Rebuilding A Sea Strainer

[Maine Sail]

Due to my cracked Westerbeke bell housing I am doing a bunch of other small projects associated with the engine.

I just finished rebuilding my sea strainer and posted it on my site for those interested (link below).

I'm sure not many ever do this, or thought about it, but the gaskets do get old and can eventually begin to leak. Unfortunately most strainers are below the waterline so the occasional rebuild is a good & safe practice.

Rebuilding a Sea Strainer (LINK)

Clean & ready for re-assembly:

All done:

[NOLAsailing]

Great article as always.

As an anecdote about strainers. When I bought my boat, I tuned the motor up. Part of that tune up was emptying the strainer. After the tune up, I was intermittently overheating. I could NOT figure out what was wrong. Sometimes it would pump, sometimes it wouldn't. It turned out that the cork gasket on the strainer was shot - it broke the seal and the air leak prevented the coolant water from circulating. So, replace those gaskets folks!

[Valiente]

Wrong, Maine. I have the same type and did this a couple of years ago. Access for me is easy as it's mounted on a bulkhead forward of the engine. I spent most of my time cleaning the filter (I'm in fresh water), and in replacing the hoses, taping the threads on the drain screws, and changing and reseating the o-rings.

I didn't do quite that minty a cleaning job on the body as it wasn't necessary. They are a nice bit of kit, those Perko strainers.