Water pump gave out mid-job on the Mississippi last week

I was 3 hours into a dredging run near Baton Rouge when my main water pump just quit. No warning, no weird noise, just stopped pushing. Had to radio the shore crew and float dead for 2 hours while they brought out a backup. Turned out a seal blew from sediment buildup I'd been ignoring. Anyone else had a pump fail on them like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

sagesingh1mo ago

That "no warning, no weird noise" part is the worst. I feel for you, nothing quite like a dead pump to ruin your whole day.

taylor.mary1mo ago

Bear in mind those pumps go quiet when the bearings are totally gone, not when they're starting to fail. The real weird noise comes weeks before if you actually listen for it - a sort of low hum that changes pitch when the engine revs. Most people just turn up the radio and miss it.