[C320-list] Raw Water Filter

[Rick Sulewski]

Bill,
Yes, PiB can be a challenge going into mid-July thru Early Sept.  as well as
some of the marinas on the  South Side of Kelleys Island when the wind
shifts out of the S. West and the grass collects near the  shoreline piers.
That is precisely why I moved to a grill attached to the freshwater intake.
Still check the filter if I need to monitor my AC intake filter more out of
curiosity  if there is no current or wind when I am tied up to a dock. I
have not had a freshwater intake blockage in around the islands since I
installed the grill. Before the grill, I was pretty good at anticipating the
blockages within a minute or two of leaving the PiB mooring field as the
grass was either picked up or escaping from the keel in addition to the
other balls of grass dislodged by departing boats. Soon got better at
noticing when the engine exhaust note changed as the exhaust water flow
ceased. Then the drill then involved  diving to clear the blockage or
disconnecting & removing the intake hose from the freshwater seacock to
extract debris or  blow it out the intake with the dinghy pump. The mushroom
grill is the best way to go because underway the grass slides away without
being sucked into the intake.
Rick

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Bill
Culbertson
Sent: Friday, March 07, 2014 10:07 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Raw Water Filter

Hi Rick,

Is your "shallow mooring field in Western Lake Erie" at Put-in-Bay?
Every time I go, I have to remove/clean/replace the raw water filter.

 -bill culbertson
  Harmony #859
  Toledo Beach Marina, MI


________________________________
 From: Rick Sulewski <rsulewski at bex.net>
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com 
Sent: Tuesday, February 11, 2014 10:51 PM
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Raw Water Filter
 

Ron,

I Cannot help you with the raw water filter installation other than to
stress that the filter/hoses should be below the water line so you avoid
airlock issues. Having said that, I find  your plan to install the bronze
screen (grill) on the hull below the intake seacock to be  most promising
and may likely solve your problem, providing that the grill  (screen) holes
are small enough to keep most debris such as grass roots from entering the
intake while large enough to allow adequate water flow into the intake while
the grass passes over the grill while underway.

I ended up installing  a 3 to 4 inch bronze mushroom type grill over engine
water intake port. The grill is attached with 3 shallow screws so I may
easily remove the grill if necessary. After 6 years, I have not had any
occasions to regret the grill arrangement that eliminated having to clear
the raw water filter in mid-trip, or having to dive under the hull  a couple
of times each season to unblock the intake due to picking up a large wad of
grass and even roots in a shallow mooring field on Western Lake Erie.  I
considered a removable grill that swings down for cleaning, but the location
of  my intake is right above the prop shaft did not provide adequate
clearance. The bronze grill cost me less than $10. 

Rick
My-Ria C320 95 #277


-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Ron Squires
Sent: Tuesday, February 11, 2014 10:04 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: [C320-list] Raw Water Filter


I need the advise of those who may have dealt with this problem before, and
hopefully successfully. We sail our '94 C320 on a large inland lake. Our bay
is shallow and the first 400 yards and obviously the last 400 that we need
to cross to our marina is by mid July, something akin to a weed soup. It
gets so bad that the stock raw water filter(the one right on top of the
thru-hull) gets plugged with weed after one pass in or out. This being an
early boat has a 1/2 in flush inlet, with a Forespar ball valve(not a
thru-hull valve, just a Marlon ball valve), and the filter screwed on top,
then a 90 degree fitting to the hose. The ball valve needs to be replaced
anyway so what I'm thinking is;

1. Replace the stock setup with a 3/4 flush fitting and proper valve to help
prevent weed packing inside the inlet.
2. Install a bronze pickup screen on the outside of the hull(one that can be
opened for cleaning), already purchased.
3. Install a larger capacity raw water filter, I'm thinking Forespar 7". I
think these have used later model boats.

What I'd like advise on is the actual installation of the larger raw water
filter. Can somebody post pics on the website showing where the Forespar
filter unit is mounted. The boat is on the hard for the northeast winter so
I have until sometime in April to sort out the underwater installs.

Thanks in advance for your input.

Ron & Michelle
Island Time - Hull #26 _/)
Sent from my iPhone 5