350 mpi mercruiser bravo 3 overheating

Artie Jozefik

New Member
Apr 21, 2022
3
Boat Info
2007 searay sundeck .350 mpi bravo 3
Engines
350 mpi mercruiser w/ bravo 3
Hello group. I have a 2007 260 sundeck 350 /bravo 3 that has a partially collapsed raw water pickup through the transom. I have replaced the water pump impeller. thermostat. Circulating pump. Seems like it's not getting enough water through the transom from the lower unit. Even at an idol I see that my remote flush hose that is located on the side of the block seems to get a strong vacuum on it. Like the water pump is trying to pull more water than is coming through the transom . I have heard people putting high speed water pickups in their boats and blocking off the transom water pickup. But I can't seem to find the location of the high speed water pickup in the boat that some people are doing. Any ideas or information would be greatly appreciated thanks so much and God bless .any questions about my issues feel free to call 3522743880
 
Maybe your boat doesn't have a thru hull pickup. It's going to be quite a bit of work either way, replacing the transom hose or installing a thru hull. Transom hose would be cheaper
 
There's been numerous threads here about that very issue. IMHO, trying to draw a large quantity of water through that hose from that far away is just asking for trouble. I see a lot of noise made about a fresh-water through-hull pickup. Search "Bravoitis" for hordes of cases/fixes.
 
Had Bravoitis, decided to go with the thru hulls. Supplies more water, allows for a strainer, keeps the little shell and crap from getting into raw water pump and eating up impeller as well as into motor and clogging up heat exchanger. With our 496s, this has been a trouble free change over. I will say, it was more expensive than the other option of replacing the outdrive route. IMO it was well worth it.
 
The 3/4" line thru the transom supplies plenty of water and a strainer can be added if you want.
 
Artie, I responded to your question about the things to think about with the location of a thru-hull water pickup in that other thread you posted in, so need to go over all that again.

As the others said, look up Bravoitis - there's plentiful info about that. One thing to add - Merc has a new style transom hose that fixes the problem.
 
Correct, go with the new type with the inserts.
The insert in the transom collapses from corrosion. The hardest part is getting to the hose from inside the boat to screw the insert in with the special tool.
HINT buy the preformed hose
 

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