Lifespan of Water Life Muffler

[Kurt]

Anyone know what the approximate lifespan of a water life muffler is? I have a 1976 C&C 33 and the muffler looks to be original. It's not leaking, but I'm wondering what it looks like on the inside. I am getting a rust stain on the gelcoat underneath the exhaust exit on the transom of the boat and I'm thinking that may be originating in the water lift muffler (hopefully not coming from a rusty block). Also, looking at the stainless steel water lift muffler offered by Moyer, I see that it is 6" in diameter and 8" high. That is much smaller than the one I have now - mine must be 10-12" high and easily
10-12" in diameter. If I choose to replace mine, would a muffler that much smaller be OK - any risks or problems to having a smaller muffler? Any advantages to having a larger muffler?

Thanks folks!

Kurt.

[Jesse Delanoy]

Kurt,

I have always gotten and orangish - brownish stain below my transom exhaust port, which gets cleaned off every year when I haul for bottom painting. Two years ago I swapped out my engine for a Moyer rebuilt engine, and replaced the water lift muffler (sounds like it was the same size as yours) for a new plastic Vetus water lift muffler. I still get the same staining on the transom.

The Vetus muffler is quite a bit smaller than the original, and of an odd shape, containing baffles, not the wide cylindrical shape of the aluminum original muffler. It was a compromise choice, because we were under time pressure to get the installation completed so we could make the two-day trip home before the season ended, and the muffler that the yacht yard wanted to install was unavailable - and they had the Vetus in stock.

Since the install, I have not noticed any adverse effects that I can attribute to the muffler - engine runs at a reasonable temperature, etc. There does seem to be a slight decrease in the amount of water exiting the rear of the boat, but this does not seem to have any ill effects.

Since the Vetus does have less capacity to hold water draining back into the muffler from the exhaust line, I do have to be careful not to over-crank the engine if I encounter hard starting, as one of the benefits of a larger water lift muffler is to hold more backflow before it starts to back up to the manifold and block, if the engine won't start. My standing rule is, therefore, if it doesn't turn over after two cranks, I close the raw water intake valve. This is good practice anyway.

Best of luck.

Jesse Delanoy
s/v Agape
Baltimore

[Kurt]

Thanks for the info, Jesse. I get to scrubbing that stain!

[HerbertFriedman]

life span of water lift muffler

On my Tartan 30, I had the original copper standpipe water lift unit replaced with a Volvo unit but it was a very poor fit and restricted access. I later replaced that with Don's stainless steel unit. Much more room, no change in performance, quality part.

[adab1402]

untidy stains

as you can see from previous posts ,it,s the exhaust ,that causes the stain ,as an option consider extending your outlet pipe . fair winds adab

[David Masury]

On my C&C I replaced the old metal one with a 30 hp rated fiberglass unit..it is smaller and obviously won't rust.... works well with the A4

David

[rigspelt]

On my C&C I replaced the old metal one with a 30 hp rated fiberglass unit..it is smaller and obviously won't rust.... works well with the A4David

David, can you tell me more? Which C&C, where is the waterlift muffler, and is it round?

[David Masury]

I have a C&C 27 MK lll... the fiberglass waterlift muffler I got out of the West Marine catalog..rated for 30 HP. It is about 3/4 the size of the original metal one. I Just had to build up a small platform to raise it up aprox 1 1/2 inches for all the plumbing to connect. Pretty straight forward install.

David

[rigspelt]

I have a C&C 27 MK lll... the fiberglass waterlift muffler I got out of the West Marine catalog..rated for 30 HP. It is about 3/4 the size of the original metal one. I Just had to build up a small platform to raise it up aprox 1 1/2 inches for all the plumbing to connect. Pretty straight forward install. David

Is the muffler midships aft of the engine somewhere? My Mk II has a shelf to port aft of the engine, and no other sign of an alternative location. Do you have a photo of the installation? Thanks.

[David Masury]

rigspelt... that is the correct location..... but I will try to get a phototgraph over the next few days...just hauled the boat out so it is accessible.

David

[rigspelt]

rigspelt... that is the correct location..... but I will try to get a phototgraph over the next few days...just hauled the boat out so it is accessible.David

Sorry to be thick David, but are you referring to the position to port that I have now, or midships directly aft? Thanks.