Comments on: Overhauling a Mercuiser Bravo III Raw Water Pump - the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly http://destinsharks.com/day-to-day-boating/61 Too Much Fun in the NW Florida Sun! Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:38:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: vzett http://destinsharks.com/day-to-day-boating/61#comment-55719 Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:58:12 +0000 http://destinsharks.com/day-to-day-boating/61#comment-55719 Mike, Unless your engine is mounted extremely close to the hull, it should not require removal to service. Impellers are 'consumable' items so I would find it hard to believe Rinker would mount an engine which prevented normal servicing of the raw water pump. You could call Rinker to verify. That being said, it can be very difficult to get at the pump and connections depending on your engine room layout. The pump is typically mounted low on the left or right front of the engine and will be connected to a serpentine belt with a pulley. Two large water hoses will be connected at the rear of the pump housing. A typical engine removal is 4 hours (out and back in) or ~$400 in labor at current shop rates. Judge this against how long it would take to service the pump leaving the engine in. It took me ~3 hours the 1st time I serviced mine and only 45 minutes the 3rd time (figure at least an hour weather the engine is in or out). If you go the engine removal route, get a firm quote on the labor before they pull the engine. A novice mechanic can take well over 4 hours for this - but a reputable shop should flat-rate the cost based on the industry 'norm' of 4 hours. The repower question is mostly one of cost/benefit. I'm not in a financial position to contemplate engine replacement on my boat until dictated by fate or circumstance of a major failure. Keep in mind that new engines aren't always trouble-free either - especially during break-in. If you're pulling the engine for the raw-water pump, you would gain a small savings in the install fees for a new engine having already pulled the existing engine. Please comment back on what you decide to do. - Virgil Mike,
Unless your engine is mounted extremely close to the hull, it should not require removal to service. Impellers are ‘consumable’ items so I would find it hard to believe Rinker would mount an engine which prevented normal servicing of the raw water pump. You could call Rinker to verify. That being said, it can be very difficult to get at the pump and connections depending on your engine room layout.

The pump is typically mounted low on the left or right front of the engine and will be connected to a serpentine belt with a pulley. Two large water hoses will be connected at the rear of the pump housing.

A typical engine removal is 4 hours (out and back in) or ~$400 in labor at current shop rates. Judge this against how long it would take to service the pump leaving the engine in. It took me ~3 hours the 1st time I serviced mine and only 45 minutes the 3rd time (figure at least an hour weather the engine is in or out).

If you go the engine removal route, get a firm quote on the labor before they pull the engine. A novice mechanic can take well over 4 hours for this - but a reputable shop should flat-rate the cost based on the industry ‘norm’ of 4 hours.

The repower question is mostly one of cost/benefit. I’m not in a financial position to contemplate engine replacement on my boat until dictated by fate or circumstance of a major failure.

Keep in mind that new engines aren’t always trouble-free either - especially during break-in. If you’re pulling the engine for the raw-water pump, you would gain a small savings in the install fees for a new engine having already pulled the existing engine.

Please comment back on what you decide to do.

- Virgil

]]> by: Mike Levine http://destinsharks.com/day-to-day-boating/61#comment-55718 Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:40:02 +0000 http://destinsharks.com/day-to-day-boating/61#comment-55718 My marina is telling me that it is necessary to remove the engine from my Rinker Fiesta Vee cruiser in order to change the raw water impeller. I thought this was routine maintenance? Is it necessary to remove the engine to perform this maintenance? The overheating alarm sounded shortly after launching but stopped after starting and stopping the engine a few times and then ran fine the rest of the weekend. However, the engine would not draw water from the ear muffs back on land. If it is not necessary to remove the engine, could you provide instructions on how to do this or point me to a source of information? Also, do you think it is a good idea to repower the boat with a new 5.7 MAG MPI SeaCore? The hull is in perfect condition but it seems like I am having lots of little problems with the motor. I am in my ninth season with this engine at about 550 hours. The boat is in rack storage but used mostly in salt water. Thanks! Mike My marina is telling me that it is necessary to remove the engine from my Rinker Fiesta Vee cruiser in order to change the raw water impeller. I thought this was routine maintenance? Is it necessary to remove the engine to perform this maintenance? The overheating alarm sounded shortly after launching but stopped after starting and stopping the engine a few times and then ran fine the rest of the weekend. However, the engine would not draw water from the ear muffs back on land. If it is not necessary to remove the engine, could you provide instructions on how to do this or point me to a source of information?

Also, do you think it is a good idea to repower the boat with a new 5.7 MAG MPI SeaCore? The hull is in perfect condition but it seems like I am having lots of little problems with the motor. I am in my ninth season with this engine at about 550 hours. The boat is in rack storage but used mostly in salt water.

Thanks!
Mike

]]> by: Mitch http://destinsharks.com/day-to-day-boating/61#comment-52854 Thu, 10 Jul 2008 03:27:20 +0000 http://destinsharks.com/day-to-day-boating/61#comment-52854 well! if anything thanks a lot for the insight!! it really help me to NOT do certain re building mystakes! well! if anything thanks a lot for the insight!! it really help me to NOT do certain re building mystakes!

]]> by: christian http://destinsharks.com/day-to-day-boating/61#comment-12769 Sat, 28 Apr 2007 14:36:45 +0000 http://destinsharks.com/day-to-day-boating/61#comment-12769 thanks for the atricle, i have an evinrude outboard but the information provided has been the most thorough and decriptive of anything i have found in weeks of researching impellers and water pumps. thanks for the tips and insight. thanks for the atricle, i have an evinrude outboard but the information provided has been the most thorough and decriptive of anything i have found in weeks of researching impellers and water pumps.
thanks for the tips and insight.

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