Last year the yard advised me to replace the exhaust hoses on my W13. I am in the process now and am looking at the mixing elbow wondering if it needs some help. I suspect it is original and I know it is 38 years old. Has anyone replace their mixing elbow and if so, how do I go about taking it out off?
Thanks in advance for your advice.
Randy Gadikian
Paisley Moon
Nonsuch 26C
RCR Yachts
Buffalo New York
Hi Randy -
How are things across the lake ?? When all of this mess goes away, we’ll come back down to Buffalo, a town that we really dig. Anyway, I have an outboard on my N22 so I don’t know squat about Westerbekes but I would imagine that you would have to find a supply of ELBOW GREASE to help get this thing off, no ?? Check Amazon.
Hey, at least it’s something to DO in the great outdoors - better than sitting on the couch.
Stay healthy, sir.
Ernie A. in Toronto
Hello Ernie,
The hoses in question have a reinforcing wire that runs through them that makes them really interesting to remove. I ended up cutting the hoses with a Sawzall into 3 pieces to get them out. I have one more hose end to take off. The one that exits the hull through the stern. It is very difficult to reach and on top of that once I got in place to work on it a downpour started, the wind kicked up and the ladder that I had leaning against the side of the boat fell to the ground in the wind. Fortunately I was able to retrieve the ladder with a boat hook and a rope.
Boating is an adventure.
Randy
Hi Randy
The exhaust elbow; 10 years ago when I replaced the hoses, looked in perfect condition. I understand that if the boat was in salt water the elbow tends to corrode much faster.
It’s hard to get the big new hose onto the injection elbow but if you don’t have to don’t unbolt the injection elbow from the engine. The new hose will go on if you unbolt and swing back the muffler. So far I have not removed the injection elbow from the manifold because these pipes are rusty iron and if I start unscrewing them I may have to do them all including the manifold. A project I may start this spring.
On the hose; my Insurance company required a survey when the boat was 30 years old. The surveyor said I had to replace the exhaust hoses because they were fuel hoses and not rated for exhaust. I don’t know why the survey when I bought the boat didn’t catch that.
The “fuel” hoses I took off looked original because they were quite dirty and used the original clamps. It was brittle and easy to cut up and remove, there is a wire inside that has to be cut.
The new exhaust hose has a blue stripe down the side and is for a “wet” exhaust. It was stiff and difficult to put in. If I did it again I might bring a heat gun and try a little prebend in the transom end.
Tom
26C #28 W13
Penetang
Hi Randy
I have to chain my ladder to the swim platform. Wind blows it over but it also likes to walk itself to other boats in the yard while I’m below even on a calm day..
Tom
Thanks for your great reply. It makes sense to swing back the muffler and I need to take it out anyway to retap the threads on the drain. The drain plug appears to be glued in place. Somehow I don’t think that it right.
Randy
Hi Randy
I believe that drain plug is a tapered thread. I don’t know what the threads are in the muffler but be careful with a tap. The glue might be someones attempt at stopping a leak where a little plumbers tape would be the answer.
In any case I have not removed this plug in many years. The winterizing method is to pull the raw water hose off the through hull, put it in a jug of pink plumbing antifreeze, and run the engine until the pink comes out the transom. This is much easier than removing and then reinstalling the plug(s).
Tom
Hi Tom,
I took the muffler right out as it was only held in by 4 screws. I believe you may be right about the glue being a substitute for plumbers tape. Now comes the fun part of installing new exhaust hose.
Randy