Behind the Design: The Story of ImpelPro and Its Inventor
- Dec 2, 2025
- 7 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
If you’ve ever dreaded a water pump impeller replacement, you’re in good company.
For years, lifelong boater and tugboat mechanic Eddie Protzeller fought with “universal” impeller pullers that slipped, bent, or simply didn’t fit where they needed to. Those long hours wedged in engine rooms led to a simple question: “Why isn’t there a tool that actually works for real inboard engine spaces?”
ImpelPro was born from that question. This isn’t just another gadget—it’s a compact, bearing-driven impeller puller designed by a boater who was tired of tools that failed when it mattered most.
This is the story of how frustration, persistence, and hundreds of hours of trial and error turned into the ImpelPro® impeller puller.
How One Stubborn Impeller Sparked an Invention
The Problem with Existing Impeller Removal Tools
Eddie’s journey started with a familiar headache: a stubborn rubber impeller buried deep in an inboard water pump.
He’d already invested in several “premium” impeller removal tools. On paper, they looked great. In practice, they:
Slipped off the impeller
Did not fit in the water pump because big, clunky knobs
Needed two hands and circus-level flexibility to operate in cramped compartments
“Imagine sitting crisscrossed with your head under the exhaust, wrestling with tools that simply don’t work,” Eddie recalls.
After one particularly miserable water pump impeller replacement, he decided: there had to be a better way. He didn’t just want a new tool. He wanted a solution that made impeller removal predictable instead of painful.
From Tugboats to Weekend Boaters
Eddie’s background is all boats, all the time:
Years running and maintaining tugboats
Hands-on experience keeping yachts and workboats running
Helping friends and family troubleshoot their inboard water pump and generator impeller issues
Those hours in tight engine rooms taught him two things:
Access is everything. If a tool doesn’t fit between hoses, mounts, and bulkheads, it’s useless.
Boaters want control. Even if you use a mechanic, you don’t want to be stranded or helpless over a simple impeller change.
With ImpelPro, Eddie set out to bridge that gap—commercial-grade performance in a compact, user-friendly tool that a DIY weekender or pro mechanic could both rely on.
Designing a Better Water Pump Impeller Replacement Tool What Eddie Wanted the Tool to Do
From day one, Eddie had a clear checklist. The tool had to:
Bite into the impeller, not just push against it
Work in tight inboard compartments where you can barely see the pump
Wind the impeller out smoothly instead of yanking and praying
Use a simple 9/16" wrench—a tool every boater or mechanic already owns
Handle inboard water pump and generator impeller removal across common flexible-vane sizes
That checklist became the blueprint for ImpelPro’s bearing-driven puller design.
“The goal was to make a tool that doesn’t just add pressure, but actually bites into the impeller and pulls it out in a controlled, effortless way,” Eddie explains.
10+ Design Iterations and Hundreds of Hours in the Shop
Getting there wasn’t quick—or pretty.
Eddie spent hundreds of hours prototyping, testing, and revising. The final ImpelPro design came after more than 10 iterations and a very real box of broken, bent, or “almost right” parts.
To get it done, he:
Taught himself how to run a lathe
Experimented with different tooth profiles to grip the rubber without shredding it
Refined the bearing system, so the bearing does the heavy lifting instead of your shoulders
Tightened clearances until the tool could live comfortably in cramped pump locations
“I have a box of broken or unusable pieces that didn’t quite work,” Eddie says. “But every failure brought me closer to the final design.”
Want to see the bearing system in action?
What Makes ImpelPro Different for Impeller Removal
Built for Real Engine Room Conditions
ImpelPro wasn’t designed in a clean CAD file and left there. It was shaped by:
Oil-stained engine rooms
Tight inboard access panels
Real-world service on tugboats, workboats, and weekend cruisers
Key design features:
Piercing teeth that lock into the impeller for a positive grip
A bearing-driven pull that turns wrench force into smooth extraction
A compact body built to fit around hoses, mounts, and bulkheads inside inboard engine compartments
If you’ve ever thought, “There’s no way a puller will fit in there,” this is the tool Eddie built for exactly that scenario.
Sized for Common Inboard and Generator Impellers
ImpelPro is built specifically for flexible-vane rubber impellers on inboard cooling and fluid pumps.
Standard Puller: works with impellers from 1 9/16" to 2 9/16"
Large Puller: works with impellers from 2 9/16" to 4 5/8"
Together, they cover a wide range of inboard water pump and generator impeller sizes—making ImpelPro a go-to solution across many marine setups where access is tight.
Note: ImpelPro is designed for inboard and generator applications, not for outboard engines.
