Exhaust tube flappers or grills

[Jims43DC]

I have had a problem with muskrats thinking that the exhaust tubes are a perfect place to make a home in our 1980 43' DCFB exhaust tubes . After I discover them and their living arrangements I have been stuffing a fenders inside the tubes to act as stoppers which is a chore to do every time we run the boat. She isn't a dockqueen and gets run a few times a week during the summertime when she is in the water. Does anyone else have an issue like this? What's your solution?

Before I set about trying to make a permanently installed flapper for the exhaust tubes. I was wondering if anyone knows where to source them. Either a flapper or a set of grills.

I live in fear that they will decide to chew their way into the boat and cause extensive damage or sink it. They go in quickly after i shut down sometimes and once this past fall I invertanly trapped one on the wrong side of the fender and was lucky to hear it gnawing on the fender which I pulled out to see a 3 inch hole chewed in it.

I have shot a few of them that I have seen swimming around the area I slip at.

 

[skirunnr]

https://hurleymarine.com/shop/muskrat-otter-guards/muskrat-otter-exhaust-guards/

 

[SKYCHENEY]

I made my own "screens" out of a 2" chuck of 4" stainless pipe and some stainless bolts arranged around that pipe in a star pattern and tightened into the exhaust for a friction fit. The cost was minimal and

 

[Jims43DC]

I made my own "screens" out of a 2" chuck of 4" stainless pipe and some stainless bolts arranged around that pipe in a star pattern and tightened into the exhaust for a friction fit. The cost was minimal and

I think I am going that route

Thanks for the reply

 

[Jims43DC]

https://hurleymarine.com/shop/muskrat-otter-guards/muskrat-otter-exhaust-guards/

Thanks for the reply

 

[warrenw]

I find the Hurley pieces a bit pricey, though they are pretty reasonable compared to insurance deductible. On my last boat I bought heavy SS mesh on eBay and cut it into rounds a bit oversized and jammed them into the exhaust outlets.

On my latest boat I'm going a different route, I ordered 2 of these:

https://drainageproducts.us/6-stainless-steel-mesh-animal-guards/

I plan on test fitting them in a couple of weeks and will let you know how well they work.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

The ones I made look almost exactly like the Hurley style at a fraction of the price. Use the photo of the Hurley guards as your guide.

 

[JoshuaHall]

The thread was "Strange debris in exhaust pipes"

 

[Jims43DC]

The ones I made look almost exactly like the Hurley style at a fraction of the price. Use the photo of the Hurley guards as your guide.

That is the plan I am going with , those from Hurley are for sure a tad overpriced for what they are.