Hi All -
Located in Annapolis, MD on Chesapeake Bay.
Have a 2001 Monterrey 322 with Twin Mercruiser 5.7 / Bravo 3 setup. Several years ago port motor would slowly overheat and it became apparent raw water hose thru transom is most likely crushed by corrosion. This is a common ailment for Merc and not easily solved. Boat spent early years in Tampa Bay (so, real salt water).
Rather than fix what I considered to be a poor design anyway we installed standard thru hull intakes and "T"'d-them into the current plumbing. Yes, Merc actually has a service manual and kit to block off the thru transom setup for folks wanting thru hull intakes. But, again, did not want to risk breaking something else unfixable AND what water does flow thru the drive will help cool it.
Have run this setup for 2 years now with NO issues.
Now, the main question.
Sea Strainers .... or not.
We did not install Sea Strainer in line with the thru-hulls for these reasons:
- The drive water does not go thru a sea-strainer. It simply passes thru the mesh intake on the bottom lower unit.
- Have the standard clam shell strainers on bottom of boat for each intake.
- Feel like strainers are one more way to sink your boat if they fail.
- Current strainers on boat for genset and air conditioning have never been openned, and have never had anything in them.
- The water here in Chesapeake is silt/sand bottom, no grass.... no natural debris. About the only concern would be the yearly nettles which show in later part of summer.
Now the DILEMMA:
I have sold the boat and have a sea trial shortly and I'm sure this will be a topic for discussion.
Thoughts?
Located in Annapolis, MD on Chesapeake Bay.
Have a 2001 Monterrey 322 with Twin Mercruiser 5.7 / Bravo 3 setup. Several years ago port motor would slowly overheat and it became apparent raw water hose thru transom is most likely crushed by corrosion. This is a common ailment for Merc and not easily solved. Boat spent early years in Tampa Bay (so, real salt water).
Rather than fix what I considered to be a poor design anyway we installed standard thru hull intakes and "T"'d-them into the current plumbing. Yes, Merc actually has a service manual and kit to block off the thru transom setup for folks wanting thru hull intakes. But, again, did not want to risk breaking something else unfixable AND what water does flow thru the drive will help cool it.
Have run this setup for 2 years now with NO issues.
Now, the main question.
Sea Strainers .... or not.
We did not install Sea Strainer in line with the thru-hulls for these reasons:
- The drive water does not go thru a sea-strainer. It simply passes thru the mesh intake on the bottom lower unit.
- Have the standard clam shell strainers on bottom of boat for each intake.
- Feel like strainers are one more way to sink your boat if they fail.
- Current strainers on boat for genset and air conditioning have never been openned, and have never had anything in them.
- The water here in Chesapeake is silt/sand bottom, no grass.... no natural debris. About the only concern would be the yearly nettles which show in later part of summer.
Now the DILEMMA:
I have sold the boat and have a sea trial shortly and I'm sure this will be a topic for discussion.
Thoughts?
