My Nordic came with a flat strainer covering the raw water intake thru-hull. It also came with a Vetus basket strainer. In 11 years I believe I once found a single blade of eel grass in the basket. I'm installing a transmission cooler, and have decided to do away with the Vetus strainer. To keep it would make the hose routing significantly more circuitous. Also, the two short smooth barbs where the hose connects to the strainer have always made me a bit nervous.

It made me wonder whether it isn't a better alternative for any boat to use an external strainer and eliminate the extra breaks involved with the basket. It also eliminates any risk of air leaks from the top of the strainer, and the overall need to check and clean the basket periodically.

Maybe there are good reasons to prefer a basket but I can't really think of any. Am I missing something?

Max