Engine Water Intake Scoop

[steveallan]

Thinking of going into the French canals later this year.
Will be lifting the boat out in April.
Would it be better to replace the intake scoop with a standard skin fitting so I could rod out the intake if required?
Also will be fitting a second filter, is there any significant benefit in fitting another intake for this?

 

[Tranona]

Thinking of going into the French canals later this year.
Will be lifting the boat out in April.
Would it be better to replace the intake scoop with a standard skin fitting so I could rod out the intake if required?
Also will be fitting a second filter, is there any significant benefit in fitting another intake for this?

Yes, remove the scoop and arrange for a Vetus type strainer above the waterline immediately above the intake. There is a basket filter in the strainer which can be cleaned easily and a rod can be used to clear anything blocking the intake.

 

[vyv_cox]

Based on our experience it would be well worthwhile. We did the Canal du Midi in May, when the previous winter's leaves were still lying on the bottom. Every time we had to rev hard a large cloud of leaves was stirred up, many of them getting into the engine inlet. We rodded ours out countless times. At the time we had the type of strainer that is attached to the skin fitting and valve, which although since replaced with the type Tranona suggests, was very useful as the rod, a length of brazing rod, could be pushed straight through after removing the lid.

 

[wiggy]

I find a dinghy pump clears blockages really well and with the right size fitting can be pushed onto the inlet on the Vetus strainer regardless of distance to skin fitting.

 

[boatmike]

I agree with Wiggy. Leave the outer strainer scoop in place as it stops stones and twigs, but certainly fit a basket filter. Keep a dinghy pump handy and blow the rubbish out rather than rodding it. Far more effective. On one boat I had the previous owner lived on canals and had introduced a 2 way diverter valve into the pipe between the strainer and inlet feeding from the fresh water tank. Any blockage meant just reversing the valve and giving a few pumps on the handle.....simples!
edit: 2 way valve and Bilge pump..... sorry!

 

[blampied]

Thinking of going into the French canals later this year.
Will be lifting the boat out in April.
Would it be better to replace the intake scoop with a standard skin fitting so I could rod out the intake if required?
Also will be fitting a second filter, is there any significant benefit in fitting another intake for this?

Not exactly an answer to your question, but related.
On the canals I noted that much of the debris in the water strainer got sucked in while the boat was in locks with the engine idling (that is rising locks where the in incoming water stirs everything up in the lock, dropping locks are fine) where you feel safe to do so turn the motor/s off until after the lock has filled.

Regards
Paul

 

[vyv_cox]

Not exactly an answer to your question, but related.
On the canals I noted that much of the debris in the water strainer got sucked in while the boat was in locks with the engine idling (that is rising locks where the in incoming water stirs everything up in the lock, dropping locks are fine) where you feel safe to do so turn the motor/s off until after the lock has filled.

Regards
Paul

Where we had our greatest problem was when we ran aground and needed to motor hard to get off. Our draught of 1.4 metres was mostly acceptable in the centre of Canal du Midi but whenever dropping crew off, berthing alongside and in a few places even in the centre of the canal there were frequent groundings. In accordance with the laws governing mishaps, hard motoring just before a lock (after dropping off the shore party) usually resulted in the engine overheating just as it was most needed, trying to get alongside in the lock.

 

[Anchorite]

For motoring on the Rhone I added a second water intake well forward of the mast: this led into a tee and was used with both supplies open and has proved very useful. As has the dinghy pump (after Valence where the weed in the Port waves a welcome to all arrivals!).