Help - Sea Ray 340 - Loose underwater exhaust brass fitting

[douglee]

I was swimming today and when I was cleaning the underwater components of my boat, I noted that the brass exhaust was loose as it was rattling when I was holding on to it. I checked with a screwdriver and one of the screws spins freely. I think it may need to be tightened with both underwater screw and the nut in the bilge (2 person job with 1 being an contortonist)

My question is if a loose underwater exhaust is a major concern and I will need to haul out my boat to fix it? Is it dangerous?

When I looked in the bilge, i can see 1 screws in front and 2 screws behind the thru hull exhaust manifold and would be really hard to get to in my case since its the one behind towards the transom.

Is there a concern that water will leak into my boat or is there other water seals besides the brass exhaust fitting? Can I simply try to tighten the screw and nut or is this a bigger job getting the whole thing out and reapplying 5200 with a hual out.

Hope to get some suggestions on what I should do to fix this.

Thanks

 

[rcknecht]

If you don't have any water in your bilge, and there is no visible damage that caused the screw to strip, I would wait until you pull the boat for the winter to fix it... If you try to fix it in the water it may cause a leak where there is none now.... Who knows how long your boat has been like this... I have never thought to check those screws, especially the the boat in the water. I would get a shop vac and get all the water out of the bilge, then monitor for leaks...

 

[BahamasBlair]

I see two issues: Water leaking and carbon monoxide. Over here we are running in the ocean - sometimes far from home. We try to avoid problems. I would take the boat out of the water and get it fixed now. Why risk a major event to save $300 to haul out the boat?
Maybe it is better to be safe rather than sorry. Thru hulls can deteriorate very fast once they start vibrating due to engine and prop vibrations. I wouldn't take any chances.
Be prudent.

 

[douglee]

I checked and there seems to be some gunk on the screws that are in the bilge. I dont see any water leaks in the bilge at the moment.

Does anyone know how the underwater brass flange is fitted? Do they use 5200 or is it just bolted (4 screws/nuts) to the bottom hull? I don't see any leaks in the thru hull exchaust manifolds or seacork.

I am thinking if just tighteing the screw back would be sufficient since only 1 out of 4 screws is loose at the moment. And review when I next haul out the boat.

I can't seem to find more information online relating to the underwater exhaust flange. Anyone have experience with this?

 

[Woody]

I was swimming today and when I was cleaning the underwater components of my boat, I noted that the brass exhaust was loose as it was rattling when I was holding on to it. I checked with a screwdriver and one of the screws spins freely. Thanks

I checked and there seems to be some gunk on the screws that are in the bilge. I dont see any water leaks in the bilge at the moment.

Does anyone know how the underwater brass flange is fitted? Do they use 5200 or is it just bolted (4 screws/nuts) to the bottom hull? I don't see any leaks in the thru hull exchaust manifolds or seacork.

I am thinking if just tighteing the screw back would be sufficient since only 1 out of 4 screws is loose at the moment. And review when I next haul out the boat.

I can't seem to find more information online relating to the underwater exhaust flange. Anyone have experience with this?

If the brass exhaust fitting was loose and rattling when you were hanging on to it there has to be more than one screw that's not tight enough.

 

[douglee]

Its not very loose, just some freeplay when moved. Anyone have experience with similar issue?

1) Does the flange require 5200 and a water tight seal to the hull?
2) Can I just try to secure the screws and nuts - 2 person job as 1 in bilge and 1 in water.
3) Is there a concern for water intrusion due to this flange? I was thinking the thru hull exhaust manifolds may have its own water seal.
4) Where can I get more infomation on the exhaust flange and how it is installed to the hull.

Thanks

 

[sbw1]

Is there a concern for water intrusion due to this flange? I was thinking the thru hull exhaust manifolds may have its own water seal.
Thanks

Yes. You have a hole in the bottom of your boat. Most people would have it fixed right away.

 

[douglee]

Anyone can give me more details on the way the underwater Exchaust outlet flange (Brass) is installed? Not sure where I can find a diagram and description as I don't think its on the parts menu. I have not managed to find more info online so far.

I am trying to determine if the flange is thru hull or is it just the 4 screws and the rest is mated to the hull where the exhaust manifold outlet port is that is sealled seperately. If only the 4 screws, then I can 5200 from within the bilge and tighten. I suspect I may have had this issue for some months now and so far, no water intrusion.

Really just want to find out more what I am dealing with here before I go for a costly haul out.


Regards

 

[fwebster]

I don't understand all the angst here.

A 340DA can be lifted with a forklift. Take the boat to a yard or the Sea Ray dealer and get it out of the water so the exhaust fitting can be removed, cleaned and properly rebedded. The haul out should be a simple $50 lift and set her on a rack. Besides, messing around with this and losing the exhaust fitting is going to cost you a whole lot more than the $ you save trying save by avoiding a haul out.

 

[rcknecht]

I don't understand all the angst here.

A 340DA can be lifted with a forklift. Take the boat to a yard or the Sea Ray dealer and get it out of the water so the exhaust fitting can be removed, cleaned and properly rebedded. The haul out should be a simple $50 lift and set her on a rack. Besides, messing around with this and losing the exhaust fitting is going to cost you a whole lot more than the $ you save trying save by avoiding a haul out.

$50 for a lift? Boy I wish your marina was closer... I have spent $800 this year for too short hauls... I am very quick to have my boat pulled when I see water in the bilge, other wise I would wait for winter storage. Plus my boat is worth twice as much under the water as it is above...

 

[fwebster]

The trick, if there is one, is to know who can life the boat with a forklift instead of a travel lift. We are at a Sea Ray dealer owned marina with a boat yard and dry stack storage. They don't charge for fork lift haul outs where their technicians do work on the boat and its a standard $50 to lift one and put it on a wash rack if you don't keep your boat here.......and they can lift up to a 340DA, any bigger and they have to use the travel lift.