrift genes, I want to make my own gaskets.

The OEM gaskets are some kind of paper/fiber, but are quite stiff, like they've been resin coated or something. The gasket material I find in my local auto parts store is a lot more paper-like (the typical gasket material I've used for years on my vehicles). Will this stuff be OK for my water pump - or do I need some special type of gasket material?

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,.... I'd order, 'n buy just the gaskets in yer case, Myself,....

I see yer plan failin', tryin' to hand cut those gaskets,.....

What is it yer doin', to cause the repeated impeller failures,..??

Whatever it is,..... Quit doin' it,......

 

[minuteman62-64]

"Ayuh,.... I'd order, 'n buy just the gaskets in yer case, Myself,...."

Yep, me too - if I could find just the gaskets. So far I've only been able to find the gaskets packaged with the complete water pump re-build kits.​

"

I see yer plan failin', tryin' to hand cut those gaskets,....."​

Doesn't seem like that much of a problem. I've done it many times with auto/truck applications. Based on my readings, lots of guys have done it for OB applications.​

"What is it yer doin', to cause the repeated impeller failures,..??​

Whatever it is,..... Quit doin' it,....."

Yep, I would if I knew. I get just about a year out of an impeller before failure. One factor might be that because of the age/scarcity of the motor I'm getting impellers that have sat on the shelf for a long time before they get to me. Another might be my use pattern - I only use my boat 3-4 times/year. Try to run it monthly, in a barrel or on muffs, in between. Maybe that's rough on the impellers. One corrective action I am taking is the installation of the new impeller. I was greasing the impeller to get it to screw into the housing easier. I have read that the petro products may contribute to deterioration of the rubber. So, this time, I'm switching to dish soap as a lube.​