Remi Chapadeau

New Member
Aug 8, 2022
6
Ottawa, Canada
Boat Info
2008 Sea Ray Sundancer 330
Engines
V-Drive Mercruiser 8.1 X 2, 1,100 hours, meticulously maintained, fresh water only.
Hello!

I just purchased a 2008
Engine status @ 3550 RPM.jpg
Sundancer 330, with two V-Drive, 8.1 L Mercruisers, water cooled.

Today, at 3550, I heard a high pitch screech coming from the engine room. I immediately went to idle, and it stopped. Could not find anything wrong other than that noise, then at a lower pitch. Everything looked normal on the gauges up to that point.

I stopped the engines, started them again, no more noise. I kept going, back at 3550 RPM, no problem until I got to my home marina a couple of hours later. At some point during the journey, I noticed my water pressure on my port engine being half of what my starboard engine was (about 5 PSI vs. 10 or so PSI). My engine temperatures were about equal at less than 175 F.

When I got ready to dock, my port engine (the previously noisy one) started overheating and the alarm went off. The exhaust was smoking. My water pressure still half of what the starboard engine was, i.e. 2ish PSI vs. 5ish PSI. I haven't restarted the engines since (about 6 hours now).

This to me sounds like an empeller may be be the cause of this. Any thought? Recommendations?
 
A water pump impeller will squeal when it runs dry. The pump intake may have been blocked temporarily at rpm leading to a total pump failure.
 
A water pump impeller will squeal when it runs dry. The pump intake may have been blocked temporarily at rpm leading to a total pump failure.

This sounds like a very likely explanation. But would I still have water pressure on my reading if there was a complete pump failure? Could it just be the impeller that it the problem?
 
Initially there was probably a blockage and the impeller began to come apart, maybe a couple vanes separated and at reduced rpm there is reduced pressure and flow.
Anyhow pull the pump and check…

Thanks! This is very helpful! This is my first boat... not very knowledgeable. Luckily, I'm on vacation all month. I will take it apart tomorrow morning... or call my mechanic!!!
 
Initially there was probably a blockage and the impeller began to come apart, maybe a couple vanes separated and at reduced rpm there is reduced pressure and flow.
Anyhow pull the pump and check…
Sounds like a good diagnosis to me, help us all learn something from your experience, let us know the outcome!
Crossing my fingers for you it’s a quick, easy fix!
BTW, welcome to the group!
 
Hello fellow members! Found the problem. See attached picture.

AND THE OSCAR GOES TO.... Wanderer 290!!!

The belt around the water pump pulley is half on the pulley, half off. Called the mechanic to explain my finding, and he says the water pump failed. He will replace it. Thankfully, I will be able to use the boat for the rest of the season, which is shorter here in Canada!

Thanks all for your input!
 
Water pump failed? I'd say the serpentine belt was dry rotted and came off the pump pulley. Correct me off I'm wrong but I'd say to replace the likely destroyed impeller and then a new serpentine belt, NOT the water pump itself.....you need to keep an eye on mechanics!
 
Bad shaft bearings in the water pump can cause a belt to come off too.
 
Agreed, I'd start with the belt before I replaced the water pump. Especially as a novice to boat repairs ;-) Or swap the belt out with the other engine, quick test; either way you are going to need a new belt though.
 
It's possible, but it sounds like the belt was partially off because it was dried out and old. My advice to the OP is to replace both engine belts and impellers since you don't know the maintenance history of your boat engines.
 
When my water pump bearings failed it had the same symptom of a screaming belt. That was the 2nd year I owned the boat and the first time I learned the extra labor cost of water pump work on v-Drives. They also replaced both engine circulating water pumps because the bearings were loose on those too and likely close to failing because there was small water leak from those pumps.
 
Hi all!

My belts are in perfect condition. The issue was truly the pump - bearing failure. See pictures.

IMG_4107.jpg
IMG_4108.jpg
IMG_4109.jpg
 

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