muffler help (why is it raised up)

[barnzyjr]

Just purchased my first Searay a 1988 Sundancer twin 454. I have done the top end on the starboard engine and took it out for the first time last weekend. The port engine is quite a bit louder than starboard. The prior owner stated it had always been like that while he had it. While looking into it I noticed the port muffler was not attached to the floor of the bilge like the starboard and it actually is sitting on top of 2 pieces of 2x4s. I feel confident that this is not normal, I am curious why some one would have done this and want to know if while I am putting on new manifolds and elbows if I should redo and put it back on the floor. You can see where it was at one time by the void in the gray paint. Any help advice and or ideas on why it is like this would greatly appreciated. Like I said this is my first Searay and my first boat of this size so I have lots of questions this is just the one that has my curiosity up the most.

 

[Golfman25]

Sounds like somebody at one time changed out the muffler for some reason.

 

[techmitch]

Just purchased my first Searay a 1988 Sundancer twin 454. I have done the top end on the starboard engine and took it out for the first time last weekend. The port engine is quite a bit louder than starboard. The prior owner stated it had always been like that while he had it. While looking into it I noticed the port muffler was not attached to the floor of the bilge like the starboard and it actually is sitting on top of 2 pieces of 2x4s. I feel confident that this is not normal, I am curious why some one would have done this and want to know if while I am putting on new manifolds and elbows if I should redo and put it back on the floor. You can see where it was at one time by the void in the gray paint. Any help advice and or ideas on why it is like this would greatly appreciated. Like I said this is my first Searay and my first boat of this size so I have lots of questions this is just the one that has my curiosity up the most.

Welcome aboard, pics would help.

 

[barnzyjr]

I will take some photos this weekend. I would like to mount it back to floor if possible when I change the manifolds and elbows. I was wondering if there might be a reason it was raised and if being raise would make that engine louder.

 

[barnzyjr]

Here are the photos, I hope they show up.

 

[Happy Hour IV]

Your info does not say if it is a Dancer or Express. I do not know what an express bilge looks like
but your pictures are very similar to my 1988 340 sundancer. The exhaust hose runs are short so
the two ends must be close to lining up. If they do not, moving the muffler might make it work. First,
the bilge paint shadow looks like the muffler has been moved and twisted. There is an old screw showing that would normally be holding the muffler down. With these clues I suspect the muffler has been moved to accommodate a hose routing change or a replacement muffler. I have had my boat
for 25 years. During that time I had to replace or repair 1 muffler. Since I could not find a muffler with
matching inlet/outlet configuration I repaired rather than modify location. 5 Years ago I converted to 496 dry joint exhaust. This changed the hose locations. I took some of the change up in a slight lifting of the exhaust crossover pipe and the remaining with a 1 inch lift on the muffler using starboard. I would look at the muffler specs to see if they match the other side and take a look at the entire exhaust
system to see what else may have been changed requiring the 2x4 installation. As for the sound level, if a muffler is raised enough it might be changing the geometry of the water level inside partially changing the sound acoustics. spend some time staring at both engines and see where they do match.

 

[Wanderer 290]

I suspect the muffler was replaced with not an original design. Therefore the necessary elevation and incorrect geometry. Could have cracked and leaking or a cold start backfire blew it.

 

[Golfman25]

Yeah, I am pretty shure that scrap 2x4 isn't stock.