Sea Strainers - Who needs them?
 

Just wondering who uses sea strainers and why? My boat never has had them.

good question, will enjoy reading the responses

I installed one as I was having seaweed and small debris pluging up my oil cooler and creating overheating problems. Haven't had any problems since installing the sea strainer.

Will they filter out sand?

no strainer will filter out sand. if they do they will have additional filtration not designed from origin. strainers are a must. they keep your cooling system free of harmfull debri.
hardin marines are the most user friendly and not too pricey either. their also a good way to add a fresh water flush to your saltwater cooling system

I believe that KPM strainers will filter sand

everyone should have them, absolutely amazes me that they are not standard in a mercruiser package

i beleive that filter element is similiar to 3m scotch brite and is an after thought

I think every boat should have sea strainers, especially here in the Chesapeake Bay. The Bay is very shallow in a lot of areas and under water sea weed is sometimes plentiful. After installing one a lot of people are amazed to find stuff in it they never knew could get in there.

John S.:D

Mine filter out sand and fine shell particals, that would otherwise go through my impellers.

I ve never really gotten much in mine ,but I would not run with out them ,Just wish they would keep the sand out of the block:( I have the hardin like Monstaa talked about just on my innercoolers and the gil on the motors came on the boat

Wish I had strainers in my '93 bravo/top gun last summer while running in a poker run on seneca lake (new york). Took in sea weed in stbd. motor oil cooler, just enough to notice "slight" reduction in water pressure, rise in water/oil temps. End result was 2 blown head gaskets from steam pockets forming in top corners of heads at #2 and #7 cylinders. strainers are going in now. Cig. owners manual says bravo equip set-ups don't require strainers ! I am amazed at what I have seen in strainers in other friends boats.

I knew I shouldn't have ask! lol - Now I am going to have to get strainers. Thanks Ted.

Strip, how do you like the clamps on GIL strainers? I'm thinking about getting one.