Sea Water Cooling Question

[Chuck]

I just purchased a Cat 30 and am new to ownership. As the boat was hauled out of the water, I noticed a thru-hull fitting which protrudes from the bottom and looks like a strainer. I regarded this as the intake for the sea water used to cool the engine. Upon closer inspection I noticed that there appear to be dried fibers of some sort packed together in a dense form inside this "strainer". Is this a filter of some sort and if so, does it require servicing and how often?Thanks so much,-Chuck

 

[Bob Camarena]

Doesn't Sound Right

That doesn't sound right to me. The cooling water intake has a protective "grill" on it, but it's purpose is to keep out big stuff. There shouldn't be any fibers in it. you should have a clear passage into the thru hull and seacock. I suspect that some sort of seaweed was growing in it and has clogged it. If you have a filter, it would be inside the boat between the seacock and your intake hose. It disassembles for cleaning.

 

[Tim Leighton]

NOT A MAJOR PROBLEM...SORT OF

Bob: The previous owner probably did what I did a number of years ago and install a "primary" strainer on the outside of the hull to prevent ingestion of larger sea grasses before they even get to the in-line strainer downstream of the thru-hull. However, that external strainer must receive the same maintenance the rest of the hull does. I check/clean mine several times a season and remove and apply anti-fouling paint when I do the rest of the hull. No, there shouldn't be anything inside the strainer and that "stuff" needs to be removed. Remember, one of the WORST things you can do to your engine is deprive it of cooling water. Good luck!Tim L. (old Hunter 31 owner and soon-to-be Catalina 400 owner....with an exterior strainer!)

 

[Chuck]

Thanks for the feedback (eom)

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