Saildrive (120S) - additional water intake

Ammonite

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What's the best / preferred way of connecting a second water intake to a 120S saildrive setup? I get a lot of weed hung up on the prop in my home berth which has completely blocked the intakes on several occasions. I can get round it by using a long boathook to pull most of it off before starting as well as keeping the seacock closed for a few seconds until the prop and rope cutter have chopped it to bits but I had what I think was a plastic bag around it at the weekend and I'd like a backup. I have another thru hull I can use but like the idea of being able to select either. Do I just install a T piece and a couple if hosetails beneath the strainer? What's the neatest way of doing it without restricting the flow or encouraging wildlife to grow in the pipes, or do I just cap off the saildrive? I read somewhere that Volvo suggest the latter isn't a good idea as it reduces the cooling effect although as its submerged I can't believe it would make much difference. Thanks
 
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Tranona

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Essential for water to enter the saildrive housing even if not used for cooling as it is used for cooling the drive. Simple y valve before entry to the water pump to select which intake to use,
 

Ammonite

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Essential for water to enter the saildrive housing even if not used for cooling as it is used for cooling the drive. Simple y valve before entry to the water pump to select which intake to use,
Thanks Tranona. With a second strainer or forget about this as its for emergency use only? Also, when I said cap off the saildrive I was referring to the saildrive seacock not the intakes so the saildrive itself would still be full of water. Is it really that critical to have a flow of water through the saildrive itself i.e an open seacock?
 
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Tranona

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No, just full of water. If it is convenient think I would have the Y valve before the strainer, but guess it depends where the other inlet is located. The pump does not know where the water is coming from so should prime from either.
 
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