Speaking of "budget boating" has anyone used Gill or Eddie Marine pipes, which can be found inexpensively on the forums, with cast iron manifolds? Seems like it could be done with an adapter of some sort.
What do you guys think?

not sure if u would reak any bennefits because the maniflod is the restrictor.

As I have said many to many times, those are manifolds, not marine headers and I don't know any company who builds or sells "budget headers".
Good marine header manifolds or marine tubular tuned headers will cost between $2500 - $5000 depending on brand and tips required. You are not going to buy true header manifolds that will make the power of true headers for less than that, unless you find some manifold headers or tubular headers used for less.

Best Regards,
Ray @ Raylar

No such adapters and the money spent custom making some would be expensive.
Imco makes tailpipes to go on Merc cast iron manifolds, but they cost a lot and are not worth any HP.

Thanks Griff! I agree that the performance gians will not be much, even though Imco says the are worth 9 HP over stock. They are a grand per motor, but the stock risers are about $250 per pair, and the stainless should last much longer. Seems like a decent power to dollar ratio.

9hp is worth nuthin on the speedo

no such thing as a budget water jacketed marine header. believe me ive looked.

depending on the boat you run......you can use bassett/hooker style water injected headers with a mercruiser i/o like i did on my warlock, but you have to have a low RPM shutoff for the header water supply. i used a JEGS adjustable RPM window switch with the digital tach built in mounted on the dash and used it to control a 3/8 water/fuel solenoid valve to contol header water flow. works real nice. bought the headers and built the control system for $380 dollars. it shuts the water to the headers off/on at 2000 rpm.

im running an open engine bay and over the transom headers so it works great.

i wouldnt recommend them in a traditional closed engine compartment.

Lightning is the least expensive I've seen. My Lightnings have been on my boat since 1998, no problems yet, knock on wood.