Steve K wrote:
In the spring I took the boat for a spin and I thought I smelled burnng rubber from the engine compartment when I was cruising.  I figured it was a belt slipping, even though there was no noise, and since I hadn't changed the belts in the 6 years I've owned the boat it was time to change them.  I changed them with new ones and everything seemed fine on a couple of short rides.  This morning I catch a wiff of rubber again so I stopped and looked and I see some belt dust accumulating on a cushion in line with the belts.  I also notice the power steering fluid is low and the pulley for it has a slight wobble.  I suspect the problem is the power steering pump but I am not sure.  Would the fluid being below the cold line have damaged the pump and cause this problem?  I don't have time to play with it this weekend and I was wondering if anyone had any advice.
Thanks.
Had this problem with my last ski boat ( TIGE ) pulleys got rusty and ate up the belts. Tried cleaning and using belt dressing, worked for a short while. Ended up putting aluminum billet pulleys on engine problem solved. This was with V-belts, not serpentine.