Perko Weed Guards for Intake Water Strainers

[OilFieldMan]

http://www.jamestowndistributors.com...ater+Strainers

Has anyone used these perko weed guards? I'm looking at installing with a seacock for the bait well. I'm curious if this is just the guard or it includes the thru-hull. The description has me a bit lost.

[caper]

Includes the threaded thru hull. Saw it at West Marine.

[OilFieldMan]

thank you appreciate the info

[cdavisdb]

That is a pretty standard scoop we use in marine air conditioning, sea cock is extra. Running long periods, like air conditioners do, these will pull plenty of grass into the sea strainer(if there is one) or into the pump if not. If you are planning to use the bait well for short periods, its probably ok, If you have a lot of grass and intend to run the bait well for several days, get a strainer.

The scoop also helps keep the pump pumping while under way. Without one, the venturi effect can suck air back into the pump. A centrifugal pump (most pumps are centrifugal) won't pump squat with even a little bit of air in it.

[eggsuckindog]

I have grass around and run mine overnight with no issues, maybe depnds on the grass maybe you won't either

[OilFieldMan]

We get some eel grass around here but not too bad. I'm not worried about clogging it up, I'm more interested in the being able to feed my bait well and washdown pump while running.

And more importantly making sure when I order my parts I get everything I need to finish the project. As I work a rotation down in the oil patch

[Blue_Heron]

Originally Posted by OilFieldMan

...I'm more interested in the being able to feed my bait well and washdown pump while running.

I have one of those in 3/4" feeding my bait well and raw water washdown pump. When the boat is on plane, it picks up enough water to fill the live well with the pump turned off. I have a sea cock at the pick-up for safety, and a ball valve downstream of the live well pump for throttling flow or shutting it off altogether. I also have a small strainer before the wash down pump. The system works well.
Dave

[joshmon71]

I have zero problems with water and the round strainer, and not running the pump. in fact I have to close the valve quite a bit as the kodiak tank can overfill running it forces so much water in.

I don't like the idea of running high speed with the perko weed guard that is hydrodynamic stuffing and forcing water into my thru hull. depending on the setup, you can have the seacock valve open, livewell off with another valve, and be putting a lot of pressure on the hoses that way. your exploring the weak link in the system that way. trust me the round strainer works plenty under way. disclaimer I can state is I am in the northeast-and only run my livewell for tuna fishing, and our waters are colder. still the flow rate is incredible. but in seeing how much water flows under way, pump off, I am more than happy and very glad I chose the round strainer-exactly as the guys who built a bunch of the wicked tuna boats told me to do so.

think about it this way- the round strainer. its round with holes on the back side and all sides. water can flow in, and flow out to some extent. the perko strainer you showed has no place for the water to exit, if the thru hull seacock valve is open its forcing water in the system.

The real crux here is you should have a flanged seacock that has a valve threaded right with it. that's the big point here-flanged seacock baby and valve. you can get a 3 piece or one piece setup. your call. think I went 3 piece(thru hull,flange,seacock valve) from groco. also make sure you buy the best marine hose, I used marine exhaust hose with the wire in it and its black colored. pricey. and double clamp each connection in opposite direction with the clamps. You can be 300 pounds and stand on my thru hull and valve. Or me and one big girl on my back. if you cant do that test, you should keep a survival suit handy and ditch bag.

the choice of strainer is a minor dealio in the scheme of things here. you cant go wrong with either choice. but I like round and plenty of water gets forced in.

in fact all my below water line hoses-thru hull to livewell, and 2 bilge pumps, are marine exhaust hose with every connection double clamped. those cheap accordion bilge hoses suck. 1-2 years, cold NE winter, they crack. and add a riser loop for the bilge pump hose if you can. my bilge pumps thru hulls get submerged in a decent offshore sea.

[FishStretcher]

Thanks for the help. I looked at some Groco round strainers the other night- they seem to be much lower profile. I think I will change to that.

[76Red18]

I don't know what type of weeds you have up there but the only scoop that will prevent S W Florida weeds from entering is the Groco perforated hull strainer with access door. Go to page 3 on that link you posted. Inline strainers clog to quickly. Slotted strainers allow too many smaller weeds to enter the pump, wrap around the impeller, slow it down and burn it up. We have large die offs in the summer when they let fresh water out of Lake O that produce huge floating mats that are impossible to avoid.

To bad we don't have the square grouper floating around like we used to...