Seaweed

[Ken Osborne]

Has anyone had a problem with the engine sucking up and clogging up the sea-water thru-hull with seaweed? Mine does this every once in awhile, always at the worst possible time. The engine then overheats. I have a 1995 29.5. The sea water strainer does catch seagrass as it should and works fine.Does anyone have a fix for this? I haven't contacted Hunter yet,but will. I don't have a temp gauge, only idiot lights and alarms. Was thinking of a brass strainer under the boat at the in-take, but hate to put screws in the hull. Thanks. Ken

 

[Bob Zolczer]

External Brass Strainers may not be a good idea

I also have a '95 29.5. Right now, grasses are caught by a sea water strainer, but cooling water still flows somewhat. An external screen/strainer's suction may hold grasses and really constrict water flow. Depending on the grass and mesh size, actual cleaning may be difficult without a dive. As you know, here in New England, we get a lot of surface grass. I personally think it's easier to stop and clean the sea water strainer from inside the boat every hour or so of running when I see the grass on the surface.These are just my opinions; others may feel differently.

 

[Eric Lorgus]

Check it each time before going out

Ken: Here on the upper Chesapeake, we get lots of grass. The only thing I know to do is to check the strainer each time before going out. Open it, clean it if needed, then with the strainer open, open the seacock. You should get a good, steady flow. If not, the inlet may be clogged. I keep a wire clothes hangar near the strainer for unclogging the inlet when this happens.

 

[Tim]

EXTERNAL "STRAINER"

Ken, et. al: After several frustrating seasons of engine overheats partly due to seaweed/seagrass (I cruise on the southern Chesapeake), I enlarged my thru hull to 1/2" and installed an external "half-round" brass strainer. Since then I've had absolutely no problems with raw water blockage to the in line strainer. At every haul out I remove the external strainer, wire brush it clean and recoat it with whatever bottom paint I'm using that time. I use a cotton swab to get paint into the small holes and make sure that all holes are open before I reinstall.As I said, no problems since (at least with seagrass!!!). Good luck.Tim (S/V "TIDE")

 

[bill walton]

external strainer

Down here in the Keys we frequently motor and anchor in water no from 7 feet and higher covered with lots of sea grass. An external strainer is really necessary to keep one's internal traps clean. the ones on my 42 look kind of like a cheese grater, wedge shaped with lots of holes.Stuff generlly washes off in the slipstream ofr falls off when you stop. i've never had a problem since they were installed.