cleaning Perko sea water strainers

[eianm]

I am embarrassed to admit- after 6 months I have only just goit around to checking my seawater strainers- luckily, no issues, BUT, there is a big build up or verdigres on the bronze housing and some tough scum on the inside of the sight glass- there must be a trick to cleaning these properly- can someone please share their superior knowledge with me?

 

[Dan Johnson]

eianm...

if your strainer is the same Perko as on my H34, you can remove it from the boat and disassemble it to give it a good cleaning. There are replacement gaskets available for the top and bottom of the glass cylinder as well as the cap over the strainer if the outside is discolored due to leaking.

 

[Alan]

Ditto Dan but when re-assembling use a good anti seize compound on all threads to make the next trip in and out easier. The wing nuts on the cap in particular since these will be used most often.

 

[Dan Johnson]

Great points, Alan...

certainly a problem in "true" salt water, but not much of a problem up here in the brackish top of the Chesapeake.

 

[eianm]

I found a descaling liquid ( which i think could be muriatic acid??)- diluted down about 10:1 worked well on the crud build up in the glass, along with some good scrubng with a nylon brush!

 

[Rick Sylvester]

Generally I hate Perko stuff

but I think I have the same strainer. I got the rebuild kit and did an overhaul. Had to assemble it twice to stop leaks and to get everything to fit properly. I wouldn't do it again.

The 'glass' isn't actually glass so be careful how hard you scrub it.

Don't worry about verdigris. It doesn't hurt anything and will come back anyway.

Perkos used to come new with a cork gasket in the lid. They now make a rubber one that works much better.

Groco strainers are much better quality.