Cal Marine Pumps

[Jetmart]

Has anyone had issues with the Cal water pumps for the A/C loosing it's oil? Mine is only 3 seasons old and it is the second one that has been replaced.
I heard it is important to position the pump with the cord up as the seal can leak here however mine is positioned up. Any idea how long they will run after they start loosing their oil?

 

[Mike Blake]

Yes they are junk! I put a March pump in 6 years ago. Not one problem!!! I have the A/C going a lot here in FL.

 

[SCORPIO]

Same thing happened to two CAL pumps on my boat. Last time I replaced with a March pump, two years now.

 

[Jetmart]

I put a March on tonight

 

[Mike Blake]

I put a March on tonight

That will work just fine for you.

 

[fc3]

The problem with Cal pumps is that the motor shaft runs through a seal with the impeller mounted to the shaft. In brine, eddy currents erode the shaft, even if it's stainless steel. The March pumps magnetically couple the motor to the impeller. There's no direct mechanical connection, so a March pump will run pretty much forever. My boat still has her original March pump. A friend in the next slip bought and installed 3 Cal pumps in a couple of years because they were less expensive but eventually realized that the more expensive March was really cheaper.

When you install a March pump, keep in mind that the pump is probably water-cooled. If you see two stainless steel tubes, between the pump body and the motor, it's water cooled. Install the pump so that the motor can drain if you need to winterize your boat. If you install with the pump body up and the motor end down, water will freeze in the cooling passage and damage the pump. Always install a March pump horizontally.