I have an inboard motor that isnt pumping water with ear muffs.?

Question

Do I need to be in lake to get water pumping to engine or is their something wrong?

Answer 1

Assuming the ear muffs are connected to a hose that is under pressure -

The water has to go from the muffs into the lower housing, if not blocked.

From there it goes into the water pump housing, if not blocked.

The impellers, IF intact, send the water through a tube to the power head, if not blocked.

The power head has lots of channels for the water to circulate and remove heat from the cylinders, then dump it back into the lower housing and, usually, a stream from the power head to show it is working, of course if nothing is blocked.

There's your map.  Follow it and keep your cool.

Answer 2

Is it on a leg or inboard?

Check the impelor in the raw water cooling pump

Answer 3

So you've got the muffs on over the intake strainers and have got water spewing out from those, right?  but none coming out with the exhaust, eh?

Gotta be the impellor.  When was the last time you used/changed it?  Is the temp gauge shooting right up?

Answer 4

Could either be the pump or the impeller, but you shouldn't have to have the boat in the water for it to pump