Installing a water pump while in water

[rpatton]

I got kind of a crazy question. I have a pontoon with a 2001 Johnson 70 on the back. the pontoon has no trailer. has anyone ever replaced the water pump with the boat sitting in the water? is it even possible? any issues that I would have to watch out for?

 

[TwoRivers]

Does the motor have electric tilt and trim? If you can get the lower unit up out of the water you can probably do it standing in the water. Get some help. After you get the lower unit off you can take it on shore to replace the water pump. Main issue is dropping parts into the water. I'd look to borrow a trailer to do the repair but sometimes you do what you have to do. Good luck.

 

[rpatton]

Thanks , yes its got electric tilt and trim. I just wasn't sure if there would be any issues with water intrusions . I would realy try to keep water out but you know how murphys law works

 

[Crosbyman]

water intrusion.?? ... your LU sits in water all day !

 

[F_R]

I have done it in the water, about 8 ft deep, salt water. Using a 8ft aluminum boat to access the motor being worked on. If that wasn't hard enough, broke off several of the bolts holding the lower unit on. That was the LAST time I tried that stunt. Hey, have you tried turning a wrench while sitting in an 8ft aluminum boat? Instead of the wrench moving, the 8ft boats skoots away. Then imagine getting the heavy lower unit back up in place without skooting away. Needless to say, I did have enough forsight to tie a rope to the unit to retrieve it if dropped.

 

[gm280]

Is there a way to turn the pontoon around so that the tilted engine was hanging over land/shore? That would be a better option in my way of thinking if that's at all possible. Because as careful as you will certainly try to be, something is going into the water otherwise... You can bank on that! And even that setup is IF everything goes perfectly and you have no other issues occur while replacing the impellor...

 

[boobie]

Turning it around and backing it into shore is your best option. If you drop something the water is not so deep.

 

[Bosunsmate]

back her around tilt her up and drop a tarp down underneath it, Anything you lose is easy replaceable and cheap (bolts)

 

[redneck joe]

take your home trashcans (the ones outside) with you and put on the very front of boat. Fill with water.