Stuart seawater filter

[mm5aho]

In doing routine maintenance yesterday, I pulled the seawater filter, and started cleaning the expected gunk in there. Its a Stuart strainer. The type that has an integral seacock and strainer accessed via a screwtop.
The mesh of the strainer is supposed to be brass, but this appears de-zincified, very brittle and I managed to hole it easily.

I've done a search about and found little that suggests a replacement will be found commercially.

Unless I can find a replacement at sensible price, I'm thinking to make a new filter inner, from brass wire mesh (previous was punched sheet type) using the original end formers.

Any signposts to suppliers?

[marisca]

Geoff

Mine is the same. When mine disintegrated I trawled through the catalogues under the counter at the Bosun's Locker (SQ) and found a plastic version for a couple of £. If you are feeling creative a perforated plastic tube would do - I can't see any advantage in a metal yin.

[sahona]

A previous boat had a plastic one. I keep a small plastic net bag that originally held garlic to put round the perforated metal if it dies.
I think plastic is the future in this case...

[mm5aho]

While I agree a plastic one would have been better, there was a certain challenge in making a new brass one, so I did that. Soldering isn't so pretty, but it'll do the job.
Thanks for hints.

[mm5aho]

Now, a couple of years later, I pulled the filter again and again its perished again.
So I'm going to follow the advice and make a plastic one!

[sahona]

Probably better that the inserts were sacrificial rather than the housing! Now where is plastic on the scale?

[mm5aho]

I made a plastic one from a piece of plumbing tube, and drilled hunners 'oles intit! Seems to fit OK.

[Fingal]

We had one of these in the green boat, it seemed past its best so I was able to source a new plastic mesh strainer from ASAP Supplies at a relatively modest cost.