UltraMarine Muffler Leaks

[viking]

I posted this on the Moomba forum too but thought you guys over here might have more experience with the DD's since Supra has had them for years :)

During winterization this year I noticed my silencers were leaking. I didn't notice really any water in the bilge during the season or an abnormal amount of fumes either?

I haven't taken the UltraMarine Silencers off yet but looking at them they are BOTH leaking on the engine side of the silencers where they diameter of the muffler widens. Looks like they are both cracked and flaking off there. How long should they last? Seems to me that 3 or 4 seasons is a little premature for failure?

Should I use OEM replacements or is there something better out there?

And is there any way to drain the muffler/silencers in a DD for the winter?

[foxriverat]

They should last longer then that. Here is a link to the silencers I replaced mine with. http://shopping.rexmar.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=161102&Category_Code=silencers-inline-insert

[jet]

Those should last a boats lifetime, no rust, no back fires? The early model sunsports have a big silencer muff behind the engine and Its made of the same stuff. And those are still around now days as long as you havent had any backfires to crack them. Should last forever. :-?

[96Comp]

Did you overheat the engine at any time? Much above 200 degrees and they will crack.

[viking]

Did you overheat the engine at any time? Much above 200 degrees and they will crack.

NOPE..........Boat always runs at about 180 and change out the impeller every year.
Maybe it's always been that way since I bought the boat and just never noticed? I can't imagine that if it seeps just sitting that when engine is running that it wouldn't be worse? But then again I don't have the floor up during the season & some water in the bilge area isn't uncommon? But my pump never has to run. I'm really at a loss on the issue. I could wait and see what happens in the spring and inspect while running on the water but it's a good winter project to get it fixed NOW! Just bugs me if I cannot find the cause :(

[viking]

Pulled the port side muffler tonight to confirm leakage and this is what I found.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsjylR0BayI

Looks to be a hairline crack right where I anticipated. I'm certain the starboard side is the same. Only think I can figure is freeze damage from water sitting in muffler?? Why isn't there a way to drain these on DD's?

2nd thought...........Previous owner had dealer service it and so did I until this year and they use anti-freeze method to winterize?

Going to call UltraMarine to see what they say. I guess I need to try my hand at glasswork :)

[jet]

Yes, if you dont want to buy new ones I would just drain them for a few days and re-glass them yourself and repaint. Done

[docdrs]

i'm with jet, stand them the other way grind out the crack and reglass.....then you might want to add a fitting on top of each connect each together with a hose and quick connect so you can pour friendly anti freeze in there for winterizing. jmo

[viking]

What about JB WELD. Will it stick to Fiberglass? Thinking about using that first and then some glass over it and repaint?

[viking]

Well,
When removing the Ultra Marine Silencers I had one come apart. Looks to be a defective set of mufflers if you ask me! Whatever sealed them has given way and the Inlet Side just slid out from the baffle. No cracks or issues there as previously thought.

Should be a fairly easy fix with a little 5200 epoxy around the tube and slide it back together. Don't have to worry about trying my hand a glasswork just yet. But I'm certainly going to talk to Ultra Marine about it.

Thought I'd post up some photos for anybody interested in what the inside looks like. Really just a 90degree downtube and then a 90up and out. The rest is all hollow. Maybe you all knew that but I didn't!

2 side notes:

1.) there would be absolutely no way to get all the water out of them without having them apart

2.) thinking about cutting off the 90 angle on the inlet side while I have them apart. I think it will let that Assault 325 breath a little more and a little louder but not too much as straight pipe. I want to still hear myself think. Thoughts?