Asbestos?

[Plymouth Sailor]

I believe I’ve seen this material before however not sure the makeup of this seemingly terrycloth wrap. Could it possible be asbestos?

 

[Davidasailor26]

Asbestos was used in some wraps like that. I don't know if there's an easy way to tell if that's what's in yours, but it is possible.

 

[WayneH]

Wet it down if you are going to disturb it. That will keep the loose fibers from flying around. You might want to wear a dust mask, also. At my previous place of employment, you would have needed a Tyvex throw away suit to cover your clothes. We treated all insulation as asbestos until proven otherwise by lab test. Better safe than dying of lung cancer.

Edit: Replacing the wrap will allow you to check the piping on the system. Look for soot under the wrapping and corrosion at the joints.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

You would need to have it analyzed under a microscope to determine definitively but why bother? Just assume it is, wet it down as Wayne suggested and have the yard dispose of it with their hazardous waste stream. As long as it’s wetted, it’s not an inhalation hazard.

 

[Crusty Ol Salt]

What year is your boat?
Asbestos use dropped through out the 80s and was mostly eliminated in the 90s.

I am betting terry cloth towels. That said, the only way to tell is have it tested.

 

[dlochner]

The next question is "What do I replace it with?" Fiberglass muffler tape. Find it in the high performance section of the your local auto parts dealership. And do replace it. Prior to having cooling water injected in to the exhaust, the pipe can reach temperatures of 800° or more.

 

[kloudie1]

Some of that stuff was fiberglass but as previously stated, wet it down thoroughly to eliminate risk of it being asbestos.. something like this would replace it. :
Amazon.com: Design Engineering 010131 Titanium 2" x 25' Exhaust Heat Wrap with LR Technology : Automotive

 

[rgranger]

I would do more than just wet it before I disturb it (BTW-one of my job roles is to serve as the chemical hygiene officer at my work and I work with abatement teams on a regular basis). I would coat it or wrap it (duct tape or similar)... then remove the entire pipe and replace the pipe and wrap the new pipe with something more suitable. If you just wet the old pipe ... it becomes a potential hazard (down the line) as soon as the water evaporates. Definitely wear a mask... 3M at Lowes or Home Depot etc.

 

[MikeHoncho]

Use soapy water. The soap breaks the water tension and allows for the water to soak into the material.

 

[jssailem]

Use soapy water.

those and a sharp knife were my tools of choice when I had to remove muffler wrap.

As @dlochner shares, the fiberglass wrap is a tool of choice to protect you and the boat from burns.