I bought a 265 DVX with a 7.4 litre late last year and the previous owner left the exhaust stock. It was OK for a little while but I want to make noise now (wifes not happy about this idea). I'd like to put a silent choice style exhaust on but know there are a few differnt choices on the market. Anyone have any suggestions as to which is the best bang for the buck or best quality?

Also, I may just put straight thru hull on it for the time being and add the silent choice style exhaust later down the road. Does putting straight thru hull on before any adjustable exhaust pose any problems?

Any advice on what equipment to use if I go ahead with strictly thru hull?

Don't mean to ask a million questions at once, first boat with a bigger motor!

Thanks for the help!

Just want to point out that if your boat has the stock "Y" pipe that directs the exhaust through the propeller, you have to pull the engine to install the "block off" plate on the inside gimbel unit. Your first idea might be better, because you need the y-pipe for the switchable exhaust systems. Corsa Performance is whom I would suggest. At one time they made a nice manual system you had to switch by hand, at a great price.

http://www.corsaperf.com/marine.htm

XT

Naahhh, he can easily block off the Y-pipes using the existing rubber boots, some silicon, and a pair of the black rubber block off plates from the hardware store. I temporarily blocked mine off this way until I can get some diverters fabricated for my Lightnings, and it works fine - no leaks at all. If worried about doing it that way, someone was selling a pair of aluminum oval block off plates in the swap shop that would work.

It wouldn't be that much more work or money to go ahead and buy the diverters and make it functional. There were a few sets of the Merc Silent Choice setups in the swap shop for a reasonable price.

If you are not worried about making it switchable, here is a company on ebay that fabricates a diverter with no butterfly that woutes it out both the prop and transom, like the Corsa Quick 'n Quiet.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MARIN...ssoriesQ5fGear

You know, I know I'm new here to the forum, but not to hot-rod boating, and my real experience comes from being a retired Coast Guard Damage Controlman and having a 50-ton USCG Master License. On behave of all active duty Coasties in your area, please make that set-up as temporary as you can.

Someone advising against noise coming from a powerboat on a powerboat forum! Something isn't right.






I would suggest keeping the Y pipe and using the Captain's Call set up if you are just keeping it stock but wanting noise. If you go with the right tips you'll also get just a little more noise. And you probably would even hear the difference between the true through vs. the Quick and Quites in my opinion.

I have a set Quick and Quite for sale if you are interested, PM me your email address and I can get some pictures to you.

Don't think he was talking about the noise. He was talking about the tempoary fix with the rubber hoses and block off plates.

True! I loves me some noise. Just advising against the effortless ability to sink and sink fast. No bilge pump on a 27' boat is that big.

But I am on board with you on the Silent Choice. Pinellas County Florida is cracking down hard on boats with straight pipes. I too am considering switching from Quick-n-Quiet to full switchable exhaust. I just struggle with "if it's too loud, you're too old." Let us know what you end up with.

I will tell ya that I love them loud but after a ticket and we even run mufflers, I wouldnt mess with it! I would seriously listen to XT's advice they used to build them and still work on them, if that is how they say to do it i would not question them at all! Short cuts are not worth it in this field.

Bottom line you will most likely end up regretting doing it after the cost and first noise ticket.

Oh, this makes muck more sense. Sorry, I was never the sharpest tack in Reading Comprehension 101.

A sinking ship is a bad thing to say the least! The block off plate is a pretty solid set up and I too would advise against the rubber caps. But to do the block off plate you will need to pull the engine like XT said. The block off plate the exact same concept, attachment, seal and bolts as the Y plate. The block off plate even gives you the extra hole for all 5 bolts verse just 4 on the Y. It is a permanent fix and the kit is available from Merc.

I just switched to the true through with CMI headers and I am expecting to have some issues. If they get to be a little too much I will add the switchable tips. But until then... I will keep the noise.

We have talked about this topic many times. If you are planning on keeping the engine stock get the switchable exhaust. If you are planning on engine upgrades go strait through the hull. Bigger cams need long exhaust or it will suck water back into the engine. If you boat in places were the WP crack down on noise you can get the switchable mufflers. You will probably gain about a MPH on a stock engine. Mine is loud all the time, there are times I would like to have the switchable back. But things must be sacrificed for speed.....