Hello peggie,, its been a while since Ive been on and since spring is just around the corner the projects are piling up....(not that I havent been doing them all winter also) One project that ive been debating about for some time is adding a pre strainer on the intake side of our head.....The strainer I am thinking of was used for our fresh water pump ...it worked quite well...when I replaced the pump last year the new unit came with a new strainer so now I have an extra. The strainer is a Raritan with 1 1/2" fittings. it has a spin off clear bowl so you can see the debri and clean and rinse when needed. The main reason I am thinking of doing so is that ...because of the alge blooms in the sassafrass and around the bay we seam to have a nasty habit of picking up all types of particals in our intake.....these then migrate to the head unit and lodge in the bowl rim......where they have the nasty Habbit of ...Rotting......and the SMELL!......Ive cleaned many times, used treatments and rinses only for the problem to come back again and again......So I wanted to nip it at the source...the intake. I would like your comments on this and possibly the down sides......besides having to empty and rinse the strainer bowl. Thanks Rob Leviosa
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Only one problem I can see...
A strainer on the head intake is recommended in waters where the likelihood of pulling in animal or vegetable sealife is high...in fact, both Raritan and Groco make head intake strainers. So yes, it's a good idea. But... Your strainer is 1.5"...head intake line is only 3/4"...so you'd have to figure out how to make it fit. Might be cheaper and easier just to buy one to fit a 3/4" line. It should be installed in an accessible location ABOVE the waterline, btw...so it can easily be removed for cleaning.
A strainer on the head intake is recommended in waters where the likelihood of pulling in animal or vegetable sealife is high...in fact, both Raritan and Groco make head intake strainers. So yes, it's a good idea. But... Your strainer is 1.5"...head intake line is only 3/4"...so you'd have to figure out how to make it fit. Might be cheaper and easier just to buy one to fit a 3/4" line. It should be installed in an accessible location ABOVE the waterline, btw...so it can easily be removed for cleaning.
Peggy
yes I was thinking of mounting it under the head sink in the cabinet.....The unit would be above the water line...and easily accessable...may have to add a light in there so I could see it...I just checked the valve I have in WM cataloge its $115.00 so Id like to use it vs buying a proper sized unit..........I too thought of the reducer...I have a few Nylon reducers that should work to get down to the size needed. Ill let you know how it works. PS how much above water line does it need to be???...completly as when the boat is heeled???...if so Ill need to get it higher...maybe in the starboard vanity cab...its just under the toe rail. thanks Rob leviosa
yes I was thinking of mounting it under the head sink in the cabinet.....The unit would be above the water line...and easily accessable...may have to add a light in there so I could see it...I just checked the valve I have in WM cataloge its $115.00 so Id like to use it vs buying a proper sized unit..........I too thought of the reducer...I have a few Nylon reducers that should work to get down to the size needed. Ill let you know how it works. PS how much above water line does it need to be???...completly as when the boat is heeled???...if so Ill need to get it higher...maybe in the starboard vanity cab...its just under the toe rail. thanks Rob leviosa
Under the sink should be fine...
It's not a vented loop, just a strainer...so it doesn't have to be above waterline at any angle of heel, just while you have it apart...which isn't likely to happen while heeled. As for pricing a 3/4", in the last couple of years, West Marine's pricing for a lot of things has gotten even higher than mfrs' list prices...check Defender's price (defender.com). Otoh, you can use the 1.5" if you reduce it down. However...because of the increased capacity of the basket, your toilet will take much longer to prime the first time after you install it. So you'll want to put water in the basket first--and each time you take it apart to clean it. If your toilets are electric macerating toilets, it's absolutely essential that you fill up the basket with water first...to prevent dry friction heat from frying the intake impeller before the toilet can prime.
It's not a vented loop, just a strainer...so it doesn't have to be above waterline at any angle of heel, just while you have it apart...which isn't likely to happen while heeled. As for pricing a 3/4", in the last couple of years, West Marine's pricing for a lot of things has gotten even higher than mfrs' list prices...check Defender's price (defender.com). Otoh, you can use the 1.5" if you reduce it down. However...because of the increased capacity of the basket, your toilet will take much longer to prime the first time after you install it. So you'll want to put water in the basket first--and each time you take it apart to clean it. If your toilets are electric macerating toilets, it's absolutely essential that you fill up the basket with water first...to prevent dry friction heat from frying the intake impeller before the toilet can prime.
Why above the waterline?
Why does it matter where the strainer is mounted? I have an elbow on the head's input seacock. The strainer is mounted directly to the elbow. To clean you just close the seacock and unscrew the top of the strainer.
Why does it matter where the strainer is mounted? I have an elbow on the head's input seacock. The strainer is mounted directly to the elbow. To clean you just close the seacock and unscrew the top of the strainer.
In case it leaks, Ed
And also...apparently your seacock is readily accessible...many aren't. If the strainer is above the waterline, it isn't necessary to close the seacock.
And also...apparently your seacock is readily accessible...many aren't. If the strainer is above the waterline, it isn't necessary to close the seacock.
But Peggy, . . .
you are the one that told us to never leave a seacock open. And I listened. They are always off, even when we are on the boat. And if mine were not readily accessible I would move them.
you are the one that told us to never leave a seacock open. And I listened. They are always off, even when we are on the boat. And if mine were not readily accessible I would move them.
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