Raw water strainers

[Ajax]

Sorry, I'm really junking up the forum today.

Can anyone provide me with a link to a light weight, inexpensive, raw water strainer?

I'm looking for the type where you can unscrew a transparent lid and clean the basket, as well as pour in anti-freeze or fresh water.

Shawn? You out there?

Thanks!

[ndutton]

Boaterbits.

http://www.boaterbits.ca/engine-and-steering/raw-water-strainers/raw-water-intake-strainer-filter-5-8.html

[Ajax]

Winner.

This is EXACTLY what I was looking for. I didn't realize boaterbits was a canadian site, so the .com didn't work for me.

Many thanks.

[ndutton]

Some folks have reported negative experiences with Boaterbits. I'm not one of them.

[toddster]

I got a jabsco brand one similar to that at WM for $14. Over in the plumbing section. I think it's actually supposed to be for like a wash-down pump or something, but it seems to do the job. I don't expect it to last very long, but I was already a kilobuck or two over my budget at the time.

[Mo]

Just a small point

I'd like to mention one thing about strainers for raw water. Ensure they are large enough so that if you do hit a pocket of debris it can be caught without plugging off your water source. Mine is about pint size and has never plugged so that I didn't have water for the engine.

I advised a guy to take his small one out of his boat (about 2 inches high and not more more diameter) and opt for nothing until he gets a larger one. His boat was a diesel and diesels usually don't get away with overheating.

[lat 64]

I got the Raritan—came with the boat. Luck!

It's over $100. $140 at WM.
I like it though. Has not broken in many years in Alaska waters and is easy to clean. I really like the clear plastic(polycarb?)

If you got the dosh, go for the goods.

[toddster]

Interestingly, although I only have about 10 hours on it, running on inland waterways, what mine has filtered out so far appears to be mostly... styrofoam beads.

I'm not sure that I agree with the logic that no filtration is better than cheap filtration. If it's the size of the basket that's limiting, the solution is to empty it more frequently. If it's the size of the ports - well I'd rather have debris in the filter housing than in the heat exchanger. (Anyway, my intake would probably clog first.)

In any case, a groco-style strainer is on the wish-list. But we'll see how the 1/15 cost solution works for a while first. I suspect that the failure mode is going to be the wear and tear of opening and cleaning it.

[Al Schober]

I've been using the Groco ARG-500 for years now. No negatives to report. Mine is mounted so that I can clean it without shutting off the raw water - just remove the lid, and the water level is right there. Gotta admit, I didn't plan it that way, it just happened!
Drain it at haul out, put the plug back in prior to launch (forgot once) - good to go.

[PT26]

Glad you asked the question, I need one!

[Mo]

I'm not sure that I agree with the logic that no filtration is better than cheap filtration. If it's the size of the basket that's limiting, the solution is to empty it more frequently. If it's the size of the ports - well I'd rather have debris in the filter housing than in the heat exchanger. (Anyway, my intake would probably clog first.)

Hi Toddster,

The point of my comment here is that if you are running hard and go through weeds etc it is possible to suddenly block a small screen. There is no buzzer to notify you until that engine is already hot. If you are watching the temp gauge you would catch it. It can happen as quickly as if we closed the thru valve.
I've heard of one engine that met that fate. One of our members here had his block crack straight down through, horizontally... I do believe his alarm went off. It was still running but lost power. He shut down to troubleshoot and it never started again...he spent days trying to figure out why he had so little compression. Not until the engine was removed and taken down was the extent of the problem visible. It was not repairable and he had the engine rebuilt with an older block. Any water is better than none...a pint size filter / screen is really worth it as it would reduce the chances of a sudden blockage.

EDIT: You know guys, something just occurred to me. I know of three losses of A4s (requiring rebuild) due to overheating while underway. All three were in Hughes 35's, all three were cruising on their summer vacation which went to hell. One boat lost the engine twice in one year due to cooling problems. The other is the one I spoke of above. These are heavy boats and the engine is indeed working to push them through water. Sudden plugged raw water filter blamed for the one above and the first engine on the other. T-stat blame for second engine loss on the boat with 2 losses in one season.
Both ran through a patch of seaweed and problems occurred shortly after. FYI. Due to the boys hard luck I will avoid seaweed ... as harmless as it may seem.

[Ajax]

The two biggest reasons why I want that style of strainer, is to make winterizing easier, and so that I can flush fresh water through the engine after each use.

I'm not going to convert to FWC, so flushing it with fresh water after use (like an outboard motor) is the next best thing.

[Hymodyne]

The two biggest reasons why I want that style of strainer, is to make winterizing easier, and so that I can flush fresh water through the engine after each use.

I'm not going to convert to FWC, so flushing it with fresh water after use (like an outboard motor) is the next best thing.

How would the type of strainer pictured facilitate flushing a raw water system? Wouldn't a threaded outlet somewhere in the circuit of water hoses work? I ask because I am going with a raw water system as well, and would like to try to preserve this freshwater engine as long as I can, or until I can afford to convert to FWC.

james

[smosher]

Some folks have reported negative experiences with Boaterbits. I'm not one of them.

I have the same strainer from Boaterbits, works good and I had no issue
with the company.

Steve

[Ajax]

How would the type of strainer pictured facilitate flushing a raw water system? Wouldn't a threaded outlet somewhere in the circuit of water hoses work? I ask because I am going with a raw water system as well, and would like to try to preserve this freshwater engine as long as I can, or until I can afford to convert to FWC.

james

Screwing a hose into a threaded outlet would be pressurizing the cooling water system, which is bad.

Unscrewing the lid on this strainer and dumping water in the top does not pressurize the system. If the engine is off, water will simply overflow into the bilge.