Anyhow, blow out water and add antifreeze to both a/c systems, check. Generator, check. Port engine check. So far about an hour and a half max from pulling up to the boat. Starboard engine, not check. It wont pull the antifreeze. Ok, I knew I had an impeller going bad, as it would run a bit hotter than port at over 3k rpm. yes, I keep a spare, should be a 90 minute job correct?. Gather the pump replacement kit, tools etc. Looking at the very small space to slip in front of the starboard engine? Lay down extra drop clothes etc. so I don't touch the carpet, looking at the small access to the front of the engine. All ready to climb in, again, looking at the very narrow access to the front of the engine. Looks like plenty of room when I get in there. Double check I have everything within reach due to the VERY tight access. Take a break, ok, I'm ready. No, I cannot slide in the very narrow space!! I pull the part of me that was semi stuck back out, with a few scratches and scrapes, and reevaluate the situation. Disconnect and move genny? No. find someone smaller, maybe, but I'm not huge, 5'10 190 I would need a skinny kid, or remove the heat exchanger. So yes, off comes the exchanger.
So my three hour winterization job turns into eight hours. I guess its a good thing, because I was planning to replace the impeller in the spring, and may have tried to squeak another season after I realized how tough of a job it was on the starboard engine. The impeller was BAD, it only had two half fins left! And don't forget to back flush. I believe the rest of the impeller was stuck in the trans cooler.
The port engine is no problem, plenty of space.
The main reason I share this is, if you have a 355 and you think you can quickly swap the starboard impeller if it fails underway, think again!!!
