Has Fresh Air Exhaust (FAE) changed your wake?

[trayson]

So, I'd like to hear some feedback from people that have installed FAE and I'd like to know if it's changed your wake.

I did a prototype unit on my boat and I found that it acted like a huge trim tab. It really flattened my surf wake. I know that I did some things with mine where I can most certainly improve (make it higher up and closer in to the boat, change the downspout length and location). But before I put a lot of work into a version 2 for mine, or even before I give up on my own and buy the real one, I want to get feedback from people that have used the real FAE and whether it adversely affected your wake in any way (at ski, wakeboard, and surf speeds).

I know with my prototype, it made my wake at 20+ mph look like I was driving an I/O. The sound improvements were spectacular, but I was pretty disappointed in how it affected behind my boat.

This was at about 20mph if I remember right and it looks like crap. The rooster tail didn't reach far enough back to really affect a wakeboarder, but yuck.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-t-TVK-N0PJs/U6upwXlGIlI/AAAAAAAAQr8/BbS-aHT-qIU/s800/20140625_111514.jpg

As you can see, I came pretty much straight out from my exhaust ports, with just a smidge of an upward slope. And I made them long enough that it would clear the END of my wakeplate. So there's most certainly room for the FAE to be put higher and closer into the boat.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-X-Gd-7BFzcw/U6omKLrRNTI/AAAAAAAAQqs/2naDHykvpVc/s800/20140624_182833.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Pbhc-gzwqnI/U6omITWt_VI/AAAAAAAAQqk/PllE-RBOkSQ/s800/20140624_182736.jpg

Also, to shape the downspout, I heated the PVC and made the bottom of the downspout more oval rather than round. I think the pre-heating combined with the heat of the exhaust proved too much for the downspout and it deformed pretty bad (which likey contributed to the bad rooster tail).
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-j2iNlDwmWNU/U6updW1PTqI/AAAAAAAAQrk/1OrzgYQrOKA/s640/20140625_173726.jpg

So, I'd like to hear about good wake experiences with FAE's, because if it's that much of a tradeoff, it might not be worth it...

[wotan2525]

Doesn't effect my wake at all. I can't remember the exact measurement but when I ordered mine he asked me to measure from the exhaust outlets to the prop so that it would end up in the prop-wash.

[trayson]

Doesn't effect my wake at all. I can't remember the exact measurement but when I ordered mine he asked me to measure from the exhaust outlets to the prop so that it would end up in the prop-wash.

Right, that's the "Z" measurement. it's supposed to be 1.5 to 2.5" from the tip of the downpipe to the center of the prop. I "tried" to measure mine but I am parked on an angle and I didn't feel like pulling my trailer out to the street to get the "level" measurement like they ask for. I thought I got it pretty close to spec, but maybe not. Plus, I'm sure my deformed downpipe didn't help either.

[Albin]

I think this is a pretty common problem that a lot of guys have been "fixing" with a big flap. Check this wake world post out: http://www.wakeworld.com/forum/showthread.php?t=787204
Something like this may be worth a shot at cleaning things up.

[trayson]

I'll keep that in mind too. Although I want to avoid having to do that if possible as it'd defeat me having underwater transom lights...