Sherwood raw water strainer

[rushman]

My river over the last couple of years has become very weedy. Not so bad where we do most of our skiing but horrible to get in and out of my dock. I clean the transmission cooler almost daily and always find weeds there and I am getting worried that some are getting into the engine and I do not want that. I found this Sherwood Strainer and it looks like what I need to help prevent weeds from getting to the raw water impeller and beyond to the engine.

Does anyone use these??? Am I right to be concerned about weeds getting past the transmission cooler? Does anyone else have to deal with bad weed problems (aquatic weed problems LOL).

Kevin

[River Rat]

While we don't have the weed problem you describe, I have used a similar stainer for 3 years on my boat. It needs cleaning 4 to 5 times a summer--so I am glad it is there. Otherwise that stuff would get cycled through the cooling system and perhaps clog up something important (like the tranny cooler). It takes all of 2 minutes to clean. Mine is mounted just downstream of the raw water intake.

[NorCaliBu]

...Mine is mounted just downstream of the raw water intake.

Same here. It was an easy install. While I had the whole thing apart I also added a raw water intake shut-off vavle to the thru-hull so that I could clean the strainer while on the water.

[Malibu16]

My river over the last couple of years has become very weedy. Not so bad where we do most of our skiing but horrible to get in and out of my dock. I clean the transmission cooler almost daily and always find weeds there and I am getting worried that some are getting into the engine and I do not want that. I found this Sherwood Strainer and it looks like what I need to help prevent weeds from getting to the raw water impeller and beyond to the engine.

Does anyone use these??? Am I right to be concerned about weeds getting past the transmission cooler? Does anyone else have to deal with bad weed problems (aquatic weed problems LOL).

Kevin

I installed one between my raw water intake the the impeller... works great and catches all the weeds and junk. One issue I did have is that the clear plastic housing developed cracks... I think from the heat of the engine. Customer service at Sherwood was OUTSTANDING and they replaced the cracked piece with one phone call. I would recommend one... cheap insurance for preventing blocked cooling lines.

[kiley]

While we don't have the weed problem you describe, I have used a similar stainer for 3 years on my boat. It needs cleaning 4 to 5 times a summer--so I am glad it is there. Otherwise that stuff would get cycled through the cooling system and perhaps clog up something important (like the tranny cooler). It takes all of 2 minutes to clean. Mine is mounted just downstream of the raw water intake.

Sounds like the same set up as mine. Works like a champ!

[jimw]

I don't have one but would like to add one. We have Hydrilla in our lake.

I'm thinking it would be better to install it after the raw water pump to catch all of that rubber when your impellar fails.

[NorCaliBu]

I'm thinking it would be better to install it after the raw water pump to catch all of that rubber when your impellar fails.

I thought about that too but there really isn't a good spot for it (at least on a DD). That and I didn't want the strainer that close to the heat of the motor, I was afraid it would cause the plastic to crack. You should be changing youir impeller every year then you won't have to worry about it tossing pieces into your tranny cooler.

It's an old debate that we've had several times here (so we don't need to have it again)...whether to change you impeller every year, every other year, every 3rd year,... There's a member here who lost an impeller and very shortly after that siezed his engine. You do what you like, I'll change my $30 impeller every spring.

[rushman]

Thanks for the replies. I am going to order one for sure. Is it the 1.25" one I need?

[NorCaliBu]

I am going to order one for sure. Is it the 1.25" one I need?

I used a Groco 1". Your raw water intake hose is 1¼" ID so get 1"NPT - 1¼" hose barb fittings to go in the strainer.

Pic of my strainer is here.

Pic of the shut-off valve is here.

[Chaabo]

I installed one between my raw water intake the the impeller... works great and catches all the weeds and junk. One issue I did have is that the clear plastic housing developed cracks... I think from the heat of the engine. Customer service at Sherwood was OUTSTANDING and they replaced the cracked piece with one phone call. I would recommend one... cheap insurance for preventing blocked cooling lines.

I had not so much luck with the Sherwood customer support.

After 2 seasons of use my cap shows cracks all around the threaded area (supposely caused by the heat underneath the motor box).

Sherwood would not replace mine. Maybe their customer support is subject only to US customers.

(Even though I offered them to pay for a replacement cap + shipping.)

That is sad!