I recently had a water pump related issue.
I started my engine and checked to see if water was flowing out of the exhaust. Alas no water. Shut down the engine immediately. Checked to see if the sea cock was open and it was. Checked the impeller and found that the center bronze axel had separated from the rubber portion of the impeller. In other words the axel was spinning but the rubber portion was not which accounted for the lack of cool sea water being pumped thru the engine cooling system. I had last changed the impeller about a year ago. I am going to change my impeller every six months from now on. Replacing an impeller while underway is not an easy task particularly if the sea conditions are rough. Best to do so at the dock as a regular engine maintenance task.
Thanks for your reply and "thumbnail sketch". Your solution is "ingenious" as it keeps the bushing from breaking free of the rubber impeller.because you just said it is hard to replace the impeller while on the way,here is what I did,about FIVE years ago!!!,on a new impeller I pulled out the pin by drilling the rubber and replaced the pin with a bolt,same size,shaped two flat washers to sit properly between the wings,pass the bolt throu washers,brass bush,a spring washer and tighten with a nut making sure the bolt does not extend beyond the nut.
I did the same to the old impeller and keep it as spare.
It is true,I do more sailing then motoring,but it is 5 years since and still going,and before I used to replace the impeller almost every year!!
attached is a sketch how I've done it