Chances are you have a bad head gasket. Some of those engines actually had
a seperate water jacket on the head. Don't continue to run w/ water in the
cylinder as it will definetly not last long. Much cheaper to fix now.
Head gaskets are relatively cheap for those engines (35 to 50 bucks).
Pull the head, look around and see if you can find any problems. Should be
able to find where the water is coming from. If the gasket - go buy a new
one.
Also - you definetly need to change the impeller. Do the head first, then
the impeller.

Good luck,

--
Tony
my boats and cars at http://t.thomas.home.mchsi.com
Richard R. wrote in message
...
1984 Black Max

I agree water in the cylinder is bad.

I am hoping a cracked head or head gasket.

If an impeller brings the water pressure up I would wait till next
season to repair or even wait a few seasons to replace the motor and
or boat.


On Sun, 06 Mar 2005 23:18:30 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:

On Sun, 06 Mar 2005 18:07:00 -0500, Richard R. wrote:

200 HP Mercury

Went fishing last night (first time out this season) and water
pressure was only reading 10 psi.

That ended the great fishing expedition. I would not run the boat.

I picked up a new gauge today because the old one stuck some at lower
pressures. tested and still about 10 psi.

I also replaced the plugs because I thought I heard a slight miss last
PM.

What bothered me and heres the question. I had water on the plug in
#1 cylinder could this cause the loss of water pressure?? A cracked
head or cylinder?

I bought a new water impeller but wonder if I should install it.

If this was a Evinrude, I'd suspect the pressure line from the engine
to the gauge. That seems to be a consistent problem with one of my
engines. I have to disconnect the line at the engine and gauge and
blow it through every year.

In you case, the loss of water pressure could be related to water in
the cylinder as in you shouldn't have water in the cylinder. This
wouldn't be a recent model Optimax would it?

In any case, with water in the cylinder, it might be a good idea to
compression test the cylinders and see what's what.

If it's low, then you have a problem.

Later,

Tom