Raw water strainers

[rwappleton]

Looks like I need to replace all of my raw water strainers (3) due to leaks that the yard doesn't seem to think they can fix.

I need brand suggestions please.

JT 6-71TI's and ONAN 8.5KW

Thanks

 

[GJH]

First, I have to admit I can't understand why they can't be fixed unless there is big corrosion problem. It is not a very complex item. All the parts are available for Prkos, Grocos and Buck Algonquin. I went strainer shopping a few years ago and really like the Grocos with the screw-on lid. I subsequently bought one at a surplus chop and carry it as a spare, so no direct experience. I notice that they seem to be the OEM unit of choice on better boats, including Hatteras now.

A lot of people here will try and steer you to external strainers, so consider those responses too or do a search. I can't get up the nerve to use them for anything (maybe) but the main engines.

 

[Finalee]

No reccomendations, but also question what is actually happening. Mine are all bronze. Any leaks have been minor and easily stopped with a thin coat of silicone between mating surfaces.

 

[magnawake]

When I purchased my boat, all four strainers were leaking badly. I had water sloshing around in the bilges. I took them apart, cleaned them with hull cleaner to disolve the barnacles on the insides of the glass. Toilet bowl cleaner (the works) cleaned the brass or bronz. Purchased new gaskets and reinstalled. Now they dont leak a drop. That was two years ago. I can see some white crusty stuff starting to form under the A/C strainer, so I might need to replace the gaskets again on that one, but the others look great. I'm wondering why the your boat yard coundnt fix them. Maybe the threads on the bolts were chewed up, who knows. Anyway, you can order replacement parts.

 

[saltshaker]

Agree with above. Why can't they fix them? Is it a leaking seacock or the strainers? I'd opt for good external wedge strainers if you have to replace yours. Frees up space in the ER and work better at keeping large stuff from getting into your system. I put them on my previous boat and still kept the internal strainers. Had them for over 12 years and never had to clean a strainer. Highly recommend them for the AC intakes if you are in an area where jellyfish are abundant. I haven't put them on my current boat yet and regularly need to clean the strainers.

 

[rwappleton]

They all appear to be leaking where the glass and the bottom meet.

Yard claims the the rods "stretch and get soft" over time and cost wise price will be very close to same as just replacing.

I too like the looks of the Groco and they will take up much less space in the ER.

Thanks to all

 

[MikeP]

"They all appear to be leaking where the glass and the bottom meet"

Sounds like the wrong bedding material was used to start with but obviously that doesn't matter now, the only fix is to pull them and either clean/reinstall them or install new ones. The proper bedding material for them is 3M 5200. There are a lot of places where 5200 is not the best choice for a variety of reasons - most often ease of disassembly - but this isn't one of them.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

On a related topic, for lid gaskets I just carry a few sheets of rubber gasket material. Cut your gaskets and save the hassle and expense of ordering new ones.

 

[GJH]

"Yard claims the the rods "stretch and get soft" over time and cost wise price will be very close to same as just replacing."

Here is what the parts cost at retail:

http://www.cgedwards.com/Perko/pko305-11.html

You're getting your chain pulled..

i wouldn't use 5200 myself, they make gaskets for that. (see above link)

 

[jim rosenthal]

Grocos are very good and their backup of their products is peerless- they are great folks. Here's a tip- when you get the new strainers, spray all the bronze parts with Corrosion-X BEFORE you install anything. That way, if you spray them every six months or so, they will stay clean and not turn green on you. I have Groco strainers I installed years ago, now, and they still look new.

Properly assembled strainers shouldn't leak. Either the gaskets are bad, something is warped, or there isn't enough tension on the rods, if they have rods.

 

[dsharp]

If yours have the large rod running through the center you can buy Monel or silicon bronze rod and have the ends threaded. Usually electrolysis eats them up. That may be cost prohibitive today unless you find a smaller job shop