The FAE thread

[UNSTUCK]

Yeah, for me, it's never been a matter of "should I get one", but "when?" I think all new boats should come standard with them. I imagine the builders could make quite a bit of money on them if them wrapped them into the total price.

[Coop]

Have they designed an FAE that's compatible with the Convex VX or AVX?

[ericinmich]

I'm still trying to understand the other side as well since it's so black and white.

Maybe it's because I always drive/surf with the pass through open, on a lake/area that hardly ever doesn't have a slight breeze. On my boat, I've never smelled or noticed exhaust, except a bit at start up. Based on the video tests done, it doesn't do anything for the CO a surfer sees. On my boat, single exhaust out on port side and usually surfing regular, the sound of the engine isn't an issue (can talk to surfer, hear music, etc). Since I drive with the pass through open the CO impact to anyone on the boat is zero. I can't see how anyone on the boat is being harmed by engine emissions at all... heck, in some cities new cars are emitting cleaner exhaust than the air that they are taking in.

I guess why would I spend a penny on a FAE? It's fixing a problem that I don't have.

I'm bummed that only 27 people have voted so far. Hard to make conclusions based on that...

[duffymahoney]

I promise you are surfing with fumes, some people seem to be more sensitive to them. They don't bother me as much as some people, but I have had plenty of people get light headed and other symptoms on other peoples boats. To me the FAE is one of the greatest addition to your boat, surfing, stereo and just being able to talk. Its like doubling your stereo at surf speeds and even more at wakeboard speeds. I will never own another boat without one. I honestly won't even surf behind a boat without one.

Also Larry from FAE, is a great asset to the boating world and is a great guy.

[BCRider]

ericinmich. I won't call you a liar but having the exact same boat I would definitely disagree. Yes, having the front walk through open does help to push the fumes out when under power but I also noticed how much of a difference it made having FAE when just at idle and people being on the swim platform or just at the back of the boat in general. Prior to FAE on a cool morning you could physically see the cloud moving around or going directly at the person surfing. It made all the difference last year when I installed the FAE as it all goes directly in the water.

I had FAE on my old DD. at idle was the worst as being a DD the back bench was at the very back of the boat. For the people sitting back there it was horrible as the exhaust would come up between the platform and the back of the boat and directly at the people sitting there. I forgot how much of a difference it made when I bought my Tige 3 years ago and it didn't have it. It was the first thing I then saved up to put back on.

[D&P Powell]

Have they designed an FAE that's compatible with the Convex VX or AVX?

Watching for a reply to this as well Coop. I'm no expert on the matter, but I wonder if it would even be necessary based on the design of my Convex VX.

EDIT: Looks like it's been done for Convex VX... had to do a google search to find out. https://www.facebook.com/FreshAirExh...44934922246580

[Dandy]

One thing to remember that keeps coming up is the "I've never smelled", "There is no odor". The problem is that this argument is part of the problem as to why people get CO poising in the 1st place. According to the CDC:
"Carbon monoxide (CO), an odorless, colorless gas, which can cause sudden illness and death, is produced any time a fossil fuel is burned. CDC works with national, state, local, and other partners to raise awareness about CO poisoning and to monitor CO-related illness and death in the U.S"
http://www.cdc.gov/co/

This is something that people need to take serious at home, boating, RVing... Growing up, we had a family of 5 living next door. They are now a family of 3 due to CO poisoning. The father and daughter were found DEAD, the mother and 2 boys spent a fair amount of time in an isobaric chamber to recover. Sadly they all has some for of brain damage/memory loss due to the CO poisoning.

So, again they question...why not?

[jslayde1]

Watching for a reply to this as well Coop. I'm no expert on the matter, but I wonder if it would even be necessary based on the design of my Convex VX.

I have the same question. It would seem that the AVX/vx would keep the exhaust in the prop stream as does the FAE...

[NICKYPOO]

Also Larry from FAE, is a great asset to the boating world and is a great guy.

Good point. It hasn't even been mentioned yet. I received a package one day from FAE that had some new quick release pins in it that I hadn't ordered. I called Larry figuring he had just sent them to me by mistake. He said it was not a mistake. He had sent them to me because they were a new design that he really liked and he knew I had the old ones. No charge. Not too many companies around that would do that.

[dakota4ce]

+1 on Larry. Excellent at what he does. Also, you would have to pry FAE out of my cold dead hands. I have said dozens of times that FAE is my favorite of all the mods I put on my old boat. The only thing you hear is the rush of the water making the surf wave--so cool.

Once the Flying Wasp travelled off to Cali and the Tomcat entered the garage, FAE was the first addition. Worth every penny and more.

[duffymahoney]

Does your MB have a wakeplate? If not install one, they help the wave a ton.

[dakota4ce]

Does your MB have a wakeplate? If not install one, they help the wave a ton.

I installed immediately upon getting. I had heard exactly the same. Thanks for looking out!

Thaw ice, thaw. I am ready to go.

[WYTige?]

Ok, ok I get the CO part, but how much does it impact the wave?? That's, I guess, my biggest worry.

[dakota4ce]

Ok, ok I get the CO part, but how much does it impact the wave?? That's, I guess, my biggest worry.

Pretty much zero.

[JohnnieMo]

If FAE is so great, then why don't the manufacturers built it right in?

I'm honestly completely neutral on it. I like the idea of less fumes and better stereo. But on the opposite side I can't shake the "physics" of dragging a pole in the water. In the end the upsides and downsides cancel for me. So it comes down to the fact that it is $400. So when I buy EVERYTHING else I ever want for the boat, I guess it is next.

And yes, they work with Convex Vx.

I'm actually surprised that even with the Vx, you can smell the exhaust. I find it is worst at idle. The exhaust slips right up behind the swim platform and in to your mouth. I assume (rightly or wrongly) that an FAE won't fix this.