Seacock replacement

[SeaEric]

All of the seacocks in my 1966 41 TC have been replaced with 1/4 turn ball valves except the ones for
the main engines. Those 2 are originals and are still in decent condition but - they are difficult to operate.
They have the rubber insides that have to be "decompressed" to turn the handles. I'm done fighting with
them as are the mechanics.
The current setup has the sea strainers inside, mounted horizontally, a PIA IMHO. I'm thinking of eliminating
the strainers as there are slotted scoops on the outside. The folks who do the service admit that in 11
seasons of light cruising on the Chesapeake they have never found anything in the strainer baskets.
What am I missing? I can perhaps always add them back in later if necessary.

 

[Pascal]

I have used the mesh screen South Bay Strainers for mains, air con and water maker. Love them. No more interior strainers, no more cleaning them especially for air con as that runs 24/7.

I don’t think I d use slotted without strainers. Maybe different in the Chesie

 

[Bob Bradley]

Ditto. I got those strainers out several years ago on my 43 and never looked back. No more climbing over the horizontal units worrying that I might slip and break one due to the leverage they provided by being installed in that position. I put in the South Bay and love them. And we do get a lot of crap here in the Pawcatuck River. Guys on the hook down in "The Kitchen" often fill their strainers with brillo-like seaweed. I never have a problem. They are on my 45 as well.

 

[rsmith]

I never found anything in the strainers and I’ve run the boat in pretty much all waters. I don’t have a strainer on the AC pickup because it would fill with air when we backed down on a big fish. Eliminating the strainer solved the problem. He intake is a typical slotted scoop. But did have a surveyor give me crap about it onetime.

 

[jim rosenthal]

I haven't had inside strainers in the 32 years I've had my boat. I do run bronze screens on the wedge strainers- stainless steel screens will foul VERY quickly, I found from experience. After probably 15 years, the bronze screens disintegrated and I had to replace them, which was not a big deal.

 

[Captain Ralph]

Are you asking about strainers or Sea-cocks?
Your tapered or rubber tapered are a pain as they need to be loosened to operate.
Finding that rite adjustment, even with fresh grease can be a pain.
Newer styles don't need to be loosened but these high volume sea-cocks are expensive.

All of ours, but the 45 year old, 3" mains (tapered) have been replaced.
Greased every haul, I adjust them so they don't weep but can lean on them to close if needed.
One day, when we win the Lotto, I may replace them.