motor in safe mode

went out today and motor ran great for about 45 min. on way back to ramp motor slowed to about 2500 rpm. when I idled down to  dock it quit and would not restart. Home now and  thinking water pump. I never got that hot. I did not see water out of the pee hole when this happened. Is it hard to remove the lower unit to replace it. I know on my previous evenrude had to disconnect linkage and it was difficult to get to. I have the seloc manual and it looks like you just unbolt and guide the drive shaft out. Is that true? It is a 1991 mercury 40 HP 4 cyl


Edited by retnavy - 07/17/2019 at 9:46pm