Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

How often do you guys recommend changing your water impellers? I ask because mine was last changed out just prior to 2013 season.. however i would guess in the last two years I haven't put 20 hours ( 20 max ) on it over the last two years.... just curious what you guys do with yours... thanks.

I ran twin Yamaha's in the Gulf for 11 years and the impellers were replaced with every 100 hour service.

Don't know if this helps you or not.

If you were running a bass boat in shallow muddy water often, I'd tell you to change the impeller every couple of years. But few pontooners run that way--staying in cleaner, deeper water most of the time.

The 100 hour change might be a good point to change the impeller. It's not like they're expensive to change, with the impeller only costing something like $28. And it's something I can do as a shade tree non-professional mechanic. I would think it's a 1 hour job, including changing the lower unit oil.

If someone has just bought a used motor/boat, I'd tell'em to change the impeller immediately. In that situation, I'd also suggest having a real marine mechanic to do a pressure and vacuum test on the lower unit.

Nothing worse than ignoring lower unit maintenance and have water turn your gear case into toast. (I know the hard way.) Anybody need a 1985 Yamaha 115 hp 2 stroke motor without a lower unit?

I've always heard every 2 years but as Bamaman said, if you not constantly running dirty or salt waters I would only change it every 4-5 years. I did the first one on my Suzuki 70 when it was over 10 years old and it was pretty wore out but it still keep the engine cooled properly. I've got a new one sitting here for my Suzuki 140 I bought last year and its obvious its never been changed either, and its 10 years old (paint seal on the bolts has never been broken).

Every 2 to 3 years on mine. I always glance at my H2o pressure gauge to. If I see it starting to drift down, I'll pop a new one in. Hint for changing, use vasoline on it to get it to twist into place. Makes it easy to slip right in...
What kind of replies will I get for that comment, huh?

2 years

Thanks guys... the current impellar was put in 3 years ago ( has 2 seasons of run time on it ) and like I said in my previous post, used the boat a bit last year but hardly ever ventured far from the launch.... dropping the boat off sunday at the guy's house that services my engine every pre season.... Bryan.. in the past he has asked me if I want to have a water pressure gauge installed and I've declined, but maybe that's something I should think about.. anyway guys, thanks for your comments.. I appreciate it.

i probably went 4 years on my last impeller on the pontoon. i wasn't able to get the pontoon back to my house for the past few years to do any major maintenance other than fluids. impeller looked just fine. i did find some sand in the impeller housing from where we beach the toon. i can see where over time it could cause a problem. a pressure gauge would be great. i don't have one so i just visually inspect the "pisser" when i crank the motor. i change the impeller yearly on my inboard, mainly because its so easy to get to. it usually looks brand new when i change it. probably overkill.

I just changed mine in my new to me Mercury. Had a 2006 date stamp on it but was in remarkably good shape, very little wear and still pliable. Still not something I want to push. I'm getting back into boats for the first time as an adult but I grew up around them. I'd say I have "old school" boat knowledge, I've never seen one of these pressure gauges, anyone have a link to one? I'd put one of those on and just replace it when the pressure drops.