Built to Last, Not Just to Look Clever
ImpelPro combines:
316L stainless steel and aluminum alloy strength
Marine-ready construction designed to live in a harsh environment
A design focused on repeatable performance, pull after pull
And because Eddie built the tool he wanted to use on his own boats, ImpelPro backs the design with a limited warranty so you’re not gambling on a “use it once and toss it” gadget. Learn more about our 7-year limited warranty
Meet the Man Behind the Tool – Eddie Protzeller
A Lifelong Boater with a Problem-Solver Mindset
From family boating trips to years working on tugboats, Eddie has always been closest to the water when something needed fixing.
Over time, he became the person people called when their:
Inboard cooling system ran hot
Impeller shredded itself
Generator impeller seized after sitting too long
That mix of experience shaped his philosophy:
“Boating should feel like freedom, not like you’re one bad impeller away from losing your weekend.”
Inventor, Mechanic, and Family Man
ImpelPro didn’t appear out of thin air—it came from late-night sessions in the shop after full workdays and family time.
As a father of three, Eddie balanced:
Day jobs and boat work
Family commitments
Long evenings tweaking prototypes and testing new ideas
His mission is simple: Create tools that make boating maintenance easier, safer, and more accessible—whether you’re a pro mechanic or a first-time boat owner
How ImpelPro Helps You Take Control of Maintenance
A Simple Approach to Water Pump Impeller Replacement
ImpelPro is designed to make water pump impeller replacement more predictable, even in frustrating inboard spaces. At a high level, using the tool looks like this:
Using ImpelPro in 4 Simple Steps
Access the pump Open the access panel and remove the water pump cover according to your engine manufacturer’s instructions.
Set the puller teeth Slide ImpelPro into the pump and position the piercing teeth behind the impeller vanes so they can bite into the rubber.
Wind the impeller out Using a 9/16" wrench or socket on the tool, slowly turn to engage the bearing system. The bearing does the heavy lifting, winding the impeller out of the housing in a controlled, steady pull.
Inspect and replace Once removed, inspect the impeller, housing, and shaft, then install your new impeller and reassemble the pump per the engine manual.
Always follow your engine or generator manufacturer’s specific service procedures and safety guidelines.
What You’ll Need for Impeller Removal
For most inboard water pump or generator impeller jobs, you’ll typically need:
ImpelPro Standard or Large Impeller Puller (depending on impeller size)
9/16" wrench or socket
Replacement impeller and any required gasket/O-ring
A small amount of marine grease or lubricant
Clean rags and a safe container for old parts
Backed by Tutorials and Support
ImpelPro isn’t just a tool in a clamshell. It’s part of a complete support system:
Step-by-step videos showing real impeller removal in tight spaces
A growing Learning Area and FAQ section to answer common questions
A team that understands what it feels like to be stuck in the bilge with a seized impeller and a ruined weekend on the line
If you’re unsure whether ImpelPro fits your inboard or generator setup, start with the FAQ and Learning Area, or reach out through our contact form.
Frequently Asked Questions About ImpelPro’s Design
Why did Eddie create ImpelPro in the first place? A: Eddie spent years fighting with impeller pullers that didn’t fit in real inboard spaces or simply didn’t work. ImpelPro is the result of hundreds of hours of redesigning, testing, and refining a tool that could actually bite into the impeller, fit into tight spaces, and wind the impeller out smoothly.
Will ImpelPro work on my boat? A: ImpelPro is designed for flexible-vane rubber impellers used in inboard water pumps and generator impellers. The Standard puller covers impellers from 1 9/16" to 2 9/16", and the Large covers 2 9/16" to 4 5/8". If your impeller falls within those ranges and you’re working on an inboard or generator application, ImpelPro is likely a strong fit.
What makes ImpelPro different from other impeller pullers? A: ImpelPro combines piercing teeth that grip the impeller, a bearing-driven pulling system to do the heavy lifting, and a compact form factor built specifically for tight inboard compartments. It was designed by someone who has spent years doing this work in real engine rooms—not just on a drawing board.
Is there a warranty on the tool? A: Yes. ImpelPro is backed by a limited warranty that reflects the confidence in its materials and workmanship. Read the full 7-year limited warranty .
Do I still need a mechanic if I own an ImpelPro puller?A: Many boaters use ImpelPro to handle their own water pump impeller replacement, while others hand the tool to their mechanic so the job goes faster and cleaner. If you’re not comfortable working on your engine, a qualified marine technician can still use ImpelPro to make the job easier and more efficient.
Ready to End the Impeller Struggle?
Every hour on the water is precious. A failed impeller shouldn’t be the reason you head back to the dock—or never leave it.
ImpelPro was built by boaters, for boaters, to:
Take the dread out of water pump impeller replacement
Reduce the wrestling match in tight inboard compartments
Give you more confidence that you can handle impeller removal when it matters
Explore ImpelPro impeller pullers and choose your size »
And whenever you’re ready to dive deeper, head back to ImpelPro.com to explore more tutorials, FAQs, and resources.