No water getting into boat motor

Hi! I am new at all of this and know very little about all the proper names of everything on the motor. I have a 1976 Mustang w/ 302 ford motor.(I guess direct drive is common, guess that will draw a big laugh But when I started the boat 2 weeks ago I forgot to lubricate the impeller in the water pump. After running it for less that 10minutes I noticed the manifolds were very hot to the touch and shut it off. Replaced the impeller and started it again. This time it ran for another 10 minutes only to find it was still very hot in a short time. WELL- I now know that there is NOT any water getting to the water pump. I don't know if I have ruined the motor, I don't know where the problem is, and I don't know where to start. Can I take the hose off where the fresh water comes in and check anything? ANY help would be GREATLY appreciated.......Oh, I have changed the oil, new belts.

There is a recent thread about those being upside down. The hoses could also be reversed depending on the model. Try a search for RWP.

yes RWP check the thread about it and the proper location the set-screw should be facing and we'll assume that it is plumbed right as that should not have changed replacing the impeller.

Zmon
You should check to make sure that the water intake fitting on the bottom of the boat is not obstructed, then carefully check the hose from there to the intake of the water pump for leaks, or loose connections, then recheck the impeller for its condition, then on to the thermostat. You can check the stat the old way or just replace it.

Zmon
You may also find pieces of your previously shredded impeller in the trans cooler

zmom wrote: The boat was in the water during all of this.No I don't know if there was water coming out of the exhaust. I don't know that the temp gauge works properly as it was going up and down.

It may be helpful to pull the boat out of the water so you can see if you have water coming out. You mentioned that the temp was going up and down. Between what temps?
I would start with the trans cooler and then pull each of your hoses, one at a time, to check for blockages and replace them if they are old or cracked and tighten them down good to prevent air leaks. Check your t-stat in a pot of water with a thermometer. It sould open at about 143 or 160 depending on what you have in there. I would put in the 143 if it is not already.

One way to check that your RWP is working correctly. While boat is still in the water, pull the hose that goes from the RWP to the t-stat housing at the t-stat end. Point the open end of the hose in a bucket or overboard or in the bilge and fire her up. If water startes coming out like crazy, it is working. It may make a mess, but at least you will know you are getting water flow!