Source for surge tubes

[Captned]

Greetings all,

Looking to replace my leaky-patched monel surge tubes. Any suggestions? I'm located in Miami. Is it worth making them myself? Can I?

Cheers,

Ned

 

[DCMY #92]

What is a surge tube?

 

[Captned]

Its sorta a generic term for the part of the exhaust system that is in between your shower elbows and the exhaust hose leading to your muffler. It combines each side of your engines raw water cooled exhaust and also provides a tube extension that helps keep water out of your engine when you are backing up and water is getting forced back up your exhaust system. Did I describe that right? I will provide a picture. Mine are original, 28 years old, made of Monel I believe and are rusting out from the inside in spots. I have patched them several times and I am getting tired of doing that. I am looking for a company that makes replacements. I contacted Marine Exhaust System in Riviera beach. They make them but seemed to be on the "Pricey" side. About $1750 per side AND I have to bring them the old ones so they can build the new ones. Being a livaboard, I dont know if I want to have TWO giant holes in my boat while they are making them....I also wonder if I could make them myself.. Hell, why I dont wrap the damn things in Fibreglass and resin?

Cheers,

Captned
78 46 CON

 

[jim rosenthal]

When Blue Note was repowered the surge tubes and exhausts were made of fiberglass. Would it be easier to use FRP tubing and just saw off the Monel pieces that are rusty? I don't know what your setup looks like. FRP tubing is available from Centek and Vernatone, I think. Also short silicone hose sections and big clamps to put it all together. Mine are painted, but they don't have to be.

 

[DCMY #92]

Thanks for the description. I hadn't heard them referred to by that name before.

Our '65 DCMY was originally a gas boat. By the time I bought her in '82 the PO had installed a pair of DDC 6V53s with carbon steel exhaust risers (completely shot of course). Right away I built new risers and crossovers from 0.180" wall 4" diameter stainless steel pipe (or tubing as this thin wall stuff is often called). These are still working fine, although I have had to repair a few cracks in my not-very-professional welds over the years.

The PO never changed the exhaust system behind the engines from 3.5" to the required 5". Neither did I until about 8 years ago. When I made the change I used 5" fiberglass wet marine exhaust pipe. I think the shop I bought it from got it from Glenn-Mar marine supply. If you use fiberglass pipe be sure to support and align it well so it does not see significant strain. Otherwise it will crack some day.

If your exhaust components are mechanically sound (not falling apart), but only leaking from pin holes and small cracks, you might try coating them with an open weave fiberglass cloth (looks something like the stuff Home Depot sells for drywall repair) and something like Durabond 7032 Stainless Putty (www.cotronics.com/catalog/index.htm). It's good to 2000 F.

 

[mtadamek]

Try looking up "hardin marine" on the internet. I think they have all the old plans for a lot of exhaust part. I would not know price, but it is worth a try.

 

[mtadamek]

nevermind. That is not it. I will try and find it.

 

[34Hatt]

Hey Captned got just got your email!

Yes I made my own surge tubes out of fiberglass exhaust tube. It wasn't too bad at all hardest part is where the tubes come in on a angle. You have to play around to get the cut right its not just a circle its a ellipse type of cut.
Glued everything together with west system and no I did not reinforce where the clamps go the tube is all ready strong enough for that.

 

[Captned]

Thanks dan!

Lets see what happens!

Cheers!

Captned

 

[bdewar]

We made our own. Bought straight fiberglass tubes, fabricated the surge tube and made a transition from 10 inch tubes to the 8 inch exhaust coming off the engines. We used 24-15 fiberglass fab mat and epoxy. It was not that difficult. I bought the fiberglass tubes from Marine Supply and Oil in St. Augustine, FL