A good starting point is to consider how often maintenance is necessary. The interval between changes varies depending on the conditions used but in most part should be changed once per season at a minimum. If your using a smaller portable type outboard it would be a good idea to change it more often as the smaller ones are usually subjected to shallow water at times allowing debris to enter the impeller intake. Boats that run in shallow water are more susceptible to increased wear as sand and debris will enter the intake at times. Although the minimum recommendation is once per season, the harshness of the environment should be considered to keep your outboard cooling system in good working order.
Cost is always a valid consideration when doing a repair. Be aware the price of doing nothing at all will be expensive in the long run here. Outboard parts are usually constructed well however, some parts including the water pump impeller are designed to wear over time. The cost of the impeller is relatively inexpensive and can be purchased online or in a local marina. When you do purchase the parts expect to spend the minimum for at least the impeller itself. It is always recommended to purchase an entire kit but if cost is a concern then just the impeller will most likely do fine.
When purchasing, keep in mind price should not be the only consideration. Generally, the aftermarket parts are comparable and the service life will meet expectations. The OEM parts are generally much higher priced and one should weigh their options to determine the best route. The preferred method would be to purchase online at a discount and maybe even purchase a few extra. Many outboard parts retailers are available and navigating the internet can show a quick cost comparison even between OEM parts and aftermarket parts. Most parts are available for common manufacturers such as Johnson, Evinrude, Suzuki, Honda, and even some Yamaha outboards. Understand the aftermarket outboard parts are most likely made by the same manufacturers such as Sierra Marine, or Mallory Marine even when purchasing from different sources or online stores.
Always obtain the proper outboard repair manual for a successful job. I can't stress this enough as simply diving in here can be a big mistake. A good source for a manual would be a Seloc outboard repair manual which is usually available for most applications. The value of this is high and the simple nature of an impeller change can be misleading for even those who repair cars or other machinery. Each outboard manufacturer will have different repair procedures and much frustration can be avoided by obtaining the correct service manual for the job.
Based on experience, a few pointers can help here. Always carry and extra impeller just in case it is needed unexpectedly. Nothing can ruin a great day fishing when no fishing can be done at all. Starting it up at the boat ramp to find a bad impeller will keep many hungry fish waiting. Also, when repairing use a little petroleum jelly. Yes petroleum jelly works well as a temporary lubricant to assemble the impeller while performing maintenance. A simple start with no lubrication could cause a failure and just for easier assembly it seems to work well. The idea here is to keep the new impeller in good working order all the time including right after the repair. This technique is effective as it dissolves in the water when done.
So all in all the repair can be done given the correct tools and information. The repair can be very affordable and a little education goes a long way here. The life of your outboard motor depends on performing good maintenance and now one more piece of the puzzle can be completed.
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