TOO LOUD !!!!! possible inexpensive fix
 

Several of our SPBA club members have been getting ticketed on Seneca Lake for having switchable exhaust, or for being above our db limit -- one was even a f*$^& cruiser --

Our club Prez (Need-the-Speed) visited the local law enforcement office and the bottom line is that this enforcement is NOT going to go away :mad:

Sooooooooo --- i have a question for you "Formula" Owners -- A friend of mine, who has a Formula (it is "pretty boat" too :rolleyes:) has this Silent Thunder exhaust box that neatly attaches to the bottom of his swim platform -- i must say that i am very impressed with how effective it is at providing just the right amount of rumble, yet still be within the noise limits --

Therefore - can anyone tell me what the construction is internally -- This setup could easily be applied to my Fountain, or any other boat having an integrated swim platform --

i realize it is patented, but we can still build them without infringing on the patent, as long as we don't sell them -- Maybe a few (or many) could chip in and have the right resource develop molds for something like this, and possibly make it generic enough to fit several makes and models, singles or twins

So -- can someone help me with this, and maybe provide some pictures of this Silent Thunder system -- i have seen pics of Formulas with this system removed -- it must just bolt up to the bottom of the swim deck - and without a watertight seal maybe -- not sure though --

This might be a cheaper alternative to those good $1000 mufflers, or $2000 for you twin guys --

so what do you think :confused:

Re: TOO LOUD !!!!! possible inexpensive fix
 

what about the shot-guns that open and close automatically,, not illegal and will have that sound we all love above whatever rpm they fully open..

P.S. I got busted on lake george last month, luckily I had switchable eddie marine mufflers,,, the guy asked me if I had any silent choice or cut-outs I said nope, he told me to start the boat and KLUNK the tips enaged he didn't ask I barely passed with 98-102 db, later in the day guy we were with got busted for 250.00 108 DB, I'm sure I would have been right with him..

Re: TOO LOUD !!!!! possible inexpensive fix
 

That sucks what you guys have to deal with. :mad:

Re: TOO LOUD !!!!! possible inexpensive fix
 

BD,
Which is worse, noise regs or Manatee Zones? I'll go with the mufflers any day over IDLEING forever!
MD

Re: TOO LOUD !!!!! possible inexpensive fix
 

i had a set of shotguns on my cig with a 540 blower motor --- took the sharp bite out at idle but still too loud

This silent thunder has a deep throaty rumble - but super quiet at idle -- engine in the Formula is an HP 500 -- they have more compression than a blower motor so it really works well

Re: TOO LOUD !!!!! possible inexpensive fix
 

about that "pretty boat"....didn't you mean "pretty friggin fast boat" ? :D

i agree with you. the sound is just right. seems to me that the silent thunder platform idea could be duplicated pretty easily. seems to be a real simple set up and as long as you weren't selling it, i don't think there would be a patent infringement problem.

Re: TOO LOUD !!!!! possible inexpensive fix
 

On the fountains with the swim platforms i have always wanted to try and just attach a formed piece plexyglass under the swim platform to close off that opening you have.....i think with that small piece inplce it would realy quiet the fountains down alot since the exhaust would have to bubble out from undernieth the boats swim platform at that point???? any thoughts???

Re: TOO LOUD !!!!! possible inexpensive fix
 

DAMN, Chamber; Is "Senator Randy" moving the "anti performance boating" campaign east from Keuka to Seneca?? I could have a stroke, but I just might to have to vote for a Dem. this time. --- JP

Re: TOO LOUD !!!!! possible inexpensive fix
 

Wow Troutly - nice looking job -- i did a similar setup on my cigarette - it was not nearly as clean looking as yours -- i used cast aluminum 90's and hose -- what did you use -- looks like your 90's are attached right to the tips

your setup does indeed work at idle too - it works great in that respect and doesn't take power away at high speeds

I still want to try and figure out if a setup like Formula would work though -- I see you have a Formula - did you have that Silent Thunder on that?????


and to you jpclear - i think i will change my vote as well this year

and M2 - you do have a pretty boat

Re: TOO LOUD !!!!! possible inexpensive fix
 

Are those HPI's? :rolleyes: :)

Re: TOO LOUD !!!!! possible inexpensive fix
 

thanks Troutly for the info - nice setup -- i think i will try those elbows -- when you first said they were rubber i couldn't believe they would take the heat because my rubber hoses burned out just before the elbows (but then i remembered my exhaust was dry to the tips -- a little bit hotter :rolleyes: )

this setup of yours is definitely worth looking into -- i will try it next spring -- boat is out of water now - blew head gasket between #5 & #7 on my 575SCi - that incompressible water stuffed the top ring lands into the second ring - had to buy two new pistons (by the way - if you don't want to change all the pistons, you have to buy these "custom" ones from Mercury at $180 a POP :hothead: - that sucked )

anyhow - i took a look at your photo album -- i see you have the ITS's -- you mentioned you could not use Silent Blunder with that setup -- my question is, would you have used it if you could have ?? if not - why not -- so i don't waste time looking into that idea any further :confused:

Re: TOO LOUD !!!!! possible inexpensive fix
 

So where do you get these things.

