Hahaha, just kidding.

On the way back from the cove at Elsinore on Sunday, heard a loud clank noise, followed by the most intense growling/whining you'd ever hear from something that's not supposed to make that kind of noise. Had no choice other then limp her back to the trailer. Engine was down on power, and was starting to get warm the time we hit the buoy line. Tore it apart last night and find a nice surprise.

My guess is whoever tore the pump apart last didn't tighten the thrust bearing retainer bolts, eventually backing out the 3 and snapping the last, allowing the whole shaft to lunge forward and basically eat itself at a high rate of speed. All this happened in the 3/4 of a lap it took to get back to the trailer, and sucks because the impeller was in great shape and boat scooted along pretty good.

Best part is now it's a race to get the boat ready for our week vacation in Laughlin next week 



This is what fell out once the motor was removed. That's normal, right? 

Oh yeah, it's beyond thrashed.

Going to look at a good used one today.

someone correct me if I am wrong, but its possible this could have done some damage to your motor as well.

the trust of the impeller moving forward is absorbed by the thrust bearing....since the thrust bearing moved forward, it was then pussing all that thrust onto your crank and into your motor. What the extent of the damage can be? i have no idea, but might be something to look into.

The impeller bottomed out against the suction housing before the driveline ran out of room on the slip yoke, but in other cases, yes, it would spell disaster for crankshaft bearings and endplay.