Exhausted -- finally

Ms. Bettencourt has been immobilized for more than a month, with what turned out to be a stopped up exhaust system. It was like someone had stuck a potato up her exhaust pipe, but instead of a potato, it was a rust clot about the size of a tennis ball.

So, now we have an all new exhaust system.

The new mixing elbow is affixed to the aft end of the formerly rusty, newly-painted exhaust manifold. That red hose delivers raw water to the elbow to mix with and cool the exhaust gases.

(You can click on a photo to enlarge for greater detail).

We also installed a new segment of nearly- inflexible 2-inch wire-reinforced wet exhaust hose. This runs from the lower end of the mixing elbow downward to a 90-degree fiberglass elbow then out the back of the engine box. Exhaust gases and cooling water are then routed through....

... a new fiberglass muffler, brought in at the last moment to replace the 41-year-old original equipment rubber muffler which was found to have a hole in its underside.

With its exhaust unimpeded, Ms. Bettencourt's old engine now seems to be working happily.





Please note that this job was done in 2013. Next year, (tomorrow) I will set to work building a new deck panel that will accommodate the new exhaust mixing elbow, which is somewhat larger than its predecessor. After that, I'll have to clean and repaint all the places that got smoked, gashed, scratched and smeared with grease during the exhaust replacement project.

Maintenance can be tiring. I'll sure be happy when cruising season gets here.