We have a similar problem here in Singapore, especially on the north
side of the island, where we used to keep our boat in brackish water.
The marine growth was horrendous. Our solution was:
- Simplify the plumbing so that we could take it apart easily and rod
out the hoses. We eliminated long runs of 5/8-inch hose by moving the
manifolds. Thus we have only short pieces (easy to clean). For the
longer runs we have 1-1/4 and 1-1/2 inch hose (take longer to clog up
and are easy to clean. We also dumped the stainless manifolds, building
replacements out of schedule 80 PVC pipe fittings (much stronger than
sked 40). Our design for these has a removable end cap so we can rod
out the manifolds.
- Run Marsolve (an acid made for heat exchangers) through the heat
exchangers occasionally.
- We drilled a hole in the top of the strainer and installed a valve
with a garden hose fitting. Once a week (if we do not forget) we run
fresh water from the hot water tank through the system to kill any
growth--seems to work OK as long as we do not forget to do it regularly.
BTW, our problems started when we started to live aboard. When we did
not live aboard, we closed off the air-con seacock at the end of each
weekend.
The stagnant seawater killed the growth and we rarely had to clean the
system.
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-trawler-world-list@samurai.com
[mailto:owner-trawler-world-list@samurai.com] On Behalf Of Richard
Armstrong
<snip>
A related question:
I am a liveaboard with 3 AC/Heat units operating from 2 sea water pumps.
The units get clogged with algae etc. especially when we are in
salt/brackish water.
Does anyone have suggestions as to how to set up cleaning methods?
Has this subject been dealt with before?
I have tried to pump Clorox through. It works but no good for the
impeller on the pump I used for it.
Chlorine tablets in strainer cause corrosion on other metal in that area
of the bilge
As always, I am sure someone has some sage and effective advice
<snip>
We have a similar problem here in Singapore, especially on the north
side of the island, where we used to keep our boat in brackish water.
The marine growth was horrendous. Our solution was:
1. Simplify the plumbing so that we could take it apart easily and rod
out the hoses. We eliminated long runs of 5/8-inch hose by moving the
manifolds. Thus we have only short pieces (easy to clean). For the
longer runs we have 1-1/4 and 1-1/2 inch hose (take longer to clog up
and are easy to clean. We also dumped the stainless manifolds, building
replacements out of schedule 80 PVC pipe fittings (much stronger than
sked 40). Our design for these has a removable end cap so we can rod
out the manifolds.
2. Run Marsolve (an acid made for heat exchangers) through the heat
exchangers occasionally.
3. We drilled a hole in the top of the strainer and installed a valve
with a garden hose fitting. Once a week (if we do not forget) we run
fresh water from the hot water tank through the system to kill any
growth--seems to work OK as long as we do not forget to do it regularly.
BTW, our problems started when we started to live aboard. When we did
not live aboard, we closed off the air-con seacock at the end of each
weekend.
The stagnant seawater killed the growth and we rarely had to clean the
system.
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-trawler-world-list@samurai.com
[mailto:owner-trawler-world-list@samurai.com] On Behalf Of Richard
Armstrong
<snip>
A related question:
I am a liveaboard with 3 AC/Heat units operating from 2 sea water pumps.
The units get clogged with algae etc. especially when we are in
salt/brackish water.
Does anyone have suggestions as to how to set up cleaning methods?
Has this subject been dealt with before?
I have tried to pump Clorox through. It works but no good for the
impeller on the pump I used for it.
Chlorine tablets in strainer cause corrosion on other metal in that area
of the bilge
As always, I am sure someone has some sage and effective advice
<snip>
