Pull Your Impellers

Impellers work better and last longer when they’re used regularly and indeed they suffer from sitting idle in pumps for long periods, like over the winter. The vanes take a “set” and don’t pump as well come spring. (If your impeller already has a set, the folks at ITT Jabsco say to flip it around so it rotates in the opposite direction.) To prolong the life of their impellers, many skippers pull them out of the pumps at haul-out time and reinstall them in the spring. (Old-timers recommend tying the ignition key to the impeller so you don’t forget.)

Pulling an impeller gives you a chance to inspect its condition, too. The wear pattern on the vanes indicates problems with the pump and its plumbing. And what’s more, since most experts suggest replacing impellers after 200 hours of operation, it’s probably smarter to go with new instead of old come springtime. In fact, why not, as a rule, start the season off with a fresh impeller in your powerplant every year? That impeller is an important component, one that’s way more vital than its modest cost would indicate. Installing a newbie is a job you can perform yourself with just a few tools and a modicum of mechanical skill. Doing it dockside, at your leisure, will help if you ever have to replace one at sea. And the project will alert you to any idiosyncrasies of your boat that might make the whole procedure more complicated than you expect.