[C320-list] Aqua-lift muffler question

[Scott Thompson]

Which goes to show the difference in boats.  On my '99 model the muffler 
  drain is on the aft side and bow up blocking would help.  When I'm 
winterizing the engine I let it run dry for a little while (no more than 
30 seconds) before I start adding the antifreeze in part to help push 
any remaining water out of the muffler through the exhaust.  I also let 
it run dry for a bit afterwards to make sure that most of the antifreeze 
I pour in goes all the way through the system.  I find that after this 
only a small amount comes out of the muffler.  I don't measure it, but 
it can't be more than a quart, and probably is less.

Out of curiosity, have you ever asked the club to not store bow high?  I 
had a complaint one year on my last boat when they did this and I found 
that some water that leaked in through an aft window ran to the back of 
the boat where I couldn't easily pump it out.  It was also a pain if I 
spilled liquids in the sink, which wouldn't drain either.  To top it 
off, the scuppers in the cockpit of that boat were at the forward end, 
causing water to accumulate in the back of the cockpit, contributing to 
the previously mentioned leak.  Boats are designed to drain when sitting 
on their lines, and I've never understood why some yards think its best 
to block them bow up.

David Gleason wrote:
> Warren:
> 
> Your problem of not getting any water out of the muffler may be do to a
> bow high position when shored up.  Our club always stores with a
> noticeable bow high attitude.  This causes the water in the muffler to
> run to the back of the muffler and away from the drain hole.  When I have
> drained the muffler prior to haul out, I only got a quart or two.  If you
> ran antifreeze through the engine, then you should probably be safe.  If
> you are really worried, you can remove the muffler and drain it.
> 
> Dave Gleason
> Proud Mary, #150
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Thu, 30 Nov 2006 12:59:04 -0500 "Warren Updike" <wupdike at hotmail.com>
> writes:
>> I tried to drain my muffler for the winter and got nothing out.  A 
>> wire inserted in the petcock made no difference.  I removed the 
>> petcock and still no water.  I inserted the wire into the whole 
>> quite a ways and could get no water.  Is there something I'm 
>> missing?
>>
>> Should there always be residual water in the muffler?  Shouldn't it 
>> drain via the petcock?
>>
>> For those who have undertaken a muffler repair and seen the insides 
>> of the thing, perhaps you can tell me what might be going on here.
>>
>> Warren & Pattie Updike
>> C320, #62, 1994, "Warr De Mar"
>> Frog Mortar Creek, Middle River
>> Chesapeake Bay
>>
>>