Catalina 30 bad water pump?

[Kramer]

I took my 1984 Catalina 30 out the other day, and unfortunately I didn't notice that water wasn't shooting out the back until about 30 minutes. There was a little smoke down in the cabin. I had to be towed back to my slip. Anybody have any idea how much damage could have been done running engine without pump working for 30 minutes?

[Capt MikeC]

I have an 87 Catalina 30 and it has an engine temperature gauge, if you have one what was the temperature when you notice no water was coming out? If you don't have one you should get one, I think its the most important gauge on my engine panel. You should also make a habit of checking the engine temp while motoring. Did you open the through hull for the water pump once you noticed and did water start coming out the exhaust? I would think that your impeller needs to replaced now. Why did you have to be towed back in? Did the smoke smell like coolant or burning oil?

[Stu Jackson]

What engine? That would really help...

[boatpoker]

Aqualarm Raw Water Flow Detector

Under$100 and an instant alarm when raw water stops flowing,

I wouldn't leave the dock without one.

[Hesti]

Damge could likely be on the raw water pump, the engine itself (especially head seal / head warping) and also the exhaust if it is a wet exhaust. If your engine is fresh water cooled with heat exchanger and you were not running with high power and it still starts and runs, chances might be, that the engine itself is fine, but especially the exhaust may have suffered. Retorqueing the head screws of the engine might still be a preventive option.