[C320-list] Impeller Replacement

[Warren Updike]

Murphy's First Law on Impellers: "When an engine overheats whilst underway,
it is always in a rolling sea sufficient to knot your stomach in two minutes
or less sitting in front of the pump."  

Note, it takes at least 5 min. to: 
1--decide it might be the impeller (always first place to check;) 
2--get out the tools; 
3--find the spare impeller; 
4--remove the screws (at this point your stomach feels about the size of a
tennis ball and about as hard;) 
5--remove the old impeller (while wondering where the missing vane might
be;) 
6--install the new impeller (while wondering if you can get the cover on
before you toss cookies;) 
7--replace the cover (wondering where that last screw went;) 
8--go topsides and toss your cookies. 

Bought a new impeller this spring. Found the price had nearly doubled.

I always lube the new impeller with dish detergent. It doesn't harm the
impeller, works as a lube, and gives a nice tell-tail sign in the water that
the impeller is working.

Warren & Pattie Updike
Catalina 320, #62, "Warr De Mar"
Middle River, Chesapeake Bay

-----Original Message-----
From: Amirault Family - S&B [mailto:amiraults at sympatico.ca] 
Sent: Monday, April 12, 2010 5:29 PM
To: c320-list at lists.catalina320.com
Subject: [C320-list] Impeller Replacement

All:

Bear will be starting her 4th year of service with me on May 01. When
acquired in 2007 one of the many things done to her to benchmark engine
maintenance was replacement of the impeller. I do not remove the impeller in
the fall. I put 20-25 hours on the engine each year. Can the current
impeller continue in service or are there time/deterioration issues that
demand the impeller be replaced more frequently despite the low usage?

Brian Amirault
2001 Waltzing Bear, too