Looking for cracked muffler owners

[boatwakes]

Anyone having suffered from cracked and or broken mufflers, internal baffles or fiberglass exhaust elbows could you please respond with engine size and make, boat model and FAE or no, and boat use, surf, wakeboard, ski or runabout. Thanks. I'm not looking to point fingers or accuse any manufacturers but rather find a common thread to a problem. Thanks.

[topaz surfer]

I had that recurring problem with mine and finally had Larry from FAE make me some stainless straight pipes to get rid of the mufflers and love how it turned out. No more cracked and leaking mufflers and its actually quieter because you don't hear the mufflers in the boat anymore. 2003 22v Merc 350 with FAE. Surf all the time.

[hopps1945]

Had the fiberglass elbow crack, right side. After I got it out, I noticed it had been repair before. 2000 2300V Limited with Merc Black Scorpion. no FAE (yet), surf.

[talltigeguy]

IIRC, Evilone had a 2004 24V with the cracked muffler. He doesn't roam around here much anymore, but you might send him a PM. He is in Vegas and attended a few reunions.

[Bad05]

IIRC, Evilone had a 2004 24V with the cracked muffler. He doesn't roam around here much anymore, but you might send him a PM. He is in Vegas and attended a few reunions.

I still have David L's number if you want to reach out to him.

[Thegerman618]

Not sure if I am relevant, had mine crack and leak last year Fiberglass from CENTEK Mufflers haven't heard to much good or otherwise about them, I replaced everything from the motor back on mine new hoses and mufflers No issues as of yet. Old set was 13 years old though.

[duffymahoney]

Fixed my both 2 times. I should buy the stainless ones.

[dakota4ce]

I eliminated my muffler altogether--but did it mostly with wet exhaust hose and elbows (as opposed to the stainless custom option that Topaz had done). I have an FAE, and the thing is SUPER QUIET. I was amazed--I believe Topaz told me it would be and he was spot on.

I did it because of the multiple broken muffler stories I have heard. Pre-emptive strike.

I guess I am not sure which is more expensive, stainless or 3.5" wet hose--that stuff costs some MONEY. But it was easy to work with and the result is good. The pic below is during the fitting phase, before clamping. Bye muffler.

IMG_4622.jpg

[boatwakes]

Thanks for the responses and it proves my theory this is not limited to specific models. We've preliminarily determined the fault lies in the baffle design internally to the muffler and most of the cracks begin from starting a weighted boat after sitting for a while. When your boat is at rest in the water the mufflers fill with water up to the waterline of the boat. As you add weight, the mufflers drop lower, adding back pressure upon start up plus a larger volume of water that needs to be expelled through the exhaust ports. Add to that, water will not compress and therefore acts as a hydraulic hammer inside the muffler whenever the engine is started, propelled by exhaust gases and restricted by the baffles. That hydraulic hammer eventually finds the weakest link and that apparently is the muffler system. Pull them out, replace with hose and run FAE for a leak free boat trip every time.

[Ewok]

Iwndr if this is more prevalent on boats with owners that cut the engine each time a rider changes out on the stern. I usually leave my engine running because the chage out is usually pretty quick and I'm usually sitting at the helm guarding the throttle. I can see this as a fatigue deal when you cut the engine every time on a weighted boat and induce more cycles of the hammer onto that weaker spot in the system. I guess I'll be looking to do this conversion mod in the next few years.

[topaz surfer]

x2 Ewok we never shut our motor off when a surfer falls. In fact most of the time we go out the boat won't get shut off once the whole day. We tend to surf non stop until we run out of gas if we have a full crew.

[Rebar]

Hi! I have cracked muffler pipe where clamps were hooked on near rear of boat. Can I replace that whole assembly with 3" wet hose? I only have problem on one side. Is it okay to do one side only? Also, where do i buy the wet hose?

thanks!

Rebar