www.iFourWinns.com

Hello there. Awesome forum!

Well I found out that my bilge pump under the engine broke the plastic outlet pipe off the pump housing and although it works electrically the hose is no longer connected. Climbing down into the engine I may just be too big to do this..

Has anyone successfully changed the pump without pulling the engine? Or does anyone have any tips? A tiny mechanic might be my only option.

Thanks!

I am not familiar with your model but there are a couple of ideas which might help.
My mechanic tells me it is common practice to buy a new bilge pump, attach the electrical wires and the outlet hose and then push it towards the old unit and cable tie the new unit to the original.
In one case, entirely different kind of boat, I attempted to reach the old bilge pump and failed. I screwed down a new pump to a piece of seaboard. I then took a length of aluminum tube and flattened one end. The flattened end was screwed down to the seaboard. The pump on its seaboard platform is pushed in to place and the aluminum is bent so that the other end can be fixed to the hull in a suitable place.
Neither idea is perfect but more fun than lifting the engine.

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John
2006 Four Winns Vista 278 (sold)

I'm a pretty big dude, too, and think I would have been able to change the pump on my '01 248. Not without pain and incredible discomfort, but I was at least able to get a finger down there to test the float each spring.

That said, sometimes it's worth the hour of labor (plus parts) to not have to climb into the bilge. It shouldn't be any more than that.

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2008 V318



previous:
2001 248 Vista

It can definitely be done I've changed my 01 248 also. If you are changing it go bigger. It's not a fun job but I've also done worse.

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2001 Four Winns Vista 248 by rick2752, on Flickr

Thank you guys for the replies. I'll get on it and get it done.

Rick, what size did you install?

I think I put in a 2200 gpm.

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2001 Four Winns Vista 248 by rick2752, on Flickr