Re: TOO LOUD !!!!! possible inexpensive fix
 

Put S pipes in, underwater at idle, loud at on plane speeds.

Re: TOO LOUD !!!!! possible inexpensive fix
 

By installing these rubber hoses and haveing them in the water at idle, What are the chances of reversion?

Re: TOO LOUD !!!!! possible inexpensive fix
 

NEVER have even heard of reversion with the S pipes.

Check out Corsa.

Know someone with the Troutly Solution, and no problems, they used PVC pipe.

Re: TOO LOUD !!!!! possible inexpensive fix
 

OK then --- I am going to give up on this Formula Silent Blunder idea i guess - if i get my motor back in the boat within the next couple weeks, i will go out and buy some of those Troutly Snufflers :D

then i will db the thing, with and without at idle -

plus db it at speed like the law states, with and without the snufflers

The enforcement boys here have only been testing for noise at idle, so this deal may be a cheap fix for us - at least for a while maybe :o -- thanks for all the inputs -- i will post the results

Re: TOO LOUD !!!!! possible inexpensive fix
 

I'll sell you my silent choice for $500

Re: TOO LOUD !!!!! possible inexpensive fix
 

The silent thunder is part of the swim platform. It does not bolt up under the swim platform. I would think that the cost of doing it nice would cost you more then something like Troutly has or the GGB's even.

Jon

Re: TOO LOUD !!!!! possible inexpensive fix
 

Like Audio said, Silent Thunder IS the swim platform. The whole thing is hollow and fills with water from the bottom when you put the boat in the water. At idle the exhaust has to go thru this water to get out the tips. When on plane, the water goes out both the exhaust outlets and the filler holes in the bottom of the platform.

'Foul

Re: TOO LOUD !!!!! possible inexpensive fix
 

I think newer ..... 93 + ...like on 312's does bolt under the swim platform ...But I think Audiofn is right ...I would go muffler route ....

Re: TOO LOUD !!!!! possible inexpensive fix
 

Another thought- In Ohio it is illegal if the exhaust is switchable from the HELM.

Think about it ;)

Re: TOO LOUD !!!!! possible inexpensive fix
 

Here's a pic of the bolt-under (1993+) style platform. Mine had the same cracking issues that Troutly mentioned, the whole seam at the bottom of the pic was blown out.

Re: TOO LOUD !!!!! possible inexpensive fix
 

You can have the Silent Thunder box off my 93 Formula 303 if you pay for the shipping. This is the type that bolts onto the bottom of the swim platform. It's heavy.

The boats for sale so, I don't think I'll need it.

Bob

Re: TOO LOUD !!!!! possible inexpensive fix
 

Good info - thanks all - however i went and bought the rubber 90's and stainless T-bolt clamps like Troutly did -- i bought at the truck parts shop like he said to -- and at the same price - $50 for a single engine set-up -- nice stuff -- thanks Troutly

Our club had a meeting last month (SPBA) and we discussed the NYS law - very confusing :confused: -- it appears that our non-motor head politicians passed a law for exhaust by copying a law about cut-outs on the old hotrods -- for you young guns, cutouts were holes cut in stock exhaust systems (or even systems with headers) ahead of the mufflers - when you wanted to race or just be cool :cool: you opened a slide gate or such to dump the exhaust

Well it appears that our NYS politicians figured :eureka: all we need to do is copy that, and waaa laaah !!!! -------- :mad: dumb Ss&%$'s

so our law reads that we can not have any type of cut-outs or by-passes on our exhaust systems -- even though the by-passes that we have direct the exhaust thru the prop to quiet the bi#*^'s down at idle --

like i said before - a club member with a cruiser, who is well under 90 dB, got a ticket from a just trained deputy because he had silent choice -- gotta love it !!!!

it would make more sense if they eliminated all the BS about the cutouts and just state that you have to be = to or < than 90 dB at idle +/- 3% error. :drink:

Re: TOO LOUD !!!!! possible inexpensive fix
 

I installed Troutly's $50 rubber mufflers --- they seem to work well but the proof is in the dB readings!

