1999 SN SANK! Muffler cracked

[leif20]

Hello to all.

We have a 1999 SN that we use for tow sports, mainly waterskiing. Love the boat. No issues with it for the last 8 years until this year, when a neighbor found it beached, with water inside up until the seats. We had just left cottage, so our mechanic picked up the boat and found the hull hugger muffler had cracked right in half. I suspect it is from age and from taking some friends tubing over waves earlier this year (boat is usually used in the ski course, on calm lake).



The part was spitting water in to the hull, and after enough water I suppose it was enough to sink it. The mechanic is looking for any other water ingress points.

I'd like to know if this part is salvageable, with fiberglass repair. I know it's a relatively big job, but if I were to sand and prep the whole can around, could I add enough material to reinforce it and avoid having to buy a replacement? We are in Canada, so any part likely would come from the USA and cost major $$.

If not, I have heard of people running straight pipes. I am not totally opposed to that, I have read there are some rubber hoses that can withstand high temps. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Finally, given that the boat was sitting in water likely up to the head of the motor, what needs to be done to ensure the boat is safe to run? Obviously oil change, and probably lubricate any moving parts, but other than drying the boat out, is there anything special we need to do? I can run some electrical tests on components.

Thanks in advance!

[NautiqueJeff]

The part is readily available. With that much damage, I would suggest you just replace it. NautiqueParts is very familiar with shipping to Canada.

https://nautiqueparts.com/muffler-hull-hugger-1998/

Use discount code PND for 10% off.

[Rednucleus]

Since it sank your boat, I don't think repair is worth the risk. Also, do you not have an auto bilge pump hooked up?

[Scooter G]

I think I would tend to side with Rednucleus. It's a spendy bugger, but $900 is worth a whole bunch of peace of mind, over constantly worrying about if a mend is holding up or not.
Change oil & trans fluids, and I use CRC 3-36 as as light spray & wipe down for anything that might have moisture exposure under the hatches.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...e?ie=UTF8&th=1

[leif20]

Thanks guys for the replies. Yes, should bite the bullet and get a new part.

With respect to the bilge, I am not sure if it's an auto-bilge. Usually I have a look once a weekend and we hardly ever have water down there, so I don't often run it. I am not sure how it is wired, given the pushbutton switches I am not sure if it will be 'always on' if the switch is pushed. Unfortunately, I should have looked in to this before. An ounce of prevention...

With respect to the sink, how scared should I be the starter will seize up?

[northernoak]

Another option is to go the Fresh Air Exhaust route and get a muffler made from them. They claim to be cheaper than a new fiberglass muffler. Haven't personally gone this route so I'm not sure if they can even do it but it may be worth checking out.
https://www.freshairexhaust.com/home/mufflers/

[jpwhit]

Bilge pump won't keep up with a leak of that magnitude. And if it did, it would just be matter of day or so at the most before the battery was dead.

[Tom_H]

I'll be the contrarian and say it's absolutely fixable if you're half decent with glass work - can always reinforce the crap out of it while you're patching it. That being said, I'd probably just do a muffler delete - and straight pipe it out the back. The hose and fittings will still be pricy, but not $900 worth. I would skip an FAE kit if you're a skier, as it can/will effect your slalom wake with the tip dragging in the water. If you want to quiet it out back, clamp a silicone exhaust elbow to the back and cut it to be a little higher than the bottom of the hull

[leif20]

In the meantime, maybe I can straight-pipe it? What material are the exhaust hoses, I am not with the boat right now so I can't see.

Also, is this the y-pipe most people are using from centek?
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/225595396960

Obviously will have to get the right diameter part but wondering if that's what the part looks like.

[jpwhit]

Hello to all.

what needs to be done to ensure the boat is safe to run?

Transmission was likely completely underwater including the breather. So it'll likely have a lot of water inside. Hopefully you've already changed the fluid in that to prevent any internal corrosion. Keep changing the fluid until it comes out completely clean. May take anywhere from 3 - 5 changes.

If it were my boat, I'd just go ahead and install a new starter. Even if the starter works now, it'll likely fail in the near future and potentially leave you stranded somewhere.

I'd take off and clean up the engine ground.

Any knock sensors will have been submerged. I'd take off the connectors and clean them up and spray with WD-40.

Sounds like the battery was submerged. So new battery and clean up all those connections.

The last main concern is the wiring harnesses that got submerged. I'd just look around for all of the harnesses that got submerged. disconnect any connectors that were underwater and spray with WD-40

[leif20]

Thanks to all for the replies. I looked at the muffler at the mechanic last weekend and it is totally gone, all the baffles are loose and the crack is quite large. We will be replacing it with new. Insurance is annoying when you don't need it, but in this case we will make good use of it.