Trapped wind

[Networks]

We have recently installed a water maker which is working well, however when sailing or motoring with even the slightest swell we draw air in through the skin fitting causing air locks in the water maker.
I have thought of fitting a strainer / scoop fitting in place of the standard skin fitting when next lifted out to try and prevent the problem, similar to this http://www.chmarine.com/acatalog/Scoop_Grated_Brass_Skin_Fittings.html
Someone has advised me to fit it "forward" facing so that it scoops water, what are your thoughts?
Is this likely to resolve my problem and if so which way around should I fit it, or can someone suggest a better solution to stop my trapped wind, ideally something that does not require a lift out.
Hopefully one of you more experienced sailors can help.

 

[KellysEye]

The only thing I can think of is run it when sailing and stay on the tack that keeps the throughull in the water.

 

[oldvarnish]

Our water maker Ts off the engine cooling inlet, which is well immersed whatever the angle of heel etc. Hasn't been a problem so far.

 

[jdc]

Probably the best solution would be, as O.V. suggests, to choose a different skin fitting to take the inlet water from, but maybe you could experiment with an automatic air vent of the type fitted to sealed domestic hot water systems. They are available in DZR brass so might be good for salt(1). I haven't tried one myself, but it looks plausible. Fit it between the inlet low pressure pump and the HPRO pump.

http://www.spiraxsarco.com/pdfs/sb/s31_06.pdf

(1) The body is made from DZR Brass to BS 2872 CZ132. According to http://www.copperinfo.co.uk/alloys/...ection-7-brasses-for-corrosion-resistance.pdf "CZ132 has been accepted by Lloyds Register of Shipping, Yacht and Small craft Department, for through-hull fittings in seawater service".

 

[Networks]

Thanks for your replies, the air vent is worth looking in to in more detail.
Our water inlet is approx 200mm to port of the keel and in line with the back of the keel, so I am very confident we are not heeling over such that it is out of the water, also we still have the problem when under motor. It seems our modern flat bottomed AWB has small air bubbles running under the hull with even the slightest swell.
Any opinions on the strainer type of skin fitting, is that likely to reduce the air bubbles being pulled in?

 

[Tradewinds]

I had an inline filter with a 'burp' button on the top just before the watermaker.

Similar to this

Only had to use it in very boisterous conditions.

My inlet was 500mm ahead of my engine inlet so in a good position.