Sea strainer over engineering?

[LoudMusic]

Recently I had to pull seagrass out of the right-angle seacock that feeds my watermaker on multiple occasions. So I wised up and replaced it with a straight-through seacock. So far so good.

Next in line is the sea strainer. The current installed unit is a very fine mesh, and rather small holding capacity. I'd like to keep that in place, but add an additional "large debris" sea strainer ahead of it. It's a PAIN to open. I'm thinking one of these large ones like I have for the raw water on my air conditioners.

Is there any reason adding additional sea strainers would be a bad idea?

[Tellie]

I don't believe it will hurt anything. It should help somewhat to keep the finer mesh raw water strainer going for a bit more between cleanings, but it won't help any as far as the pre-filters. They'll be changed out just as often.

[LoudMusic]

Originally Posted by Tellie

I don't believe it will hurt anything. It should help somewhat to keep the finer mesh raw water strainer going for a bit more between cleanings, but it won't help any as far as the pre-filters. They'll be changed out just as often.

Thank!

[hezi973]

This is my dilemma. I am planning on full time cruising to remote destinations and just picked 2 seawater pro water makers (12v qnd 230v for redundancy and fast water production). Iam looking for two strainers and would love some help or experienced opinions.

Everyone are installing the little ones and perhaps it is enough. But as it was discussed, plastic degrade over time, it has super small capacity and can form blockage and even burn a pump. And, it needsto be checked frequently. The little Groco or Perko brass, while expensive upfront ($200 a piece+-) and heavy, it would outlast all the plastic ones.

Another option is two plastic strainer. The first is for large debris and the smaller next in line for fine particles. It is light, cheap, and I can buy spares that will not add much weight. Here are some links. I would love to hear your thoughts. My watermakers are 40 gallon/Hr and 17 gallon /Hr. Certainly not a constant duty items...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...FXHZ70BS&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...LIR2J3LQ&psc=1

https://www.go2marine.com/Groco-Bron...e=307&type=758

[HopCar]

You might consider changing your external scoop strainer to one of these self cleaning scoop strainers. Many boats are using these with no internal strainers.They also have an opening hatch to allow you to easily clean growth from inside your thru-hull.
https://www.groco.net/products/raw-w...er/aphs-series

[hezi973]

Wow, thank you. Definitely something to consider. I copy the topic to a new thread. I thought I will get more exposure. I need rto solve this quick and ship it all to France. Thanks again!

[Orion Jim]

Originally Posted by HopCar

You might consider changing your external scoop strainer to one of these self cleaning scoop strainers. Many boats are using these with no internal strainers.They also have an opening hatch to allow you to easily clean growth from inside your thru-hull.
https://www.groco.net/products/raw-w...er/aphs-series

Can you describe the self cleaning feature?

[HopCar]

Originally Posted by Orion Jim

Can you describe the self cleaning feature?

The forward movement of the boat washes over the flat screen and removes weed that might otherwise be stuck to it. Anything that does get stuck to it would fall off when the engine or pump stops. I don’t think Groco claims it to be self cleaning but that is what I found when I installed one.

[team karst]

Originally Posted by HopCar

You might consider changing your external scoop strainer to one of these self cleaning scoop strainers. Many boats are using these with no internal strainers.They also have an opening hatch to allow you to easily clean growth from inside your thru-hull.
https://www.groco.net/products/raw-w...er/aphs-series

These made me crazy in a high fouling area, like Florida. Oyster city, on now two sides of metal.... Yes, they shed eelgrass very well.

[hezi973]

Originally Posted by team karst

These made me crazy in a high fouling area, like Florida. Oyster city, on now two sides of metal.... Yes, they shed eelgrass very well.

So you like them or not? I looked into them and considering getting them. They are a pretty penny! Would you get them again?

[team karst]

Originally Posted by hezi973

So you like them or not? I looked into them and considering getting them. They are a pretty penny! Would you get them again?

Definitely not. Would only consider in fresh water, or on a lift in salt.
Even as a diver; working with that loose hardware to remove the screen....

[hezi973]

Thank you