Sea strainer - Ok to open?

[mattgrob]

2001 45.2SO, 2nd owner

I'd like to open the sea strainer - I can see some seaweed and crud in there, and want to clean it out. You can see this on the attached photo.

However once I take the nut off, the top is not coming off easily.  Maybe it's glued shut?  Is there some trick to open it - or is that maybe a bad idea?   I can't get it to come off and I'm reluctant to really dig into it with a screwdriver or something.

Btw - is it typically mounted below the waterline so that if you open it, you have to first close the seacock otherwise water starts coming out?  Appears to be below, or very close to waterline.

Haven't done this before on this boat (have on an earlier Beneteau but the arrangement was different)

So basically:

-how do you open that thing on your Jeanneau?
-is it below the waterline on yours?
-any other sea-strainer words of wisdom?

thanks for any info.


Matt

[vasko]

from the picture it looks like sekaflex has been used... better get some sikaflex in hand before try to open it or replacement stainer... in worst case scenario if you break it and cannot fix\replace you can connect the two pipes together temporary

generally the steps of open should be:

1. close engine seacock
2. open and clean stainer
3. fill it and the hoses with water
4. close it tight 
5. open engine seacock
4. run the engine - put some revs and make sure water is spitting properly from the exhaust and the stainer do not let air getting in

in brief if the if the weeds are not many just leave it as if the things go wrong is long and anoying job to fix it and the boat will not able to sail until fixed properly

[Damir]

Hi mattgrob

Normaly first close seacok remowe nut (you removed) cover must going up  pull up, under cover is rubber O ring.

Be careful with pull up (maybe knock with piece hout not hard and try turn. Sometime round bolt and cover is dirt & salt.

before assemling grease nut & rubber with vaseline but don't remove rubber O ring.

Regards

Damir

[alex1949]

Hi Mattgrob,

A free to clean water strainer is a must. It may be annoying fix it now but if you catch something bigger (it happened to me) you than must use the option to clean and get reed of the strange element. You should fight with it now.

It looks old and may not been opened for long time.

Get a short piece of ss/plastic pipe that will fit both ends that comes into strainer, this will be your future guarantee spare part just in case, as Vasco said, in emergency no need for strainer for limited operation time.

Close water supply and try to open the strainer even by using force, you must open it or take it off and get a replacement.

Taking the strainer off and putting your replacement emergency short pipe in it's place will allow you to work away from boat using dissolving materials to help loosing off the strainer's cup.

As to the picture it really looks like under sea water line, usually it is above but I see no problem with it,needs only extra care that it works and seal properly otherwise danger of weak part that may ingresse  sea water into your boat.

Go for it, to my humble opinion it is a must and danger of a damaged engine due to sea cooling water starvation is a good reason doing it.

Good luck

Alex

[aussieodyssey]

Mattgrob

I have a 45.2 and it looks the same as yours . I think this is above the waterline , but i always shut the seacock before i take the top off . It does have a gasket under the lid and it does need a bit of encouragement to get it it release . Follow Vasco's steps and you should get it done .

Greg

[mattgrob]

Ok thanks everyone that's quite helpful.