Raw water strainer

[jambrw]

Hi all I'm about to fit the raw water strainer and trying to determine the best spot for it
Should it be above the water line below or at the water line and distance from the valve any help would be great.

[jamhass]

Mine is above the waterline, but I don't really see any need for it to be so. An advantage to a below waterline location is that it primes more quickly, possibly maximizing impellor life. Unless there is a good reason to mount it in a particular spot, I might suggest that it be mounted:

1. To minimize hose connection lengths.
2. Ensure proper access for cleaning and maintenance.

[redbeard1]

Agree with Jamhass, but I would reverse order. Make sure it is easy to service, then minimize hose length.

Our water intake is at back of engine, but I would put the strainer near the front.

I find that we tend to service those parts of the engine that are easy to reach (I always check engine oil before starting, not so often the hard to access transmission oil dipstick.). The strainer on our boat is so easy to see, we just use a flashlight for a two second inspection every week and clean it every month or so.

Ours is under water level.

[jambrw]

How far away from the inlet valve is your strainer

[Cheechako]

In a perfect world it would be nice to have the top of it above the waterline, the rest below.

[jambrw]

Well I'm nearly there now how far away from the inlet valve is a good length or not important been led to believe straight after the valve if I did that engine is about 6 feet away.

[redbeard1]

Originally Posted by jambrw

How far away from the inlet valve is your strainer

Intake is circled in blue. Best guess 4 feet. A few inches aft of the aft part of engine, to the starboard side of the transmission. If you like I can measure when I'm on the boat again.

[jamhass]

Another point on strainer placement:

Salt water WILL leak from the strainer, either from leaks occasionally, or certainly when cleaning. Make sure these leaks will NOT fall on something sensitive, like wiring.

I had a friend whose engine wiring harness had a splice hidden under and close to his strainer. The resulting corrosion shorted the harness and destroyed the electronic control module to his engine. Was a major PITA to troubleshoot and find.

[Terra Nova]

Place the sea strainer such that all hose runs are a continuous rise from the sea cock, with no traps.

[Tellie]

It depends on what system the raw water strainer is servicing. Some systems can easily draw the water up from the waterline while some can not. I know it sounds counter intuitive, but many, many, boats design the raw water strainers below the water line.

[David M]

I use a wet or dry vac to prime my raw water cooling system. Just put a suction to the hose where the raw water goes into the exhaust riser. It does not matter if the strainer is above or below the waterline.

[Terra Nova]

Originally Posted by David M

I use a wet or dry vac to prime my raw water cooling system. Just put a suction to the hose where the raw water goes into the exhaust riser. It does not matter if the strainer is above or below the waterline.

As long as you don't mind having to use a shop vac to prime it.