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From: janet_sturgis (no email)
Date: Fri Aug 06 2004 - 00:03:51 EDT
My 1976 Bristol 32 still has her original Universal Atomic 4 which hums
along very well. As far as I know, she has had no trouble with life in the
Great and Finger Lakes, even with the build up of zebra mussels in the last
decade, and one grand trip up and down the ICW all the way down through the
Bahamas and back to Central New York...all with just a small external
thru-hull type strainer on her raw water intake.
The boat yard experts want to install a Forespar strainer the size of Long
Island (between 5-6 inches in diameter) which I have no doubt will need lots
of extra fittings to adjust to the small hose size for the engine intake.
They also want to install it in front of rather than after the water pump,
so any debris from impeller breakdown will go uncaught anyway.
My plan since buying the boat last summer is to liveaboard (doing that now),
refit the boat somewhat to my taste and requirements as a singlehander, and
set off for some extended cruising, down the ICW, including some coastal
hops, at least to the Bahamas in the next year or two. I may loider a bit,
enjoying gunkholing along the way. No rush, as I just retired.
What do you think? Is this a case of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it?" Or
do I really need to ward off weeds that threated the integrity of my engine?
Last thing I want is an overheated, broken-down auxiliary to deal with...all
jammed up with gunk.
Jan Sturgis
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