Question for drain block only guys

For those of you that drain your block only and don't add antifreeze, what do you do about your impeller at spring start up? I'm not removing my impeller, so if I drain the block only, should I at least refill with water manually before I start it up in the spring?

Yes, I drain the block, exhaust manifolds, "U" and trans cooler. To de-winterize, I fire up in my driveway with the garden hose hooked up to a "T" between the trans cooler and water strainer. The hose method sends water right up to the impeller, so it isn't running dry -- even for a few seconds.

I've seen some folks remove their impeller and raw water pump as part of the winterizing process. The claim is that an impeller that is removed is less likely to have the vanes "take a set" while sitting curled up over the winter. Others claim that there is no harm in allowing an impeller to sit inside the raw water pump all winter long. I typically change out my impeller every 2 years. I'm not a run-until-failure guy, so I don't push the impeller life as some other might. From my perspective, its a reasonably inexpensive bit of insurance. However, I do remove my raw water pump and inspect the innards at the beginning of every year.

JQ

I followed all the forum tips for winterize for draining the water, oil change, etc.. During a second round of reading, I found a little tip to NOT forget the heater under the dash. Went back to the storage garage with a flashlight and a small bucket of tools and pulled the hoses for the heater coil and blew into one until I got water to flow. Found plenty of water! I did not take the impeller out since I plan to replace next spring.

Pretty new boat to him Pete,might not be a bad idea just to check on the PO. He can keep it for a spare if it's ok

Tim D wrote: By refill, do you mean fill the block? The rwp will fill the block first, then water will go out the exhaust. Most people don't realize that when you take you boat out of the lake, the block is not entirely full. The intake area won't have any water. Most boats you can hear the intake fill when you first crank it when you put it back in the water.

I remember reading somewhere a recommendation to put vaseline on a dry impeller when de-winterizing. Sounded like overkill to me since cold weather skiers drain their block regularly. I was wondering if you don't keep it immersed in antifreeze if its OK to drop it in the water and go. Im glad to hear its not an issue.

I make sure the water pump is drained by rotating the pump with the plug out or hoses off. Replacing impeller every other year is not a bad idea on a boat that gets used a lot or if you have operators that you can't rely on noticing the engine is starting to overheat until there's smoke and steam coming from under the motor box.

Actually, removing the impeller might make it deteriorate faster. One of rubber's worst enemies is ozone. Leaving it in the pump would limit ozone exposure.

Riley wrote: if you have operators that you can't rely on noticing the engine is starting to overheat until there's smoke and steam coming from under the motor box.

This is so huge.

Ski Dim or N3 Boatworks are good sources.

8122pbrainard wrote: SNobsessed wrote: Ski Dim or N3 Boatworks are good sources. And Jamestown Or you can even do an on line search!!

Thank you,

I also added pictures to the oil drain thread.