specialized tool fro removing baffles in silent thunder swim platform
 

So. after 2 years of discussion, contemplation, analysis, and planning, i bought this specialized tool to remove the baffles in my 272 swim platform silent thunder.

11 minutes and it is over, donewith, gone!!! sounds great and i didn't have to remove the platform to perform the work

:D

WERE is the DUCT TAPE!!!!!!!:p :p :D :D

... and the drywall screws:D

Tell us more:confused: Did you go through the exhaust outlets or what:confused: Inquiring mind want to know:D No really, you use a looooooong blade or what. Just nice to know for future reference:D

it was so stupid easy.

I first tried a 2.5" hole saw. it wouldn't fit through the rectangle openings without slipping in sideways. so i did that, then attached the extension bar, and then my drill.

so i drilled and drilled and pushed and grunted. barely cut the baffle. touched the saw and screamed!!!!. dang it was hot:rolleyes:

this isn't working...... so I get this brain fart. get the sawzall!!!!!.
( I AM a self proclaimed Sophistikated Rednek)

I had a long blade. I poke the saw blade and the small guide plate into the opening. the guide plate now is on the inside. and I start at the bottom of the baffle, (1" gap at bottom for water/exhaust to escape). I start sawing and in 5 seconds I'm at the top of the baffle. I swing a large arc and end at the bottom again. a big doghouse opening. Done!!!! I can see the thru hull plain as day. move on to the others. 11 minutes and I am done.

Heard it the first time at the Grand Haven races this weekend. sounds kind of (flowmaster-y) if you know what I mean. nice idle sound. wife didn't even notice, but my friends did (PERFECT) louder on plane too but still sophisticated formula sound!!!!

I like it...


next..........

Thanks, I gotta take a look at mine. My port one is noticably louder than the starboard. Because I have to start my starboard first or I have a hard time it over the port if it already running. Perhaps I'm missing my port baffle or baffles, I hope:D . My port one sounds like what you described. Maybe I'll have to "fix" my right side next:rolleyes:

Not that I'm doubting you or anything, but you couldn't get through that baffle with a hole saw? When I was in technical assistance, that's what I always told people to do and never got a call back...But I can see how a sawz-all would definitely have some attitude for that job! How much flex did you get with that extension blade?

And you want to be thanking God that you didn't have to pull that platform off the back of the boat to do the job.

based on the temperature of the whole saw, and my singed fingers, I'd say I had a pretty dull one:rolleyes:

also, the first baffle i "worked on" had already released on the sides and was flexing in like a doggie door as I tried to push and drill. so I got a little mad, chucked the drill, and Got the manly tool:mad:

shoulda saw (no pun intended) the smile on my face when it cut it like butter.

Well, more detail (sorry I'm an engineer :rolleyes: ) the piece I cut was too large to slip out the opening, so I grabbed it with a vicegrip and then cut IT down the middle with the sawzall into to pieces, then removed them.


UPDATE. I just got back from a family vacation in Northern Michigan ( Torch lake, rated the third most beautiful lake in the world by National geographic, blue as the carribean and NO salt water!!)

anyway, the boat sounds awesome, especially through the river tunnel under the road leading to the lake:cool:

I'm happy.

I did talk to a guy up there with a 357 and Kaama's, my next boat!!!!???????

Yeah, but my single engine Baja is STILL louder than your TWIN engine Formula Rambunctious!!! LOL!!!!

wouldn't know mike, can't hear your boat when I am in front of you. ( like... all the time.....)

:D

boilermaker. I am planning to pull the platform this winter.:(
The previous owner had it off once to fix the cracking in the platform at the upper attachement plates/bolts. didn't do the best gelcoat job. I plan to remove and repair the areas and then make larger stainless plates to spread the load some more as you can see some warping of the platform around those existing plates.

He told me it was heavy. but I have a 2 ton cherry picker and think that will do the trick, jsut gotta get my 4 year old down in the bilge to loosen those hard to reach bolts. also need to replace the rubber seals while i'm at it. are they available still?

any suggestions/trick to put it back together right?

