Simple Repair Of Boat Parts

If you own a boat, you know that typical yearly maintenance on the watercraft can be expensive, even without any kind of repairs to various parts and pieces. When there are things that need to be repaired or replaced, the cost can skyrocket, mostly based on the intensive labor that repairmen claim on the item. If you know for yourself how to repair boat parts and pieces that are standard to the vessel and need to be replaced yearly, you can save a lot of cash in your wallet.

For example, every year, the water pump is one item you’ll have to replace or repair. Boat water pumps are not that difficult to replace yourself, and you can save a lot of money by comparison to paying someone else to do the job for you.

Start by draining the gearcase; then, place the gearshift in “forward” and leave it. Remove the trim tab on the lower unit, and remove the bolt from the hole where the trim tab was. Next, remove the two head nuts that are a few inches forward and move to the top of the L/U, where you’ll find another lock nut – remove it, then replace it, turning it only 4-5 turns. There are two more nuts to remove, one on either side of the gearcase. When all of these are removed, wiggle the gearcase down until the top nut is the only thing holding it on. Now, hold the L/U and remove this last nut, which lets the unit slide down.

The next step to repair boat water pumps is to locate the seal that looks like a rubber washer which seals the oil passage between the upper and lower units. Remove the o-ring that is on top of the drive shaft and then slide off the thick rubber seal that is further down on top of the plastic pump housing. There will be four nuts holding the pump housing in place – all of these should be loosened and removed.

To repair boat impeller parts, you must first remove the pieces in a certain order. Start with the upper housing, then the impeller, followed by the pump key, the top gasket, the stainless wear plate, and finally the lower gasket. Keep in mind that the key may fall out while the impeller remains in the housing. Don’t lose the key – it’s quite small and necessary to repair boat impellers. Now, you’ll slide the lower gasket, wear plate, and top gasket back onto the shaft in reverse order. Hold the key in place and engage the impeller with the key, then slide the upper plastic housing down, and as you turn the drive shaft clockwise, push the housing down over the impeller.

Finally, replace the nuts and bolts as removed, and refill the gearcase. Once you’ve tested the drive shaft, this simple repair process is complete.

Tips On Pontoon Boat Repair

Because so many people are now opting for pontoon boats because they are so versatile and good for many different uses, many new owners are in need of assistance when it comes to pontoon boat repair. Because these boats especially are left in a slip in the water or on a boatlift year round, it is of even greater importance to perform yearly check ups and preventative maintenance on these boats. However, if you know nothing about pontoon boat repair, it can be quite difficult to understand what preventative maintenance will be most helpful.

First of all, new owners should know what to check on the outboard motor yearly. Pontoon boat repair and maintenance should include annual checks on the spark plugs (which may need to be changed), a compression check on all the cylinders, replacement of the water pump (yearly), a pressure test on the lower unit, an oil change on the lower unit, and a check of the fuel lines to be sure there are no cracks. It is also wise to grease all the fittings. Performing these regular maintenance activities on the engine can prevent a lot of pontoon boat repair needs.

In regards to the boats themselves, you cannot overlook possible damage here, as you may find several problems that can easily be missed. For example, many pontoon boat repair needs are in relation to small leaks in the boat. You don’t have to hit a submerged object to cause a leak in these boats; unfortunately, just general day-to-day use can wear a leak in you hull. Pontoon boat repair for leaks is a definite need because taking on the excess water will add weight to your boat, which in turn puts more strain on the engine from the excess load and can not only reduce the performance of your boat but also increase the fuel consumption.

Unfortunately, finding and repair of leaks has to be done by a service company because special equipment is required. However, you may be able to diagnose the problem yourself, especially if one pontoon sits lower in the water than the other. This is a sign that there is excess water in the lower pontoon that needs to be removed and most likely at least one leak that needs to be repaired. Have your pontoon boat repair specialist check at least every two years for leaks.

These are the main issues in pontoon boat repair that most owners should be aware of. Although there are plenty of other parts and pieces to worry about, the main idea is to perform preventative maintenance so that you can avoid the cost of serious repairs.