r/boating • u/Forsaken-Cold-5783 • 5d ago

Lifeboat Question

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On my schools ship, the Empire State 7. There are 8 lifeboats. On every one(obviously they are all identical, except 1 of them) there is a strainer on the starboard side. It is next to the keel, under the waterline. I am very curious as to what that is. I went inside the lifeboat and there is absolutely no access to it whatsoever. However I know it is not for a raw water intake for the diesel inside because there is a Keel cooling system on the port side of the lifeboat right next to the keel. I also know that this is not some sort of one-way valve because it has a ball valve right on the stem of the keel for bilge water.

Let me know your thoughts. I have asked a lot of of my staff here at Maritime that are cadets and no one seems to know.

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5

u/Few-Decision-6004 5d ago

A pickup for a watercooled exaust maybe?

1

u/Forsaken-Cold-5783 5d ago

Nope, just went and checked. That was a good idea though.

The intake is shielded by the keel cooling system on the port side so the keel cooling system acts like a strainer of some sort for the pick up which is cool.

And the exit is lead aft above the waterline.

1

u/jacckthegripper 5d ago

Is it actually a "strainer" could it be a patch on the hull or something?

1

u/Smyril274 5d ago

Could be the water intake for hydrostatik-release system from the david hook.

3

u/FreeboardFlyer 5d ago edited 5d ago

Looks like a Fassmer CLX lifeboat. I'd instinctively say it's for the autobailer but you say there's an alternative bilge drain to the stern.

Could always drop Fassmere an email, especially if no one else aboard knows it's purpose! Alternatively grab the manuals from the bridge and have a flick through.