The shredded Impeller Game in Bequia

We committed the biggest boating rookie mistake of them all or at least one of the all time top 10. In fact these photos are of the same impeller, newly installed several months ago vs after today’s fiasco. Here’s the story: we decided to depart Admiralty Bay, Bequia, early this morning. We are in a bit of crowded anchorage so prepped to leave, started the engine, raised the anchor and got on our way. As soon as we cleared the immediate surrounding boats, we turned into the 20 knot breeze with the intent to raise the mainsail and begin sailing. At this moment an alarm started to sound. There are several alarms we have become familiar with; however, this piercing sound was new. Wendy was at the mast ready to release the sail ties as we raised the main halyard. She came back into the cockpit and we found the source of the alarm - the oil temp was very high, however, the engine was working fine and sounded normal. Thinking it might just be a fluky alarm and needed to be reset, I shut it down and restarted it but not before completing the mainsail raise. So now we are sailing and tacking in the anchorage and heading out of the bay. We restarted the engine several times but it continued to reach high temps and alarm code. Something is seriously wrong. We shut the engine down and under 2nd reefed main alone we short tacked Pinecone around arriving and anchored boats and sailed her to a safe spot basically at the rear of all boats in the bay and in the stiff breeze (remember 20 knots of wind) luffed her up and with nice timing immediately dropped anchor in 25’ depth. Let out a 100’ of chain, her anchor found bottom and quickly set and we came to rest. We checked the oil - no problem. We noted perhaps a burnt rubber smell. No idea. It was then it dawned on me - we cleaned out the main engine seawater sea strainer a few days back during a cleaning of the watermaker strainer. Had I forgotten to re-open the main engine cooling water seacock? Opened the cabin sole to find, that YES I freakin did. The seacock/thru hull was in a closed position. Ok, we opened the seacock and restarted the engine. Temperature rose and she coded again. No water emitting from the exhaust. Re-opened the engine compartment, stared at the water pump containing the impeller and grabbed the tools. The photo tells the story of what we found. We completely cleaned out the debris and debated whether we should dissemble all hoses that potentially could have clogged with impeller debris. But really that is a job better done at a boat yard not at anchorage in the Grenadines. We crossed our fingers, installed a new impeller and started her up. She spit out soiled impeller stained black water, some small shredded bits and purred to life again within temperature specs and sounded right at various rpms and loads. By now, it is 1pm, we are fried, emotionally overwrought, joyfully happy that we didn’t kill a new diesel engine and laughing at the absolute comedy we created. The biggest laugh was when Wendy reminded me of how many times, I stressed to her: you must always check that the exhaust is spitting out water! Made lunch and immediately took a long nap. We start off early tomorrow to continue the adventure.