the perfect location for A/C water intakes

[schoonerdog]

A friend on our dock had the same cruiseair airconditioners that we have and this summer he every 4 days was emptying out his trap because of jellyfish getting stuck and asked me when the last time I had to clean mine.

"I think around 4 months ago?" I replied. Others overheard our conversation and they were also wondering how we could do it so infrequently as they were also having problems. I then realized that I put the intakes for the A/C on the inside of the hulls under the bridgedeck. Jellyfish just don't swim between the hulls into the darkness in a catamaran, maybe it's the shadow contrasting with the light.

So if you want a really care free location for water inlets for your boat, always put it on the inside of the hulls.

[GordMay]

Good advice!
Jellyfish are photosynthetic animals, so have have a preference for the sun, and avoiding shadows.

[Pblais]

Jellyfish are photosynthetic animals, so have have a preference for the sun, and avoiding shadows.

So does their food.

I'm not sure the argument is that well based though since they clog up strainers at night too. Water temperature might be a better indicator as well as currents. They also favor warmer water and don't navigate that well in a current. Minor difference of both might make some slips more attractive than others to the creatures they eat as well as the creatures themselves.

[GordMay]

Although Jellyfish are passive drifters (zooplankton), mostly transported by water currents, they can also swim with rhythmical contractions of their bell.

Jet propulsion, in jellyfish, is possible because of special muscles called coronal muscles, embedded on the underside of the bell, which push water out of the hollow bell. As water is pushed in one direction, the jellyfish moves in the opposite direction.

Without a brain or eyes, jellyfish rely on nerve cells to help them move, and react to food or danger. Sensing organs tell them whether they are heading up or down, into the light or away from it.

[AnchorageGuy]

I have installed several of the on the Chesapeake and they seem to resolve the problem quite well. GROCO-970150012 SELF CLEANING WATER STRAINER

[GordMay]

Chuck: You must have very wealthy customers.
GROCO-970150012(LIST $1495.95)$1229.99/each

[AnchorageGuy]

You don't need them on every strainer, pretty much just the AC unit. How much do you suppose you might spend to replace a few AC pumps and have a service guy on the boat because it eventually caused problems with the compressor. Well worth the money in areas with lots of jellyfish for months and places where debris is a problem.

[schoonerdog]

Hmm, my filters need biannual cleaning and never have jellyfish, the people right across from me need to clean every othe week. I've got a ton a debris around me, but not between the hulls. I'm guessing then that the hulls protect from them drifting along the surface at night and during the day your probably right in that they avoid shadows.

Originally Posted by Pblais

So does their food.

I'm not sure the argument is that well based though since they clog up strainers at night too. Water temperature might be a better indicator as well as currents. They also favor warmer water and don't navigate that well in a current. Minor difference of both might make some slips more attractive than others to the creatures they eat as well as the creatures themselves.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Chuck Baier

You don't need them on every strainer, pretty much just the AC unit. How much do you suppose you might spend to replace a few AC pumps and have a service guy on the boat because it eventually caused problems with the compressor. Well worth the money in areas with lots of jellyfish for months and places where debris is a problem.

At $200 for a March Pump, and $200 Labour, it wouldn't take many failures (about 3) to justify the high cost of the macerating strainer to me; but sans jellyfish, my Florida customers would have been a hard sell.

[AnchorageGuy]

Gord, Really haven't installed any out of the Chesapeake.