This is what a internal strainer looks like. Also note the 1 piece bronze sweeping elbows. They are far less prone to plugging up before the debris hits the internal strainer basket. I prefer to see a bare minimum of 1" for an engine intake.


Internal Strainer Tips:


1 - Make your intake hose, from the seacock to the strainer long enough so that when removed from the strainer inlet it can be held above the static waterline with one hand and reamed out with the other hand. If it plugs between the strainer and seacock remove hose from strainer inlet, hold it high and straight, and use a pre-made "blockage-stick" to push the blockage back into the ocean. If done right this takes less than two-three minutes.


2- Use a minimum of a 1" intake seacock, intake hose and 1" strainer, I much prefer the bronze Perko or Groco strainers to the all plastic models.


3 - Any elbows in the intake path to the strainer should be sweeping 90's (they are gently curved 90's) not hard turn 90's.


4 - Any of these bronze 90's should be one-piece not a male adapter and an elbow. Using sweep-ells helps get any crud passed to the strainer basket and not stuck in-between.