A recent question:

I am just learning about these pumps and at 1000 hrs on 330B, my starboard raw water pump began leaking at a rate to great to ignore. So after plunking down over $1600 with California’s 8.75% sales tax for two, if one’s bad the other must be near death right? However after reading your article (Changing the Raw Water Pump), maybe not. I thought I’d read up on replacement. Would you return these and get the Seamax pumps? Do you know if anybody has any real time using the Seamax 1730X? What do think? 1000hrs isn’t horrible mostly in salt water.  My big-block in the last boat needed valves at 1600hrs. I agree that Cummins makes a great engine. In case tractors the Cummins engine is good for at least 8000hrs.

My response:

I had spare Sherwood pumps kicking around when the Seamax was first released.  I considered returning or selling the spare Sherwoods, but decided it wasn't worth the hassle. When I do install them, I'll replace them with Seamax. I've just heard too many good things about them.

I'm actually getting respectable pump life out of the Sherwoods these days. I still favor Seamax based upon what I’ve been hearing, but my Sherwoods have been doing fine lately.

The only reason I would return your pumps is the price. $1600 is way high. You can get them, or the Seamax pump, for much less.  Personally, I would lean towards returning them.

                                    --jrh

James Hamilton

jrh@mvdirona.com