Blocked Engine Cooling Sea Water Inlet

[alahol2]

Rather than a stainless rod can you get a long knife blade down the hole to cut into the strainer slits?

 

[billcole]

Could you move / extend the engine cooling inlet hose to another seacock to allow you to move the boat to a beach to dry out.

Or even get a long enough hose to take it up the companionway and dip it over the side (with a weight on the end to keep it submerged if necessary) ?

 

[Rum Run]

Our club Commadore has had this problem with his Centaur. He now carries a length of hose with a weight on the end to go over side as a quick jury-rig inlet, and a selection of knitting needles as prodders to clear the obstruction.
My own boat has a similar Inlet grille. On one occasion I had to eject a small crab from the water pump hose tail

 

[rgsmg53]

I really like the idea of a weighted flexible hose as a jury rig. Brilliant! Thank you.

Just to answer one of the other useful suggestions - I also thought the ball valve operating lever had sheared but it was easy to see it was ok with a torch and further proved by being able to push the rod through and then (gently) trying to close the sea cock against it.

Regarding shutting down engines in the lock due to fumes, I don't think that's a rule at Portishead (happy to be proved wrong). The lock was full the other day and the only one not running their engine was a yacht under tow by another! However, it is a big lock so plenty of air to carry them away.......