Thought had worked it out and fixed with new plumbing hoses etc but has not solved it unfortunately. Annoying. Especially as don’t really need strainers. Thinking of just bypassing them. And hose directly to engines

You must not use the boat too often to have the same lingering problem almost 8 yrs later......don't eliminate the strainers, but check them under way for a leaking lid etc;
if you isolated the problem to the stainers......there's not much of a problem that can't be easily fixed..........what year is your mistress?i

your first post is of water in the V birth area now its the engine compartment

correct on all fronts. Get a very short season.
im thinking it must be the seals in strainers

hi speedy. Correct. When there is enough water level that gets in and builds up in engine compartment it files through into the V berth

Post a pic of the strainer lid

Ya, might be time for an upgrade

do you think it’s worth bypassing them and connecting the hoses directly as a temporary solution ??

That's an older mistress...right?