From a Volvo? Really???

[FelicityRebuild]

I was looking through the MMI parts catalog daydreaming about having a shiny working engine instead of the rusty pieces in my shed when I ran across the Stainless Water Lifter Muffler. I looked in the manuals and sure enough that's what's recommended. Thinking "That's not what I have" I went to the boat to actually see what's there. I have my exhaust mixing with my raw water coolant as it's supposed to, then running through a small Volvo muffler then out the exhaust port. Was this a recommended configuration at any point or is it a Gerry rig from the previous, previous, previous owner?

I'm afraid this may spark another one of my seemingly infamous debates, but I'm curious about all your professional wisdom on the topic. Mind you the engine has been running fine with this configuration for more than 20 years.

[keelcooler]

Matt, Gerry rig may be an understatement. Take a look at Yachtsurvey.com exhaust risers. Those cast iron mega risers may work for years on a a4 but put one on a diesel paint shaker and the piping is going down. Make sure your muffler is a water trap and fitted w/a vented loop. Take some pictures for us of your system.

[thatch]

Felicity,
Hi, It's me again. I can promise you that this discussion will be shorter than the nut and bolt roundtable. If you brouse around the exhaust system threads you will see that there have been many different approaches to getting the exhaust and water out of the engine and out of the boat. One of the main problems with the the cast iron type of riser like the one you currently have (aside from It's considerable weight) is that when they fail it is normally internally, many times creating the old water in the cylinders problem.
Tom

[FelicityRebuild]

Felicity,
Hi, It's me again. I can promise you that this discussion will be shorter than the nut and bolt roundtable. If you brouse around the exhaust system threads you will see that there have been many different approaches to getting the exhaust and water out of the engine and out of the boat. One of the main problems with the the cast iron type of riser like the one you currently have (aside from It's considerable weight) is that when they fail it is normally internally, many times creating the old water in the cylinders problem.
Tom

That "water in the cylinders problem" is exactly why I'm cleaning salt off my pistons now. Did it happen due to the riser? I'll check out the thread for alternate solutions. I hate that big heavy beast....

[SeaFever]

Matt,

If your question is surrounding the muffler, I have seen a variety of different mufflers in sailboats. From the custom looking stainless steel ones to fiberglass ones such as Centek, Vernalift etc. Any of these will work and do their job. It is important however that installers follow the guidelines for the exhaust riser and muffler installations.

With respect to the exhaust riser, it seems Stainless Steel was one of the common materials used in those days. I know of people using black steel with success too. When I removed mine from my 1975 Pearson 10M I found that it was made of 1 5/8" SS and after all the years of operation (don't know how many, I think it may be 20+) it was still in pretty good shape with the downward pipe showing slight pitting. Given its good shape I abandoned my original idea of making a new one from Schedule 40 SS pipe and decided to reuse the same. Since I had it out I took it to the shop and had then cut out the downward leg and weld a new one. I put new FG wrap on it and it was good to go. I think it will last for another 20 years, may even out last me...:D

Attaching two pictures of my riser just for info.

[sastanley]

oh boy..I rebuilt mine last year too...I'll wait a little bit to contribute :D

FR - Interested to see some pics of your current setup!

[Jesse Delanoy]

My new stainless steel hot section is on order, as we speak.