Carney is going to measure my sound level this weekend and I will report back the results - i will get a picture too of the set-up -- simple deal :p

Re: TOO LOUD !!!!! possible inexpensive fix
 

For $50.00 I'll take a shot in the dark and orderd me up a set!!!

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you'll never notice them under a swim platform, but what about hanging off the back of the transom?

Re: TOO LOUD !!!!! possible inexpensive fix
 

I have a swim platform off the back of my boat plus the hull is black...doesn't get any better than that for me anyway. Im not going to put them on till I get hasseled but will carry them on board. :cool:

Re: TOO LOUD !!!!! possible inexpensive fix
 

If you need something that looks better than black elbows, i think it is Gibson that offers the polished SS Sweep that are rather long, to reach down into the water from the higher mounted exhausts.

More than $50 though :eek:

Re: TOO LOUD !!!!! possible inexpensive fix
 

I'm screwed either way... i've got clearance issues w/ my hyd. steering rams.

Re: TOO LOUD !!!!! possible inexpensive fix
 

You are going to see in the pictures that I rotated my elbows towards the outside a little, not because of interference, but to ensure that I didn't blow hot exhaust onto my rams during WOT.

Lots of heat, even though it is wet.

Re: TOO LOUD !!!!! possible inexpensive fix
 

Where to h&&l is hector? Sounds like a guy that has not come home yet. Hector Home of Red cat.

Re: TOO LOUD !!!!! possible inexpensive fix
 

Troutly, I like the Snufflers! I think you were misinformed about the ITS not being able to use the switchables. It has an extension tube in the box that is there expressly for the ability to hook up the thru-hub pipe in exactly the same location as the standard Bravo. They just put the block off plate on it if you don't use it. You are right though about the Stellings box, there is already alot going on in the box with the extra driveline and the ability to adjust the drive height.

Re: TOO LOUD !!!!! possible inexpensive fix
 

Sorry about the confusion, I should have read more carefully. The extra X height must raise the ITS enough to interfere because the ITS housing is close to the same height on the transom as a Bravo. The Stellings box is probably higher yet to allow X adjustment above crank centerline.

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Hector? Hell, I don't even know her!
Hector is down the road from Valois.

My Aunt ran the General Store/Post Office, in Valois, many years ago.

Re: TOO LOUD !!!!! possible inexpensive fix
 

http://www.drewmarine.com/ seem to work well with my 502Mag
reduces 10-14dba from a no muffler setup. I got stopped they looked under the hatch, checked my saftey gear and went on there way.
never said anything except I should carry one of those canned airhorns
as a backup :D

Re: TOO LOUD !!!!! possible inexpensive fix
 

I like the insert idea. I was wondering if there was that option available. The 38zx has rectangular exhaust ports that I really didn't want to have to modify. The inline option I will try. Thanks for the tip.

Mike

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Well, the weather was too crappy to do the dB reading, but here is a picture to show how I angled the Troutly Rubber Mufflers outward to keep the heat off the steering rams and hoses. I will try and get sound level readings after I get back in town later in week, and will report.

Sorry for the appearance with all the black on the transom - just rebuilt engine and rings have not seated yet - went thru a qt of oil first couple times out.

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/a...d=143196&stc=1

Re: TOO LOUD !!!!! possible inexpensive fix
 

Well we had our County Sheriff noise test session last weekend -- the SPBA club that is -

The Troutly snufflers recorded an 88.3 dB actual, and 85.3 corrected (they give the boater the benefit of any possible error - so we get 3 dB deducted)

We had 4 boats fail (barely) out of about 17 or so -- so all in all, it was a good day

No tickets were issued -- our club was actually helping out the local sheriffs department by giving them some data so they could try and shut up the habitual complainers on our lake -- these "do gooders" think it is their lake, and think no one else should use it (ie: jet skis and power boats). They were quite pleased that we would work with them and give them some ammunition. It was like they were on our side !!

Anyhow -- the snufflers worked great -- thanks again :D

Re: TOO LOUD !!!!! possible inexpensive fix
 

Hector is directly across the Lake from Dundee, where I have one of my offices.

And it is north of Watkins Glen where the Indy Racing League was testing on Wednesday. They return for a race in September. :evilb:

Anyone want to buy a brand new Corsa Captain's Call ?(switchable thru prop or thru transom)

A buddy of mine has one and got ticketed last summer. :eek:

I've added an ITS and do not have room for the Capt's Call, so am going with Livorsi E series mufflers on tips with internal flappers . Fred at Trick Marine suggested them.

Does anybody have these and what is your experience? I hope to be testing mine soon when the boat comes back from the rigger.