I picked up some nice used GGB exhaust muffler tips. Otherwise totally stock. I was originally surprised they pulled me over for stock 496's. After thinking about it all winter, decided I would put tips on to tone it down a tad.
Spoke w/ Sgt. Keenan today, said I could photo the test if I like to document sound meter positioning, etc. Sounds like they will still be jerks if I'm over 90db. I can have tested by any officer or dept w/ meter. Sheriff down in St Joseph doesn't have meters and could care less.

Yeah, and that's a GOOD thing! And as long as you're a "cool customer" they won't mess with you down in St. Joe. I boat out of there a few times each year.

Not sure about being jerks, but... yes, if you are 90.1 they will likely NOT let it slide. I am glad about them offering you the option of taking photos! You can either way, but that shows that the meetings this winer are getting them consistant officer to officer and they are confident they are testing correctly.

Just to make sure they get the distance correct you may want to make a gage. I keep one in the boat made of 3/4" pvc pipe. It is 3.3 feet long and has a string 4.5 feet long on each end with a small fishing sinker. Mark the string and pvc every three inches. While they test, hold the pvc above the water with the sinkers just touching the water and the string of one end just touching the transom. They should hold the meter right at the end of the pvc for them to test correctly. It can be done anywhere from the transom of the boat.

The law says the meter needs to be 4-5 feet above water and 3.3 feet from the vertical projection of any part of the boat in the area adjacent to the exhaust outlet(s). The gage puts the meter right there and a picture will prove it. Where you get them is when they always hold the meter to close and usually only a foot or two above the water.

It is also a good idea to print the a copy of the rules and highlight the areas about the testing procedure showing the 4-5ft and 3.3ft


90db is hard to get!

Good Luck!

Below was testing done with a officer. It shows how much the reading is off when you move the meter closer than what is specified in the law.

test 1. was exactly at 3.3' from transom and 4-5' above the water. meter spiked a couple times to 84 but stayed a steady 82 - 82.3.

Test 2. was the same but from about 3' above the water.
Meter read about 82.3-82.6 (not much difference)

Test 3. was about 3' above the water and about 2' from the transom.
Meter read 86-88.

Test 4. was about 1' above the water and about 1' from the transom.
Meter read 92-92.5

We did other tests but the 3.3 mark is very critical.

Dickhead Dykehouse put his gun right down by my mufflers. Hope he figured out how to read a tape measure this past winter.

You may have to use three rulers instead of a piece of PVC and string. He'll probably say you measured the PVC and string wrong and stick it up your "transom" (with no Vasoline) again.

Steve, I kept getting out of tickets because he would do it wrong over and over. I think that is why he had it out for me.

Ratickle, Funny you say that...I keep a mini tape measure on the boat for that purpose. I really don't need the stuff anymore but keep it around in case I get messed with somewhere else.

I have an integrated swim platform, which sticks out 2' past the transom. Thru hull exhaust mounted below swim platform.

Should 3.3' be from end of swim platform, exhaust tips or transom?

Believe this is how test was originally performed and got me in trouble in the first place. We were tied up side by side, their tramsom was equal or slightly ahead of mine. I do not remember officer having 5' arms. Thus I asked to photo this test, if I felt it was incorrect.

Whoops, just re-read the quote, they did hold meter 4' above water.

Anybody want to buy the 4 new CMI SE muffler I bought because of Dykehouse. I have an add her on OSO, they are brand new in the box. I can't run them with my new motors, so I am going back to my orginal CMI's.