"Jeff;
Mighty good idea I'
"Jeff;
Mighty good idea I'd say, and darn cheap insurance.
w2f; Belt driven pumps are mounted below engine crank centerline, and as such in most installations it will be below the boat's waterline.
This means with the boat in the water the pump suction is flooded at engine startup, and the water does not need to be sucked up hill. It's done this way on purpose. Dry starts are minimal.
With a hull pickup the suction plumbing is very short and direct typically. With a Bravo leg pickup of course the routing is more convoluted and the pump has to work harder, as you say. Dry startups are more common in this case.
Alphas are the best setup, since the pump is well under water, and the water is right at the impeller at startup. A dry start up is near impossible. Except of course with muffs, and if you forget to turn the water on!
Rod"