Re: Plugged Water inlet (fluh01)
1. Remove gearcase, remove water pump, and remove SHIFT SHAFT BUSHING (and any plate than MAY be below it). Make a VISUAL INSPECTION for wood floating around or lodged in the passages between low water pickups and baseplate of water pump. Wood trapped in this area will float upwards, impeding water flow (and starving the pump of adequate cooling media).
2. Choose cleaner water. Sounds harsh, but the fact is that your engine is designed to be run in, and cooled by WATER (free of larger organic debris).