raw water strainer question

[holtcl]

Hauling the boat tomorrow to address some minor water leaks.

One of them is a slow drip between the hull and the raw water strainer on the STBD main. This drip becomes increased when the engine is running, and the frequency of the drip appears to increase with greater RPM.

Boat has the original gate valves and raw water strainers. I'm not thrilled with the gate valves and have never touched them. Have been advised to replace them with ball valves, which I plan to have done.

Question is - "while they're in there" - would it be wise to also replace the strainers?

I've not had a problem with the strainers, but I've also not really been able to open them up and clean them. We did this prior to 2010 and I remember it being a real P.I.T.A. to put them back together for some reason (something about lining the rod up). The "glass" (plastic?) is also a little hazy so it's hard to tell if they're clean or not. I believe they are clean; when I hold a flashlight up against them, they appear to be clean. But I don't feel confident in my ability to rip them apart and clean them regularly.

Thoughts? Wise to replace the strainers while the yard is putting in new valves, or am I over-thinking this?

Cheryl
Cinderella
1971 53 MY

 

[bobk]

Consider re-routing the plumbing to the strainers to make access more convenient. I open and clean mine with each oil change. They get some junk on occasion and I have also found broken baskets. A year ago, the yard was inspecting the system and noted a crack in the thru hull. The replacement in bronze was cheaper than I expected.

Bobk

 

[SeaEric]

If the strainers are GROCO, have them rebuilt. GROCO is right there on Kent Island and supports most of their historic products. Drop them off and get them back looking brand new. See what you have then give them a call or go see them. They're back in the industrial park behind the Food Lion. VERY nice folks.

 

[jim rosenthal]

Righto. And if the strainers are not Groco, you might consider getting a set of the Groco ARG strainers and plumbing them in. They are easy to service, the Lexan bowls are replaceable, and if you spray them with Corrosion-X when you first get them, they will stay clean and bright for years. Corrosion X is very good for keeping bronze parts from turning green.

 

[Boatsb]

Replace with seacocks and external strainers.

 

[jim rosenthal]

Good point. I have done without internal strainers for years. But you do want proper seacocks- gate valves are notorious for failing.

 

[Boatsb]

And if you need I have a pair of arg2500 2.5 in strainers that I removed. Good shape but need baskets.

 

[holtcl]

Very helpful responses thank you- my strainers are Groco SD-14. I will stop by the shop tomorrow to see them after the haul out and see what the options are.

Location of the strainers is not a problem.

Cheryl
Cinderella
1971 53 MY

 

[saltshaker]

Replace with seacocks and external strainers.

This is the best advice you will get. Get rid of the internal strainers. Call SAMa and find out if you have the tapered flush mount thruhulls. They're hard to find in bronze. When I did my 46C I had a hard time locating them so I ended up reusing the ones I had.

 

[Avenger]

Ditto the above. I changed out mine for hull mounted South Bay strainers and love the extra space and reduced maintenance. It also took at least 50 lbs of bronze, hose and water out of the boat. Made the ER a lot neater too.

 

[holtcl]

I wanted to put in a friendly "plug" for Groco - on Eric's suggestion I stopped into the plant the other day to get some general information on my strainers, etc. I was greeted by a gentleman who showed me what I would need for a "rebuild" kit (o-rings and washer) and also showed me the proper position of the internal rod, which I think is what has been giving me grief on mine due to it's coming unlocked at the lower end.

Then he showed me options for seacocks which I am having replaced on the boat. And he gave me a tour around the factory including the equipment they use. Really neat stuff. The new parts are beautiful.

I highly recommend!

Cheryl
Cinderella
1971 53 MY

 

[jim rosenthal]

That would have been John, more than likely.

Groco is a family-owned business which is now in their third generation. They are over a hundred years old. They make a quality product at a fair price and they back up and service what they build. And they make it here in MD. You can't do better than that.

The tour is worth it, by the way. They still have some of the original machine tools they bought after the first World War, as surplus, to begin their company's work.

 

[Nick]

Replace with seacocks and external strainers.

Ditto here

 

[Spellbound]

External strainers ---- Replacing my internals, question is ---- does one go with positive flow screens for the mains? Already know about the gens, letting them stay as is. Thanks

 

[holtcl]

In response to what Jim said- It was John- he was fantastic- and I did see some of the old original equipment- it was very cool.

Cheryl

 

[Cool Beans]

layman here. . .any pictures of what you guys are talking about? internal vs external, is this water flow thru the basket?

Thanks!

 

[Avenger]

Here ya go:

Internal strainer...

External strainer...

Space freed up by converting to external strainers...

 

[jim rosenthal]

I agree. At least up here in the Chesapeake, I have not found internal strainers to be needed. Now, on MYs, that go slower, perhaps they are.