Install electric raw water pump??

[Simi 60]

Originally Posted by Lepke

If you're not going to use the direct drive pump. pull it out. Some pumps have a bronze water lubed bearing and all the bearings types depend on the water for cooling.
It's no big deal to close the pump attachment point. You need a piece of metal bigger than the hole. Usually it can be held in place by the bolts that held the pump. Use a sealer that remains flexible like silicone.

Correct.
Spent the morning pulling the pump and replacing the impeller and it is a water lubed bearing.
Only reason I was considering electric is because the pump is pretty hard to access as is the oil filter.
God knows why they installed it with these towards the hull, looks to me that there is room to rotate it 90deg and have everything easy access.
May have to look at doing this.

[Red Herring]

This may provide some ideas...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BibAbvMeGU8