Impeller direction

Though nothing was wrong with my impeller pump, I thought this afternoon it would be nice to take it all apart just to see what its all about (I'm a newer owner of a 2001 Nautique). I'm going to end up doing a light rebuild on it, but am second guessing myself as to whether or not I flipped it the wrong way when I initially pulled it out ( and I don't want to find out the first day of boating this year its backwards!)
Can I get some experienced input on this very basic question? The picture is how I believe it should go. Its a ProBoss GT40 engine with the impeller on the driver side.
Thanks!

How you put it in doesn't matter. It will flip to how it should be if you have it backwards.

If you notice any damage or small cracks on impeller ...or if it feels brittle or the fins are permanently bent....install a new one.

Mark,
I'd suggest just replacing the impeller for now. A bearing going bad can blow the seal and then the RWP may start sucking air which will cause higher engine temps. I highly suspect the failures you have heard about are impeller failures. The major cause of failure is running without water since the impeller is water lubricated. Tell the other Nautique owners to never run the boat dry even at the ramp before putting the boat in to "let's make sure it will start".

MarkKrahn wrote: The new impeller has been replaced and remounted-pretty easy and ready for hopefully a trouble free year of boating! I think next year I'll rebuild the entire unit, and maybe incorporated some impeller maintenance into a yearly schedule. I'm wondering if anyone has ever compiled a list of regular winter items they address? As a newbie, I just did the impeller and the oil, and run a trickle charge on the battery,

Mark,
I feel you have the winter layup pretty much under control except I hope you just forgot to mention draining the engine. One thing of concern is you do NOT what to have a trickle charger on the battery more than a couple days. They will cook a battery if left on for long times. What you want is a maintenance charger. They are designed for extended maintenance of a battery.

Hi Mark, and welcome! If you see plenty of water flow when running on the hose, and have no problems with engine temps next summer, then no need to rebuilt a RWP just for the sake of rebuilding it. They run for a VERY long time trouble free. I don't go more than 2 seasons without replacing the impeller, they are cheap enough that I prefer to not try to get extra life out of them.

I'm assuming you have a 2001 model year Ski Nautique?

Mark,
Though all the years, I've never found a need to use a maintenance charger on any of my boats. A good starting battery with a good charge will make it over the winter without a problem. I disconnect my batteries and leave them in the boats for the layup. Come spring they will crank the engine without a problem. This fall I did have to pull my 6 volt to use on a neighbors boat and did find it was bad. I actually can't remember how old it is but taking a guess and knowing it's a Napa, it's at least 15 years old. 6 volt batteries seem to last longer than 12 volts. The only real way to check the condition of a battery is to do a load test. Your auto supply will do the test if you want to check it.

MarkKrahn wrote: yes, its an '01. It has been maintained very well in its 15 years, and I just want to keep it that way. Can anyone recommend a decent maintenance charger that they use throughout the winter?

I use "BATTERY TENDER" on all mine
Works great for me

Computers,clocks,radios all drain a small amount. Motor home draws the most. And no, I don,'t have higher than normal parasitic draw
In my airplane I would just as soon have a battery that I knew was full charged
Just my way of playing safe.

Gary S wrote: If I don't drive the Chevy for a month the battery can be dead. If you open the door you can hear all kind whirling going on,sounds like the navigation system starting to me.

Mine does the exact same thing and I agree, sounds like the NAV disc or something. No problem with the battery dying now that Maddie is driving though, lol

I take the batteries out if in cold storage, leave in but disconnected if warm storage. Once or twice during the winter I'll put a charger on them at 2 amp setting for a couple of hours, then again before I take the boat out for first use. I don't see the need for a maintenance charger, but like Gary says if I owned a much newer boat with electronics I wanted to keep powered that would be the way to go.

Pete, I know you swear by leaving the battery in the boat and not charging, but to me leaving a lead/acid battery in northern cold temps, un-used and not charged, for 6-8 months when with no effort I can put it in a heated space, makes no sense.

Occurred to me to mention, might as well change out the 2 belts while you are at it..

63 Skier wrote: Pete, I know you swear by leaving the battery in the boat and not charging, but to me leaving a lead/acid battery in northern cold temps, un-used and not charged, for 6-8 months when with no effort I can put it in a heated space, makes no sense.

David,
I know some that will even take the battery out of their car overnight when the temp is expected to really drop!!

You might,I guess it depends if you have the heated lip gloss holder

Back to the pump, Pete the seal is to keep water in the pump and away from the bearing. The "lift" is created at the cam. If there was a leak in the seal, I believe the volume of water being pulled by the impeller flowing past the shaft seal is going to push any air out and keep it out. By a video, if anyone made one, I hope they would use smoke or something to show air being "sucked" in.

and another can of worms, nobody uses a de-sulfater/charger?