How often do you change your fuel pump and water pump? Other maintenance?

taymag

How often do you guys change your water and fuel pump? Ive had my boat (its a 2005 Seafox with a 150 2 stroke Merc) for about 4 years and have yet to do any real maintenance on it other than changing a few lines.

In the Keys last week it was running "ok" but it felt like it could use a little tune up.

What should I expect to pay for a new water and fuel pump? And what else should I add to the list of essentials? I am far from rolling in money and the boat runs OK I just want to throw a safety net by changing a few "seasonal" things so I don't run into a major issue.

kmagnuss

Impeller and thermostats yearly along with fuel/water filters and plugs.
Poppet valve every 2 years.

Fuel pump... when it goes bad.

Turner River Terror

Impeller and housing , Fuel filter, Lower unit lube , Spark Plugs , Yearly...myself.
It's not hard and you get to know your Machine better.

taymag

kmagnuss wrote: »

Impeller and thermostats yearly along with fuel/water filters and plugs.
Poppet valve every 2 years.

Fuel pump... when it goes bad.

So just the impeller and thermostat, not a full water pump? I assume my fuel pump is fine I just figured it isn't a ton to change and hear about them going bad

What should those things cost me in parts/labor? (roughly)

taymag

Turner River Terror wrote: »

Impeller and housing , Fuel filter, Lower unit lube , Spark Plugs , Yearly...myself.
It's not hard and you get to know your Machine better.

I may do it myself but the price I was told was way more reasonable than I thought so I may just have them do it this time. Just trying to see what it should cost after watching some videos it seems fairly simple

pottydoc

Fuel pumps last and last and last.
On the offshore boat, water pump impeller once a year, along with fuel and oil filters (2 stroke).
the skiff gets yearly filters, the impeller gets changed every 50-60 hours. Probably a little overkill, but they're real cheap, and I do it myself. It gets run in shallow water a whole lot, and eats a lot more sand and trash than the offshore boats do.

Flec

I bought a new Yamaha F150 and put 450 hours on it over 9 years, mostly deep water. I never replaced anything but the oil filter,gear lube, and oil on that motor and it ran just fine when I sold it after ten years. I think replacing the water pump every year is way overkill. Just my experienced opinion and just FYI.

duckmanJR

Flec wrote: »

I think replacing the water pump every year is way overkill. Just my experienced opinion and just FYI.

And you would be right.... plenty of people are a marine mechanics next big payday....but hey, everyone has to eat...right? :grin

I put THOUSANDS of hours on my motor ( 3370 on my 05 when I traded it in on my next one...My 2012 is only at 1700) .... Water pump every 3 seasons along with spark plugs.

Oil in a 4 stroke is another matter... I do oil every 100 hrs or less ( Amsoil previous but recently moved to Mobile 1 because it is easily available..and close in testing ) with filter every other change. L/U lube ( AMSOIL ONLY! ) every 6 months.

But, people should do what they are comfortable with...

MGD

As far a water pump/impeller...kinda depends on usage. If you use it a lot and do NOT run shallow (suck up bottom) then u could prob go 300 hrs on them...but for me that is a year and I am in the keys a few times and do get shallow.
If you don't use your engine much, I think you actually change it more often and the impeller blades get position memory and tend to dry out as well...although if u start it up on the hose every month it will definitely help.

But hey, I've had friends run all over Choko and EC with their boats and never change a water pump for many years.

For me, its not an expensive thing and gives me peace of mind.

Soda Popinski

1999 Mariner 90 and last year when i did the impeller/housing, i don't know how long it had been but it was barely moving water at all, now it pees like a firehose.

I don't think i need to change it for another two years at the soonest. Gear oil i'll change this winter, so one year. I pull the fuel/water separator ever 6 months and drain/inspect. so far i haven't found much if any water in the fuel i drain out.

Plugs once a year

The Cat's Eye

I didn't change my water pump on my vintqge 1988, 25hp Evinrude for 17 years. LOL. It finally went south and i cooked the engine. On the brighter side..... the money i saved by not having the water pump serviced is paying fot the rebuild. In other words, you could say I broke even. I am considering installing a temp alarm on the old engine after its rebuilt, just in case i snag a plastic bag or something.

Turner River Terror

I run far Backwater..Oyster bars and mud bays.
Lot's of times the pisser looks like mud and a little water. If I was a clean water guy I'd do it very 2 years or so.