[Tlolesen]

Sorry meant the prop not impeller

[1996 Mariah Z252]

Originally Posted by GaryDoug

What! The water pump impeller in the lower unit is always turning anytime the engine is running. Otherwise the engine would eventually overheat. Are you thinking of the bilge pump? In an Alpha drive, the shifting is done in the lowest part of the unit just ahead of the propeller.

The lake water IS the engine coolant. That water stays in the engine until it is flushed out by the external water pump in the drive. When the thermostat opens, the external water then flows thorough the engine.

If your impeller doesn't move then you got bigger issues. It should always be moving even at idle. Imagine it like a car fan on a radiator. It always spins really fast and long. Now just scale it down alot in sizes and put in in the water.

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[TCJ95Z-235]

Please, do not run your engine for even a few seconds without water to lubricate the rubber impeller in your outdrive. It will burn up or break some of the wipers off causing you grief, money and lost time on the pond.
If there is no water at the storage facility for you to use you can bring your own. Use your winterizing bucket, short length of hose and muffs with about 5 - 10 gallons of water. When the water level gets to the bottom of the bucket shut er down. Hope this helps.

[Tlolesen]

Thanks ruining a rubber part was something I did not think about. I will just have to pick it up and run home and start it before going out.

[pole trick]

If your boat is good shape electrically wise and good battery it should be able to sit for weeks with no problems. If needed install battery cut off switch and then you know you will always have good full battery.

[pllevine]

Originally Posted by pole trick

If your boat is good shape electrically wise and good battery it should be able to sit for weeks with no problems. If needed install battery cut off switch and then you know you will always have good full battery.

But the batteries sitting unused will naturally discharge over time. It might seem prudent to invest in a marine battery trickle charger/tender. The difference between a car charger and a marine charger is that the marine charger runs through three distinct phases. They are the Bulk phase, the Acceptance phase, and the Float phase. This is known as the Ideal Charge Curve and is recommended by most marine battery manufacturers.



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