Pearson Yachts Forum

Pearson Boats - Common Systems => Plumbing and Galley Systems => Topic started by: Alma on July 06, 2017, 06:28:59 PM

Title: P323 clogged engine water intake
Post by: Alma on July 06, 2017, 06:28:59 PM

Over the twenty years I've owned ALMA I've had 4 clogs of the raw water intake on the keel.
One this weekend with six aboard...

Sometimes I move a purposely longer inlet hose to the sea water sink pump through hull. Effective but certainly not elegant.

Today hot tubs need two drains. That prevents the pump from sucking in a hand. The pumps have a "choice".

I've been kicking around the idea of boring a hole opposite the existing raw water inlet and adding another and its seacock and a tee so no bag, jelly or jetsom can get me again.

Ever heard of such a thing?



Crazy?

Title: Re: clogged engine water intake
Post by: Alma on July 11, 2017, 09:55:43 PM

Did you ever read Dan Spurrs book?

Title: Re: clogged engine water intake
Post by: T_schlueter on December 02, 2019, 07:46:48 PM

You've answered a question of mine. I've been wondering about the purpose of an unused thru-hull near the raw water thru-hull. You use it for the galley foot pump. My hull(58) plumbs that footpump to pull from water tanks. My ice box drains to the sump box so that's covered. I like the idea of having that thru-hull available as a raw water backup.

Title: Re: clogged engine water intake
Post by: Alma on December 02, 2019, 10:59:09 PM

You are correct the foot pump works from the fresh water tanks- The salt water at the galley sink is another counter mounted sea-water pump.

Title: Re: clogged engine water intake
Post by: T_schlueter on December 04, 2019, 10:07:23 AM

Well, that's interesting! I have a unused hose connected to that thru-hull and a vacant hole near the sink. Apparently a p.o. removed the salt water hand pump.

Title: Re: clogged engine water intake
Post by: Valor on December 09, 2019, 08:45:13 AM

Hi,

If you have a scoop style  or a one piece strainer/thru- hull please get rid of it and install an unprotected thru-hull. Then purchase and install a Groco opening strainer cover and install it over the thru-hull so you can open the strainer cover and service the thru-hull.

https://marinehowto.com/external-strainers-omg/. The version I went with was the second to last one in the article.  I installed a 3/4 bronze thru-hull with a Groco opening strainer made for a 1 1/4  thru-hull.  It will take a much bigger blockage before becoming completely blocked.

I did this last year just to improve reliability. The guy who dives on my boat always pulls the pin and cleans the intake. It works very well.