Rambunctious, did you seal the holes you cut with anything? I only have a single 454 , but would like more sound.:D

I did not seal anything. the baffle is about 1/4" thick fiberglass

in most cases, the sealed edges of this piece attaching it to the sidewall of the chamber is in tact, in one, the whole thing cam loose, sealant and all. that's waht started this.

see my most excellent scale drawing:rolleyes:

Rambunctious,
I posted a reply in another thread regarding removal, repair, gasket replacement and reinstalltion of the platform. Also, I did replace the little, whimpy backing plates behind the upper u-bolts with 3/16" stainless plates shaped to span and fit the entire recessed area where the u-bolts go thru the platform. Looks pretty trick too!

The following is a copy of my other post. I've done this job on two different Formulas so tell me if I can help you out.

Hey Craig, I'm on my third Formula now. Its a 311. Had the platform off my 242 and my 311 because of exhaust leaks. There are two different sets of gaskets in there. One set is a round foam deal that seals the exhaust tip to the backside of the platform. the other is a peripheral gasket that goes all around the outside edge of the board. The round ones at the tips are the ones that seal the exhaust. Taking the platform off is not too hard but its pretty heavy, need two guys for sure. When its off, check for delamination between the fiberglass face on the back of the platform and the oak backing board. If it is delaminated a bit, get some acatone and rinse the space a bit. Then inject as much 3M 5000 adhesive in there as you can. Clamp it and let it cure real well. This needs to be done or it will get worse and worse. The round gaskets have no adhesive on them. Spread a little contact cement on both the gasket and the platform to keep it in place while installing the platform. The long peripheral gasket is pre-glued. Hope this helps you visualize whats in store for you. Like I said, I've done it twice (basically rebuilt my 311 platform) so let me know if you need any more info.

rambunctious, Thank you for the great illistration,Idid not realize it was solid glass,but I should have known better. I have one other concern, when Itook out my engine this summer I noticed I did not have any butterfly flaps ,as the exhaust goes thru the transom, should I be concerned with water coming back in? Thanks for any feed back.

I'm by no means an expert,

but my flaps are gone too., however, my previous boat was a 211 liberator with strait thru hulls, no flaps, no cans, no baffles,
( no silent thunder). it seems the slope of the exhaust is what is critical per things i have read around here.

not to say you shouldn't replace them. but I don't plan to.
boilerdaddy may have some input from formula's testing way back.......

just to clarify, the left pic in my illustration is the rear view of the left exhaust chamber, the right, of course the side view.

so the solid glass I think you refer to, is just a piece of 1/4" glass "bonded" on three sides to the chamber and with 1" gap at bottom, and about 6" forward of the outside square exhaust tip.

on three of the chambers, i left the bonds alone and did the doggydoor cutout......, the forth, I just cut the entire loose,rattling piece in half and removed.

shine a flashlight in there, and you will say,. "ooooooooooohh, duh...that's simple..."

RAMBUNCTIOUS, thank you nice pics.

RAMBUNCTIOUS,

Ours will be gone this weekend! Thanks for the info.

The blade will be sharp.

Formula you become a member this one yas pictures :D:D

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Waterfoul
Yeah, but my single engine Baja is STILL louder than your TWIN engine Formula Rambunctious!!! LOL!!!! QUOTE

But it's still a Baja.....LOL

Re: specialized tool fro removing baffles in silent thunder swim platform
 

this is rambuntious

to the top for the 357 guys

Hey Ramb thanks for the pic and the advise going to remove it tommorrow night wil let you know it turns out thanks again for the info

this werks well too ...

hi guys i am new to formula as most i wanted a louder sounding boat i took the silent thunder panel off wasent bad to do a little heavey but did i order crome angle tips with water traps in side cant wait to put them on i will save plat form in case i sell boat for bigger one. i have 2001 fasttech 312 great shape with twin 6.2 with 58 hrs on it . boat does 67 mph trimed to max. thanks dave