Muffler Wrap

I am replacing the exhaust hoses on my 81 SN. Could any one tell me why my mufflers were wrapped in carpet and if I need to do it again? The carpet was pretty rotten and it looked like this was a bad trap for build up and didi not allow water to drain.
Thanks, Chad

I spent the day yesterday with my son taking out the complete interior and carpet out of our 1977 Ski Nautique and found the same thing. No mufflers just steel pipe wrapped with what appeared to be original carpet. I know for noise we will have to put something back in there. Is that the best option? I guess its not too bad as it lasted 30+ years. Anybody use anything else ?

Gary, Sorry to throw you a curve, but by noise I meant the vibrating of the pipe against the floor. I love the sound of the boat the way it is. Any option other than carpet to put around the pipe to stop it from vibating?

Thanks for everyones input. I may try the rubber floor mat trick. It just seemed the carpet caught a lot of scum and held to much water.

I use a 1/2" high density foam that I picked up at my local hose and rubber supply. I cut it into 6" strips long enough to wrap around either the muffler or pipe and then attach with big daddy Zip ties. This needs to be located and spaced accordingly to the length of tube being isolated. This stuff is not cheap as I paid nearly $50 for a sheet 24"X36", Carpet reminants are far cheaper but do not finnish out as well.

Chad,
Like these?
Fernco flex coupling:


Great idea but the rubber shoulder next to the hose clamp isn't very tall. Keep a eye on them so the clamp doesn't start eating into the fiberglass.

I believe I will put some zip ties on them. I put the clamps on and I see what you mean about rubbing the fiberglass.

Thanks, Chad

Here is my bargain option. Went to Axman surplus, Found bright yellow 1/8 sheets of closed cell foam, 1x2 feet for .45 cents each. I cut Them down to 4" strips and packing taped them end to end to make a 4" x 36" strips. I also purchased 36" wire ties 4 for a buck. Totoal cost per muffler 1.50 with tax. Of course the yellow wont stay bright for long in the bilge. I wanted black. but at the surplus store you get what you get.

A spoon?

A hacksaw works pretty good. Assuming you got wire reinforced (hopefully the corrugated) you will also need to snip the wires as you go around.

Looking at the inside of the muffler it looks like it can be orientated to let water flow through and not stay trapped, Is there an official up to them. Nothing is marked.

I wrap the hose with masking tape just for a reference to make a straight cut. I then use a regular hacksaw making the cut all the way around the hose.Don't try to cut thru it like a piece of wood,cut around it like a pipe cutter cuts pipe or tubing. You will feel when you get to the wire,go around it. When your done you can twist the hose a little and you then reach in and use a cutter or a dremel to cut the wire. My mufflers have a decal telling you which end is up. When you look inside from either end it looks like your looking into a cup. About 1/3 of the side of the cup is cut out and this faces down when mounted.

I was thinking about trying my angle grinder but I didnt know which disc to use. I have them for metal and masonry but not a general purpose.

Strap a hose clamp on at your cut line and you'll have nice straight cuts with the hacksaw!

My order showed up. I applied two hose clamps about a quarter inch on either side of the cut line as guides. I then used my Rockwell sonicrafter, Similar to fein multimaster Saw, (vibrating blade). to make the cuts through the rubber,I could not nip the wire reinforcment with any hand held nippers that I own, so I used a metal cut off wheel on my angle grinder to cut the wires and retrim them back inside the rubber wall. Each cut took under a minute this way with nice clean results.