Raw water strainers

[MOC]

My family and I went with our 2011 R-29 to a small Island 2hrs from our house to spend a couple of days. Another couple met up with us. Our generator an onan 5k quit several times throughout the day and following morning, due to sea grass clogging the intake side of the raw water strainer, within the hose barb. It caused the impeller to not get the proper cooling and shed three blades. The generator has 59 hrs on it. The same sea grass clogging occured on the air conditioning raw water strainer. The one side of the strainer has a wall that collects the sea grass and will not easily let it pass through to the basket. I took a video of it. I had to remove the hose from the strainer to clear the grass and regain proper water flow, three times within 24 hrs. It was a tiny amount of grass that caused this. It is a poor design and size raw water strainer. I ordered the Groco ARG-750-P raw water strainer which is much larger, more in line with the main engine strainer which never clogged even though I passed through many areas ( not by choice) with floating strands of sea grass on four different trips during the month. It is frustrating to spend your fun day working to figure out why your generator and airconditioning are not working when the strainers are clear of debris. Let alone burning up a new impeller. The R-29 is an expensive boat and I bought it for the quality and design, unfortunately the raw water strainers need to be upgraded. The cost of the new raw water strainers and hose barbs was $265.24. Certainly a small amount on a $279,000.00 boat. Mike.

 

[Andrew Custis]

Hello Mike,

Thanks for bringing this to our attention. After you called me direct on my cell phone, I had taken notes as we always listen to our customers. We are looking into different strainers for the AC and Generators on the Ranger Tugs. Always appreciate the feedback.

 

[MOC]

Reliability is everything as well as ease of maintaining the system. You have a lot of knowledge to share Andrew, wish you would finish the R29 manual. Thanks Mike

 

[jroyle]

I had the same problem on my 42' Meridian, I learned quickly to not navigate in sea grass and kelp infested areas. Funny thing about raw water intakes they suck up just about anything. How thats Rangers fault :?: I'm not so clear on. Just sayin...

 

[ziggity]

I second the wish for the R-29 manual !! I read the manual for the 27 , and it's great- can't wait for 29!

 

[MOC]

To jroyle, How does your Meridian 42 have anything to do with a Ranger tug or the sea strainers on the R29. I'm just sayin as you put it! Were they the same type or size ? As far as sea grass is concerned I would not be able to use my boat anywhere near my home or in the State of Florida for that matter. Broken strands of sea grass clump together on the surface forming lines for miles. In case you had not read carefully, the engine strainer never clogs. Lastly, I am making others aware so that they pull the the raw water hose off the strainer and check the actual hose barb for blockage. As far as who is at fault is concerned, I think the strainer is poorly designed and too small and I think Ranger should put larger ones on future boats. This is my own opinion, but one based on repeated problems with in a short period of time. As for the record I owned a PDQ 34 for years and had very few clogged sea strainers, and never had a hose barb block the grass. Mike

 

[LADYBUG TOO]

Mike,

I lost two blades. I should have picked up on the problem because as I swam by the discharge from the generator cooling circuit I thought it a bit hot. By the time I got bact to the slip the impeller was gone. Then I had a case of stupid and took two hours to change out the impeller when 30 minutes max should have done it. I needed a 9/32 ring wrench but of course I did not have one. I keep a spare impeller and the wrench handy now. I think your idea of using a larger strainer is where I am headed.

Pat, Ladybug Too