sea strainer location and plumbing?

[e31]

I am planning on moving my engine raw water intake and adding a sea strainer during the winter layover. I am cruising the coast of Maine, and have been warned about the eel grass getting in the system.

A mechanic I talked to mentioned that the 1" hose from the seacock to the strain should be routed above the waterline so any debris plug could be pushed backward, out thru the thruhull.

At what height does the strainer get mounted, above or below the waterline? And should the line from the seacock to the strain be fixed above the waterline, or should I just leave a service loop long enough to pull it straight above and "plunge" clean?

How are you doing it?

[capttb]

On my boat it is adjacent to seacock, about 2" above it and 6" lateral, below waterline, anti-siphon loop on next piece of hose going to pump. Hose to strainer is about 9" with 90 degree bend, never had a plug in the short run and probably that short section of hose may get it above WL.
Handy spot is better & next to seacock so you remember to clean often. Every couple weeks if you don''t see a lot of floating pieces of grass, every couple days if you do. I was in large harbor overnight last week with lots of stuff floating and a long motor in & out and collected a small salad in 24 hrs.

[elhanley]

I have my strainer above the wl w/ a flex hose to the seacock, so that I can disconnect it at the inlet to the strainer without taking in any water, and can run a flex clean-out rod thru the seacock and out through the hull strainer.