“Clamshell” Scoop over Intake for Gen

[Sdpaddler50]

All of my underwater thru hull intakes have a clamshell, expect the Gen. It was apparently left off during the build (oversight). Had a Gen shutdown a couple weeks ago due to the fine kelp plugging up a hose, so I need to get some protection over it while I am out traveling.

My plan is to use splash zone to temp adhere a plastic clamshell over the middle intake hole which is the Gen. When I am in our home port this Fall, I will get a diver who has an air drill to screw in a proper bronze one.

Anyone do this before and any tips you want to share?

See attached photos.

[Tetepare]

We have the one on the right. I stuck it on with marinetex in 2010 and it’s still there. No screws. We are fresh water FWIW. And old salt told me it would restrict water to the engine, which is I suppose obvious, but it has no ill effect

[ItDepends]

Just as a thought...

I have been cruising full time for almost 10 years on two different boats without ANY "clamshells" on any hull intakes. All critical intakes have a proper high capacity strainer on the line inside the boat where it is easy to clean. External strainers are not "necessary" in a well designed system.

It should also be pointed out that for anyone who decides a "scoop" is needed, on a sailboat engine (and this includes generators) the scoops should face AFT. This is so water is not forced up into the engine while it is not running.

[psk125]

For 24 years we had no clamshell on our J/36 intake, and no problems with kelp, weed, or grass clogging the system. When we bought our "new" boat last year We found that the clamshell on our cooling water">engine cooling water intake was perfect for growing barnacles that restricted water flow a lot. No grass came in, but the low water intake increased the engine temperature considerably. Last winter we removed the clamshell. That allows us to undo the clamps on the raw water hose and poke a stick down it to clear out anything that might be in it. The engine temperature is much happier, and so are we.

[alctel]

Originally Posted by psk125

For 24 years we had no clamshell on our J/36 intake, and no problems with kelp, weed, or grass clogging the system. When we bought our "new" boat last year We found that the clamshell on our engine cooling water intake was perfect for growing barnacles that restricted water flow a lot. No grass came in, but the low water intake increased the engine temperature considerably. Last winter we removed the clamshell. That allows us to undo the clamps on the raw water hose and poke a stick down it to clear out anything that might be in it. The engine temperature is much happier, and so are we.

I basically had the same experience, the clamshell is a barnacle incubator.

Removed my clamshell and its a lot easier to clean.

[Sdpaddler50]

Clamshell scoop on, splash zone worked well to adhere it.

[skipperpete]

Originally Posted by Sdpaddler50

All of my underwater thru hull intakes have a clamshell, expect the Gen. It was apparently left off during the build (oversight). Had a Gen shutdown a couple weeks ago due to the fine kelp plugging up a hose, so I need to get some protection over it while I am out traveling.



My plan is to use splash zone to temp adhere a plastic clamshell over the middle intake hole which is the Gen. When I am in our home port this Fall, I will get a diver who has an air drill to screw in a proper bronze one.



Anyone do this before and any tips you want to share?



See attached photos.

Well, there is this gem from the Volpi installation guide. Page 1 of 6 with “warranty terminating” mistakes made by installers[ATTACH]264233
All are “water ingress” related