Hi. I'm the happy long term owner of a Columbia 28, MK II, built in 1970, and owned since 1974. I've sailed it all over Long Island Sound, down the coast to the Chesapeake, all over the Chesapeake, and now in a small inland Lake in Virginia. Most of these miles were with my then wife, and two small children. Over the last few years, my aging boat has developed a problem with its exhaust system. It still has the original Palmer M60 gasoline engine, 4 cylinder L head, a then competitor for the more popuilar Atomic 4. The exhaust has a welded steel water jacket over the exhaust pipe. Down flow of that, the steel exhaust pipe sweeps up in presumably an antisiphon loop, between the rear of the cockpit and the transom, and then down to the exhaust. The top of this steel loop has become thin, and rusted/vibrated through to the point that exhaust leaks nicely into the engine compartment, the inside of the boat and comes rolling our the companionway hatch -- making the boat unusable. My question is -- have any owners of the inboard Columbia 28 or similar boat had and resolved this problem? I'd like to NOT cut through fiberglass at the aft end of the cockpit, and not go through a major yard job of pulling and replacing the engine, etc. I'd appreciate any advice and insight, and look forward to hearing from other Columbia 28 owners.
Columbia 28 MKII Exhaust problem - help!
- Thread starter Cool Hand
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Exhaust repair
My c-29 has a diesel and had some wacky vibrating mess of an exhaust along with the 27HP Isuzu desel. I hated the Isuzu and installed a 15 HP Yanmar aling with a nice little water lift muffler. But on my Pearson Triton (very similar to your C-28) I have a Palmer gas engine. When the exhaust rusted through I cut it out and installed a Vetus water lift muffler in it's place. If I were you that's what I would do now. <g> The original exhaust could be duplicated (I could do it) but to what gain? It takes up a lot of room, puts off too much heat, and the little ater lifts are far superior. And cheaper besides. <g> stephen ---------
My c-29 has a diesel and had some wacky vibrating mess of an exhaust along with the 27HP Isuzu desel. I hated the Isuzu and installed a 15 HP Yanmar aling with a nice little water lift muffler. But on my Pearson Triton (very similar to your C-28) I have a Palmer gas engine. When the exhaust rusted through I cut it out and installed a Vetus water lift muffler in it's place. If I were you that's what I would do now. <g> The original exhaust could be duplicated (I could do it) but to what gain? It takes up a lot of room, puts off too much heat, and the little ater lifts are far superior. And cheaper besides. <g> stephen ---------
Thanks for the replies
Ross -- I do have two access pannels in the liner or interior of the aft lazarette. I can see most of the water jacket muffler through the engine access pannel (the removable floor of the cockpit (about 30 screws)). I can see most of the the exhaust pipe through the lazarette access pannels. I ceratainly cannot reach all of it and cannot remove it without cutting it up -- for instance with a sawsall. Stephen -- I am only generally familiar with the water lift mufflers -- I have a more modern boat that has one. Where did you find your Ventus water lift muffler? Roughly what is the price? It seems like I'd have to get from the exhaust manifold to the water lift muffler with a custom steel pipe? In fact, is this not done with a water injection elbow piece? In thinking more about this, it seems like an easy solution would be to saw out the rusted out top of the exhaust pipe loop, and replace it with exhaust hose and a few hose clamps -- maybe good for another 10 years?? Other thoughts welcome! Cool Hand
Ross -- I do have two access pannels in the liner or interior of the aft lazarette. I can see most of the water jacket muffler through the engine access pannel (the removable floor of the cockpit (about 30 screws)). I can see most of the the exhaust pipe through the lazarette access pannels. I ceratainly cannot reach all of it and cannot remove it without cutting it up -- for instance with a sawsall. Stephen -- I am only generally familiar with the water lift mufflers -- I have a more modern boat that has one. Where did you find your Ventus water lift muffler? Roughly what is the price? It seems like I'd have to get from the exhaust manifold to the water lift muffler with a custom steel pipe? In fact, is this not done with a water injection elbow piece? In thinking more about this, it seems like an easy solution would be to saw out the rusted out top of the exhaust pipe loop, and replace it with exhaust hose and a few hose clamps -- maybe good for another 10 years?? Other thoughts welcome! Cool Hand
cool Hand , The exhaust system on my
boat consists of 5 ply exhaust hose and polyethylene mufflers. I don't know why they demand such quality hose connected to plastic mufflers that will melt at 400 degrees, but "they" do. I would cut out the bad sections and replace it with 5 ply hose. Your concern is the safety of crew and boat not pleasing some youngster in a uniform.
boat consists of 5 ply exhaust hose and polyethylene mufflers. I don't know why they demand such quality hose connected to plastic mufflers that will melt at 400 degrees, but "they" do. I would cut out the bad sections and replace it with 5 ply hose. Your concern is the safety of crew and boat not pleasing some youngster in a uniform.
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