Water strainer on inboard

Nick Hearne · 21 December 2006, 08:28

My new toy has petrol 220hp MerCruiser with closed cooling system!
The water pick up is through the hull with a grate over the intake, BUT no strainer, it just goes strait to the water pump!
Should I be worried or not?
The way I see it is if I pick up some weed & it gets sucked in or mud after being on a drying mooring this will get sucked in ti the impeller, not good! But if I had a strainer fitted the at least I can clear this with out any problem!
Any thoughts please.

Nick

jwalker · 21 December 2006, 09:48

Yup, it's a good idea. It's surprising what is able to be drawn into the system.

Saw this yesterday.

Nick Hearne · 21 December 2006, 10:09

Thanks JW so only a good idea not essential?
Also it will give me a way of running the engine out of the water, so I'm told!
As I can shut off the see cock & open the strainer, put a hole pipe in with water running & then I can start in up!

jwalker · 21 December 2006, 13:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Hearne

Thanks JW so only a good idea not essential?

Err, essential. I've seen whole leaves of seaweed inside mine. How they get it there is difficulty to believe. There must be some suck from the pump!

Quote:

Also it will give me a way of running the engine out of the water, so I'm told!
As I can shut off the see cock & open the strainer, put a hole pipe in with water running & then I can start in up!

I have a 'T' in the pipe before the strainer and this is connected through the transom. I use ordinary brass hose fittings and then connect the garden hose and run the engine to flush it. Obviously there needs to be a cap on the transom fitting while boating.

Nick Hearne · 22 December 2006, 07:07

Do I take it that everyone agrees with fitting a strainer, as lots of people reading this but no more comments?

Nick

Cookee · 22 December 2006, 07:57

Although I only run outboards (for now - we have an inboard coming out at Ribex) I would have thought it would be a very good idea indeed!

BogMonster · 22 December 2006, 09:22

The launches the company runs at work (Halmatic) certainly have fine mesh sea water strainers and some of the crap I have seen being dug out of those when the garage are working on the cooling system is amazing.

bedajim · 22 December 2006, 09:31

Mate has a hard boat

and he has one and a second connection point so he can run the engine out of the water

Nick Hearne · 22 December 2006, 09:36

Thanks every one I will be getting one fitted!

Nick

Aidan · 24 December 2006, 23:07

Hello Nick, nice of you to drop in on us wet ribbers... How is the new duck.
Here is my twopence worth coming from Yachtie AKA Yaughtie depending on size.
Yes kep shit on the outsie where you can pick it away. Its much harder to have to dis-engage at pump and clean out.
However do make sure that you install or have a Water temp Buzzer. siren. This is in case of blockage, normally plastic bag.
I should point out that that one of the main areas of keeping hull sound is the Water Cocks shut off/on neck where Tube fits over. (same applies to exhaust side""

Always recommend that you keep spare tubing that both fits over the Cock and in the cock. The latter is for running the tube within the cock and tube should you have failure. I do suggest that faulty sea cocks are probably responsible for more floodings than heavy seas.....
ou will also need stainless Hose clips and Bungs etc...Maybe over kill but I do like to be independent..

Happy Christmas,

Aidan