Water Maker Strainer

[hezi973]

Hello, I am planning on full time cruising to remote destinations and just picked 2 seawater pro water makers (12v and 230v for redundancy and fast water production). I am looking for two strainers and would love to hear experienced opinions.


Everyone are installing the little plastic ones and perhaps it is enough. But, it is plastic which degrade over time in salty environment, it has super small capacity and can form blockage (even burn a pump), it needs to be checked frequently.

The little Groco or Perko brass, while expensive up front ($200 a piece+-) and heavy, it would outlast all the plastic ones, has bigger capacity, and has less potential to fail and sink a boat.

Another option is two plastic strainer. The first is large capacity for large debris and the smaller next in line for fine particles. It is light, cheap, and I can buy spares that will not add much weight. Please check the links below. I would love to hear your thoughts. My watermakers are 40 gallon/Hr and 17 gallon /Hr. Certainly not a constant duty items...

Do I go the heavy, expensive proven way or go the small plastic one or 2 in line filter. If it was for aircons I wound think twice. These can work for long hours or days on shore power. This is few hours every several days. I intend to run them simultaneously to keep the membrane in good working order.

Thanks in advance!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...FXHZ70BS&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...LIR2J3LQ&psc=1

https://www.go2marine.com/Groco-Bron...e=307&type=758

https://www.perko.com/catalog/underw...ater_strainer/

[Matt Johnson]

https://www.mauriprosailing.com/us/p...8aAkGeEALw_wcB

Im a bit biased, but I do really like this Vetus model of strainer.

[hezi973]

Very nice! All my Google searches didn't yield this model. I will definitely look into this one. Why are you biased?

[hezi973]

I posted this question on another thread and a user named @HopCar posted the text I posted below. I thought it's valuable and took the liberty to copy paste here. Thanks @HopCar


You might consider changing your external scoop strainer to one of these self cleaning scoop strainers. Many boats are using these with no internal strainers.They also have an opening hatch to allow you to easily clean growth from inside your thru-hull.

https://www.groco.net/products/raw-w...er/aphs-series

[Matt Johnson]

Originally Posted by hezi973

Very nice! All my Google searches didn't yield this model. I will definitely look into this one. Why are you biased?

I'm sponsored by Vetus. But it's what I'd have due to cost, weight, and quality regardless of my affiliation.

The external strainers work, but I don't like having to get in the water to clean it.

[hezi973]

Well, thank you for your honesty. I was checking the out brand and short of the model you sent, some of the other models looks identical to Seaflow models.

https://www.amazon.com/Seaflo-Coolin...kaAhHIEALw_wcB

How is the model you sent differ?

[Matt Johnson]

Originally Posted by hezi973

Well, thank you for your honesty. I was checking the out brand and short of the model you sent, some of the other models looks identical to Seaflow models.

https://www.amazon.com/Seaflo-Coolin...kaAhHIEALw_wcB

How is the model you sent differ?

The lid's clear plastic can crack if they aren't exercised often. Vetus does offer an aluminum top 330 model, but the one I linked protects against this without the use of metal or the cost.