Thread: frozen water pumps?

Has anybody ever experienced their water pumps froze up when they get to the lake in really cold weather? Anyway to prevent it? I've never done much "winter fishin" but that is about to change and have heard this could be a concern..........and rango, as far as my fish finder problem goes, I guess I'm going to have to bite the bullet and buy a new one..........

fishinRod

Originally Posted by fishinRod

Has anybody ever experienced their water pumps froze up when they get to the lake in really cold weather? Anyway to prevent it? I've never done much "winter fishin" but that is about to change and have heard this could be a concern..........and rango, as far as my fish finder problem goes, I guess I'm going to have to bite the bullet and buy a new one..........

fishinRod

thats what i done fishinrod, bought a new one and give up all the aggravation. ive put in several times and had my water pump frozen and not pumping. so what i got in the habit of doing is lowering the unit to drain the water out and then hit the starter and fire it up a couple seconds which slings all the water out, or so i think. i havent had a freeze up problem since. last year i went to put in one morning after a trip the day before and the boat was frozen to the trailer and wouldnt float free. one one trip in another fellers boat to wateree the water pump never thawed so we had to come home, another time after a few minutes in the water it thawed to where the motor was peeing when we cranked it.

I take wd-40 and spray down my water exhaust. (where the water comes out) and in the pick-up on the foot. Never had any problem with pump freezing up. And rango one time last year it was the last day of duck season, I was going hunting and was backing down the ramp the fella that was backing me had to stop and pull up. Well what i didn't realize was that the runners was frozen and you guess it when he pulled up the boat keep going back and I was setting on the ramp about half way down. After some embarrassment and no help from the other hunters at the ramp we started winching it back up finally got it off the ramp and put it in no damage to the bottom:D but I had to eat a little humble pie.

dont you hate it when you give your friends a good laugh at your expense

Never had a problem.
Back the boat in the water. start the motor. Fished all winter even when I had to break Ice to put the boat in. But then again I make sure the water drains out of the foot good. then put the transom saver on.
Tuesday it was 24 degrees when i put the boat in the water. And 29 when I loaded it up. Never a problem.
Pete

I run anti-freeze through mine with the rabbit ears after every trip that way there's no chance of a problem. Usally go through 2 gallons a season, I use the stuff from walmart boat/rv lake friendly. It's cheaper than a freeze repair!
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Don

Keep in mind that the water jet opening can freeze and the the pump impeller still be working. The water coming from the jet is not passing through the engine. The engine can still be cooled along as the impeller is working. The jet hole and tube freezes easily with just a drop or so of water. Most times the jet will thaw if the boat engine is run for several minutes and the engine heat penetrates the small tube attached to the jet opening. One way to make sure the engine is getting needed water is to crank it and raise the engine foot until the prop is slightly out of the water. If the exhaust has water spouting out then the engine is getting cooled. As the engine heats up more water is redirected through the engine and out the exhaust. I have had the jet frozen for an hour or more and still the engine ran cool. Some newer engines have a warning bell when they have overheated and will cut off before the engine is damaged. If you ever hear the warning signal either the impeller is damaged or trash has been sucked up in the foot housing that supplies the water to the engine block. Best then to slow the engine speed and/or start rowing........