Exhaust Silencer

[kartracer]

During the parade last night the CO2 alarms went off. Went into engine room and found that port exhaust silencer, muffler, split at the seams, letting water and exhaust into the boat, made of rubber. Took 4 vise grips closed seam and back on the way. My question is " is there a product that I can glue or seal the seam back together with and save the $400. Was thinking of 5200 or is there something else that I can inject into the seam that will hold. I know it is the exhaust and not anything to play around with.

 

[what_barnacles]

If you cant afford it....

try fiberglass with epoxy.

 

[Baker]

Exhaust system is pretty important stuff. I mean you risk filling the boat with water and exhaust. $400 is an absolute bargain if that is all it will take to fix it.

 

[kev_rm]

You have CO2 sensors? Do they go off when a lot of soft drinks are opened at the same time?

No seriously, that is awesome your alarms did their job.

 

[Pgitug]

A crack in my lift muffler fitting allowed water to start leaking.
Have a fiberglass expert fix it. Remove it from the boat and do the repair. Mine was $1,800 and I was OK with that.

 

[Shoalwaters]

If your muffler is made of GRP, then repairs using good glassing techniques and epoxy resin are a definitely on the cards. If it is really made of rubber and you are looking for a "goop" to squeeze into the cracks then I would think twice. The edges are obviously trying to separate if it takes G-clamps to close, so the goop would be in tension (not good). Also it will be hard to get the edges clean before applying. I have no experience of plastic welding - might be worth exploring. Do you know the name of the manufacturer?

 

[stone beach]

During the parade last night the CO2 alarms went off. Went into engine room and found that port exhaust silencer, muffler, split at the seams, letting water and exhaust into the boat, made of rubber. Took 4 vise grips closed seam and back on the way. My question is " is there a product that I can glue or seal the seam back together with and save the $400. Was thinking of 5200 or is there something else that I can inject into the seam that will hold. I know it is the exhaust and not anything to play around with.

Is it the silencer or a coupling sleeve?
Regardless, it is impossible to satisfactorily bond old rubber together (if it is rubber) with any adhesive in such an application. Requires heat and pressure to vulcanize the joint.
Super glue manages to bond o rings but its not suitable for this

 

[kartracer]

Going to take it off today and then bring it into the industrial supply area in town and ask around as to what if anything can be done.

 

[Xsbank]

I'd rather pay $400 than have to swim home.

 

[Shoalwaters]

I'd rather pay $400 than have to swim home.

Agreed, but IMHO making a good quality repair yourself for next to nothing is beyond price.

 

[Deano]

I'm impressed. Four visegrips on the ready.

 

[gaston]

4 boat dollar spend on a 45' boat pftttt Cant get a good bottle of red wine for that

 

[Deano]

I agree. I only have two on hand myself. Never thought I'd need four at once, never did before. We only have three bottles of wine on hand. I guess I'm not well prepared in all departments. And I also agree, you can't get a good bottle of wine for four dollars. Oh, you said boat dollars.

 

[C lectric]

Not my boat.
Some rubber mufflers are two pieces, halves, glued together at a longitudinal flange.
I've seen one split when a pile of woods chips plugged the exhaust.
Used two pieces of aluminum, one on each side of the flange and then through bolted, #10-24 machine screws, at close spacing. Went some distance beyond the apparent split ends to be sure the split was covered.
As far as I know that repair lasted some years. I don't know the new owners so cannot ask if the muffler was repaired or replaced.

 

[kartracer]

C lectric just what we did, if vise grips held it together this should also work. Thanks

 

[kapnd]

There just might be a reason the thing split open, I would do some investigation to make sure there isn't a blockage in exhaust or water intake lines.
Would think that it got pretty hot in there to open it up!

 

[kchace]

If you do decide to epoxy it back together keep in mind that "ordinary" epoxy starts to creep at 140 degrees. A muffler could see more than that so go with some epoxy that is rated at higher temps.

Ken

 

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

I don't know. Something as important as exhaust in the cabin isn't anything I would mess with leaking. It could kill you and your crew! Kinda like putting a Honda generator on the fly bridge or the swim platform.

Less than $300 at WM.

CENTEK Vernalift Mufflers | West Marine

 

[kapnd]

I don't know. Something as important as exhaust in the cabin isn't anything I would mess with leaking. It could kill you and your crew! Kinda like putting a Honda generator on the fly bridge or the swim platform

I agree, this is not something you want to have as a recurring problem!
I would look for a quality fiberglass muffler to replace the rubber unit.

As for the generator on the flybridge or swim step, wouldn't the exhaust be going the same place as a built in, onboard unit?
Overboard or overhead is normal in the industry, don't know of any better solution.

 

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

Good. I have actually seen folks place portables "inside" their enclosed flybridge or cockpit.

 

[psneeld]

I don't know. Something as important as exhaust in the cabin isn't anything I would mess with leaking. It could kill you and your crew! Kinda like putting a Honda generator on the fly bridge or the swim platform

I agree, this is not something you want to have as a recurring problem!
I would look for a quality fiberglass muffler to replace the rubber unit.

As for the generator on the flybridge or swim step, wouldn't the exhaust be going the same place as a built in, onboard unit?
Overboard or overhead is normal in the industry, don't know of any better solution.

You never know so you guess your best and have several CO monitors and pray for a nice breeze.

Even built in units have produced CO that found its way through convoluted paths and reentered the boat to cause a fatality.

 

[kapnd]

I still smell a rat in the OP's exhaust system.
Quality marine mufflers don't just split open at the seams during gentle use!

 

[twistedtree]

Do I understand correctly that this is a rubber muffler? I've only seen/heard of fiberglass wet exhaust mufflers. I've seen plenty of rubber boots and elbows, but never a muffler.

As others have said, between the risks of exhaust gas poisoning and boat flooding, I would just get a new muffler.