Check glass exhaust flange.... Mid cabin

[BobCT]

My bilge pump has come on at random times throughout the year with no explicable reason. And, I always had bilge water after a run but again was never able to find a source.

We're out on a week getaway, about 70 miles from home when my rear pump came on and about 20 minutes later my mid pump came on so I knew something was up. I climbed down into the engine room at speed and exhaust water was pouring into the bilge where the fiberglass exhaust flange connects to the hull. There was a small void which was allowing raw water exhaust to leak under pressure. I had my epoxy and glass mat with me so I did a repair on our mooring.

The weird part is I actually beefed up both of these areas last year because the glass looked a little thin. I was down in the bilge and the sun hit it just right. This was proactive though, I didn't think it was leaking. Worth checking on everyone's boat. Structurally it was fine but imagine the leak if this actually failed. I think an exhaust flapper might be a good upgrade.

Bob

[yorklyn]

Bob,
only you would have epoxy and glass on board! LOL! Glad you found the leak. Was it leaking where the exhaust exits through the hull or in the "tube " itself? I just used a dremel to rout out some spider cracks around mine and filled them with high density epoxy. I may rout them out alittle deeper and reglass them if thats where you had a leak.

[BobCT]

Todd, I'm not exactly sure.... I didn't fix it after all

I was 100% sure after I posted this but it still leaked. I went about 30 miles to out next destination and tried again using Marine Tex instead of epoxy and mat and it still leaked.

Here's my theory. It's been leaking for a long time, maybe since I bought the boat. I glassed around the flange connection to the hull (not the tube itself) because I could see some light coming through in spots. Because I thought I was making a structural repair, I think the layers of glass I added just "moved" the leak to a different place. It looks like it's coming right before the hose which is where the edge of my new glass is now.

I think I might live with it until I haul out in October. I was planning on replacing that short section of exhaust hose anyway which connects the muffler to the hull. It's hard as a rock and maybe puts stress on this area because the hose doesn't have any flex in it.

I am going to add some sort of exhaust flapper on the outside. It doesn't seem possible that this part could fail but a hinge flapper would save the day if it ever did.

Bob

[rooferdave]

Todd, I'm not exactly sure.... I didn't fix it after all

I was 100% sure after I posted this but it still leaked. I went about 30 miles to out next destination and tried again using Marine Tex instead of epoxy and mat and it still leaked.

Here's my theory. It's been leaking for a long time, maybe since I bought the boat. I glassed around the flange connection to the hull (not the tube itself) because I could see some light coming through in spots. Because I thought I was making a structural repair, I think the layers of glass I added just "moved" the leak to a different place. It looks like it's coming right before the hose which is where the edge of my new glass is now.

I think I might live with it until I haul out in October. I was planning on replacing that short section of exhaust hose anyway which connects the muffler to the hull. It's hard as a rock and maybe puts stress on this area because the hose doesn't have any flex in it.

I am going to add some sort of exhaust flapper on the outside. It doesn't seem possible that this part could fail but a hinge flapper would save the day if it ever did.

Bob

here's an off the wall suggestion (damn roofers) in roofing we have plugs for various size drains for flood tests. They are for like 1-5 inch drains and work by inserting to drain and twisting the butterfly nut to swell the rubber for a tight seal. This could be used to plug your exhuast from the outside to allow you to do your hose replacement in the water. Or do you think I am out to lunch on this?

[yorklyn]

I cant believe its leaking there, those tubes look pretty hefty. I like rooferdaves idea of plugging it off and fixing it, a known leak in a boat is neve a good thing to ignore! If my memory is correct I'm pretty sure my exhausts were above water in the slip?

[BobCT]

I'm surpised it's leaking too but glad I accidentally found it. I know a lot of people don't like going into the engine room at speed but an issue like this I'd never discover otherwise.

Dave, not a crazy idea at all and was thinking about sonething along those lines. It's just above the water line so should be ok in the slip. I'll order up the hose first, I'm sure I'll be cutting to get them off.

[larryeddington]

In mine the fiberglass pipe light green is ebpxied into the black fiber glass flange throuth the hull and is hooded and angled to the outside of the hull. They are special right and left hand, I had one damaged on the outside and was lucky to find a good one from Bob at Beacon. Once exhust hosed werre removed I found the light green fiberglass pipe on the other side was crushed by the hose clamps and had been leaking. There I was with a good flange and a good pipe but needed to dissamble and make one good one.

My fix; I sliced the green pipe from the damaged flange straight accross where the pipe entered the flange and pre marked both so I could get the correct angle. I then used drills and rotary files to hog out the epoxy freeing the good flange to the crushed pipe. Then epoxied the slightly shorter pip with JB weld to the flange and filled the void around it with Epoxy, now have both good outlets,

I could not find one anywhere that would fit the 6 inch hole in transom without haveing it special made. $$$$