Perko 0443 Lightweight Intake Water Strainer, Cast Bronze, Clear Polymer Body, SS316 Basket

Overview

The Perko Figure 0443 is a lightweight intake water strainer for raw-water cooling systems, made with cast bronze fittings, a clear polymer body, and a 316 stainless steel basket. It is built for installation on the intake side of the cooling system, where the clear body makes routine checks easier before debris reaches the engine, generator, or other raw-water equipment.

The basket uses 0.079 inch screen holes with 47 percent open area, helping maintain flow while catching weeds, shells, and other intake debris. The range covers 1/2 inch through 1-1/2 inch pipe sizes, with each size matched to a specific strainer body and basket area.

Mounting lugs are cast into both sides of the strainer for flexible bulkhead placement, and the hinged cover lugs allow basket access from the top. A drain plug in the lower casting helps with sediment removal and winterizing before storage in freezing conditions.

Key features

• Clear polymer body lets the basket condition and debris level be checked without opening the strainer.
• Cast bronze construction is used for the main strainer castings in a wet marine intake environment.
• 316 stainless steel basket helps reduce electrolysis concerns inside the strainer assembly.
• 0.079 inch basket screen holes provide 47 percent open area for raw-water flow through the cylindrical basket.
• Mounting lugs on both sides give more flexibility when securing the strainer to a bulkhead or flat support surface.
• Hinged cover lugs allow the cover to be removed for basket cleaning without disassembling the plumbing.
• Bottom drain plug supports sediment draining and winterizing service.
• Shared replacement parts with other Perko strainers can simplify future service planning.

Variants

This strainer is offered in multiple pipe-size configurations within the Figure 0443 range. The key selection point is the pipe size required by the engine or equipment intake system, along with the available space for the matching strainer height, width, depth, and cylinder length.

Across the variants, the clear body, cast bronze construction, 316 stainless steel basket, hinged cover access, side mounting lugs, and bottom drain plug remain consistent. The pipe size, overall dimensions, basket open area, and open-area ratio change by configuration.

• 0443004PLB: Pipe size 1/2 inch. This is the smallest pipe-size option in the range, with a 6-1/4 inch overall height and a 30:1 open-area ratio.
• 0443005PLB: Pipe size 3/4 inch. This size uses an 8-5/8 inch overall height and a 25:1 open-area ratio for systems specified around 3/4 inch intake plumbing.
• 0443006PLB: Pipe size 1 inch. This option increases the overall width to 5-1/2 inches and carries a 20:1 open-area ratio.
• 0443007PLB: Pipe size 1-1/4 inch. This configuration has a 9-5/16 inch overall height and a 13:1 open-area ratio for larger raw-water intake layouts.
• 0443008PLB: Pipe size 1-1/2 inch. This is the largest pipe-size option listed for the range, with an 11-3/4 inch overall height, a 7-1/4 inch overall width, and a 17:1 open-area ratio.

Installation and fit

The strainer should be mounted vertically on a flat surface, with enough clearance above the cover to lift out the basket for cleaning. The inlet and outlet are marked on the top casting, so orientation should be checked before final pipe routing.

Pipe size should follow the engine or equipment manual, and reducers should not be used as a shortcut for mismatched plumbing. After installation, the system should be run and checked carefully for leaks around the fittings, cover, gasket, drain plug, and pipe connections.

Use on board

This strainer is a practical match for boats that need visible raw-water intake protection in a compact engine-room or machinery-space layout. It is especially useful where regular inspection matters, such as cooling-water supply for engines or generators that operate in weedy, sandy, or shell-prone water.

Maintenance and care

Regular inspection is part of safe operation. The basket should be removed and cleaned when debris is visible or when local water conditions call for more frequent service, and the castings, fasteners, cover gasket, plug, and tie rods should be checked for wear or damage.

For freezing climates, the cylinder should be drained before storage. When antifreeze remains in contact with the clear cylinder, propylene glycol based antifreeze should be used, since ethylene glycol based solutions can cloud the cylinder surface.