Alright folks, today's project was installing a jet boat pump on my old rig. Had this idea brewing for weeks after my stock one gave up last fishing season. Figured I'd save some cash and tackle it myself instead of paying shop prices that'd make your eyes water.

Getting My Tools and Parts Together

First thing I did was spread all the junk out on my garage floor. Needed the new pump kit obviously, plus gaskets, marine sealant, basic wrenches, and a torque wrench I borrowed from Dave next door. Took three trips to the hardware store cause I kept forgetting stuff like threadlocker and that weird socket size. Pro tip: double check what bolts your specific model uses before you start.

Pulling the Old Pump Out

Started by disconnecting the battery - safety first and all that. Drained the water lines into a bucket (made a mess anyway, naturally). Unbolted the intake grate underneath with my impact driver, which felt like wrestling an alligator in tight spaces. Then came the fun part: whacking the old pump housing with a rubber mallet till it loosened. Took way more elbow grease than those YouTube videos show, trust me.

Fitting the New Beast

Cleaned the mounting surface like my life depended on it - old gunk leftover means leaks later. Slapped on the new gasket with sealant (wore gloves this time after last month's adhesive disaster). Lined up the new pump housing and finger-tightened the bolts. Learned the hard way: you must follow the star pattern when tightening or it'll sit crooked. Used the torque wrench for final turns while sweating bullets worrying about cracking something.

Reassembly Drama

Hooking up the water lines felt like building Lego blindfolded. Mixed up inlet/outlet twice before checking the manual. Installed the impeller with fresh grease, praying I didn't mess up the clearance. Final steps:

• Reattached the steering nozzle with new O-rings
• Connected the reverse bucket cables
• Slapped the intake grate back on

Of course dropped a bolt into the bilge, spent 20 minutes fishing it out with a magnet. Classic.

The Moment of Truth

Hosed down the engine bay to check for leaks (none!). Fired her up holding my breath. Made that beautiful sucking sound when it primed! Took it to the river later - that first throttle punch worked perfect. Felt like winning the lottery minus the money. Still find grease under my fingernails though.

All in all? Saved about $800 doing it myself. Would I recommend DIY? Only if you enjoy swearing at inanimate objects and have a whole free weekend.