Upgrading Ranger 21EC Intake Water Strainer

[harley]

I would like to upgrade my water intake strainer on my 2010 Ranger 21EC. The factory installation on my Yanmar is a fairly small Jabsco strainer located at or below waterline just under the engine on the starboard side. The quality and small size of the strainer has me a little worried and another Tugnuts member with a newer Ranger 21EC has a Vetus 140 strainer mounted on the panel between the engine and the batteries. This strainer is larger capacity, looks easier to open and clean and well made. It is also well above the waterline.

Any other owners of an older 21 do this upgrade? I need to order the strainer and I am not at the boat location right now, so wondering if anyone knows the water hose size for the raw water intake?

Another question...will having the strainer elevated cause an issue with priming the raw water system after boat has been dried out? Would you remove lid and fill with water to help prime? My current setup has a filler at filter designed to connect to a hose for filling winterizer antifreeze and I have used that connected to a hose for priming before (at low pressure of course, to avoid hydrolocking).

Thanks in advance.
Harley

 

[lproulx]

Can't help with hose size, but raw water pump is self priming. I plunk the boat in the water each spring and it pumps. Honestly never thought about fact that strainer is above water line. Any small amount of left over antifreeze in there will help lubricate the rubber impeller and improve sealing.

Larry

 

[harley]

Can't help with hose size, but raw water pump is self priming. I plunk the boat in the water each spring and it pumps. Honestly never thought about fact that strainer is above water line. Any small amount of left over antifreeze in there will help lubricate the rubber impeller and improve sealing.

Larry

Which raw water filter is in your boat? The small Jabsco under engine or the one on the electrical panel aft of the engine?

Harley

 

[bob daily]

On my 2009 yanmar same strainer set up as your's it 5/8 in inside diameter. Bob

 

[harley]

On my 2009 yanmar same strainer set up as your's it 5/8 in inside diameter. Bob

Have you thought about putting in a nicer strainer?

 

[bob daily]

Harley, I haven't really thought about it as I've never had any problem with the stock one, I do clean it at the end of each day of fishing along with some other maintenance for early morning departures.
Instead of replacing I would just add a second strainer and have a primary and secondary one, that way if the primary got fouled I could just pull the strainer out and keep going with the second one!
Bob

 

[harley]

Harley, I haven't really thought about it as I've never had any problem with the stock one, I do clean it at the end of each day of fishing along with some other maintenance for early morning departures.
Instead of replacing I would just add a second strainer and have a primary and secondary one, that way if the primary got fouled I could just pull the strainer out and keep going with the second one!
Bob

My concern is it is low in the boat and delicate. I feel like I am going to break it taking the lid off to clean. Your solution is not bad...keep an extra one ready to go. Probably about $25. It all depends on how dirty your water is....we pick up little bits of kelp a lot. Have you see the photo of the newer method the factory used?

 

[bob daily]

Harley, You are correct it is not the best quality one on the market and care must be taken to keep from damaging it! As far as location, I shut the hull valve and clean, sometimes I will open the hull valve prior to putting back together to ensure that the hull strainer is not blocked with kelp or other materials. With the strainer above the water line I would not be able to do this, I have a fresh water wash down that I can back flow to clean the hull strainer if needed. I have not seen the other strainer used on the newer tugs but on the older ones they used brass strainer with wing nuts, and a much bigger basket. I'm sure when I need to replace it will be one of better quality. Bob

 

[harley]

The photos in a gallery by user "Newf" gallery2.php?g2_itemId=78263
shows the installation of a Vetus filter (about $90 from Fisheries Supply) that has about double the mesh screen area and fits nicely on the panel between motor and batteries. You should still be able to back flush from there.
I just feel the factory strainer is not well matched to the size of the engine and water flow. Not to mention quality.
Harley

gallery2.php?g2_itemId=78263

Harley, You are correct it is not the best quality one on the market and care must be taken to keep from damaging it! As far as location, I shut the hull valve and clean, sometimes I will open the hull valve prior to putting back together to ensure that the hull strainer is not blocked with kelp or other materials. With the strainer above the water line I would not be able to do this, I have a fresh water wash down that I can back flow to clean the hull strainer if needed. I have not seen the other strainer used on the newer tugs but on the older ones they used brass strainer with wing nuts, and a much bigger basket. I'm sure when I need to replace it will be one of better quality. Bob