Seawater Filter - Do I need one?

[dougln]

I have a Volvo 2002 and a saildrive. The raw water cooling intake is through the saildrive leg and then via 16mm hose direct to the impellor driven water pump. I am not sure whether this installation should have a separate water intake filter/strainer between the saildrive and the water pump. Can anyone advise. If one is required, does it need to be mounted higher than the engine, or doesn't it matter?
Thanks.

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

IMO you should always have some form of primary filter between the water and your impeller. It costs very little beyond effort to check the primary filter now and again, especially compared to the cost of impellers.

 

[KREW2]

I fitted a vetus raw water strainer on the advice of a marine engineer. If I can do it anyone can, all instuctions are in the box. I believe 2002 engines have a 5/8ths pipe. I was sold the wrong size first time round so check it out before you buy.

 

[gianenrico]

My old boat had same engine/transmission; was fitted in origin with a Plastimo water filter: it kept pouring water from the supposed seal betwen the two halves (17 years ago); I adopted a larger, cup-with center-top screw and ring seal which has since been absolutly water tight; I also mounted it just an inch above water level, as the suction exerted by the pump had no problem in sucking the water in. On warious occasions I found scale, small algae and once a tiny fish in the filter: better there than in the engine.
By the way, I suggest You adopt the Speed Seal water pump cover: euros (or Pounds) well spent as the paper gasket of the original cover is a true p..n in the ..s to change in navigation; of course no connenction with the company, just a satisfied customer who ordered the kit also for the Yanmar 56 HP engine on the new boat.
Cheers,
Gianenrico

 

[Twister_Ken]

Yes.

 

[aluijten]

The 'official' statement of Volvo is that a Seawater Filter is not required because of the depth at which the saildrive leg takes the water.

On my boat I did not have a filter. It used to be like that for 13 years. As my engine is fresh water cooled I was curious to how my heat-exchanger would look like from the inside.
Frankly it was not too bad. Some bits of sea-shell were collected, but not much. Nevertheless I did put in a filter, and do recommend it. If it doesn't help it will also not hurt.

Arno

 

[DickB]

My saildrive raw water inlet recently blocked, so it does happen. I do have and would strongly recommend having a strainer. It does not get much debris but over the year it would be enough to clog the heat exchanger... Go for it... They are not expensive and could save you a bunch of trouble.

 

[oldsaltoz]

G'day Neil, welcome to the YBW forums.

We have twin Volvo saildrives on our cat, both have strainers and both have water intakes thru' the hull not fed via the leg.

They don't get a lot of rubbish in them but do prevent some entering the system so are doing a good job, and we have never had any impeller problems, change them out every couple of years.

Avagoodweekend......

 

[pappaecho]

Stopped at the Folly on the River Medina for 3 days last week, and suddenly the input to the flush toilet would not work.
Finally disconnected the input hose and switched on the sea cock to have no flow of water at all. Coathanger brought out solid mass of green seaweed which regularily flows up and down the Medina with the tide.
i would fit a strainer to any seawater input just as it is nice an easy to clear of anything gets up the spout!

 

[SvenglishTommy]

My Volvo MD2010 doesn't have a strainer (through hull intake), but I'm thinking of fitting one as I dont like the idea of what could get up into my heat exchanger.