Had the main pump seize up on me in the middle of the Ohio River channel last Tuesday, and the only fix was a 3-hour tow back to shore in the dark.

Has anyone else had a similar pump failure and found a good way to spot the early warning signs before a total lock-up?

3 comments

3 Comments

Man, that sounds rough, getting stuck in the channel like that. My old Mercruiser raw water pump gave up the ghost two seasons ago, just a low hum before it locked solid. Now I check the impeller housing for any tiny bits of rubber every time I change the oil, like little warning signs. I also listen for any change in the sound of the belt, a slight squeal can mean the bearing is starting to go. It's a pain but catching those little things beats a tow bill for sure.

val5181mo ago

My buddy's pump went out right as he was passing the no wake zone at Marker 14. He got the full experience, drifting sideways while a bunch of pontoon boats honked at him. Those little rubber bits in the housing are like the engine's way of sending a postcard saying "I'm about to ruin your day.

harpery4729d ago

Oh man, that reminds me of my friend's disaster last summer. His old Bayliner ate an impeller right in the middle of the busiest part of the lake on the Fourth of July. He said it was like a parade of shame, just floating there while every single boat packed with people went by and stared. Took the tow boat over an hour to get to him because of all the traffic. He found the shredded rubber later, looked like confetti in the housing.