2004 Moomba XLV -- leaking

I've been chasing a few different issues with the XLV over the last year or so, and I currently have one big one left -- it's definitely taking on more water than I would consider normal. I've had this boat for a few years now, and this picked up last year. If I surf, the bilge pump runs continuously. Any other activity and it runs frequently but not 100% of the time. I am not noticing water come up through the shaft seal, the rudder, etc., but I am seeing water seeping through the fabric in the right (starboard) rear compartment.

I may have nailed it down, but I'd like your opinion on if this could be the issue -- I've attached a picture of the right side exhaust. I've lifted the flap up for the picture. The metal there is definitely bent pretty good. The left side looks normal. Could the water be coming in that gap?

If so, is there a part I can replace it with? Should I replace with an FAE? Also would welcome advice on the muffler delete if I go that route as well. I know that part fails on these boats, and it is 20+ years old.

Thank you all.

If that is outside looking in under the flap, that could easily be your leak. Hot water flows out the exhaust amd could be going in the gap right into you bilge. Also, while surfing that is way further under water and will let more water in.

Only way to fix this is to replace the pass-thru exhaust fitting. Jist adding the FAE won't stop water from coming in.

I know you probably don't know the answer, but what the heck could cause it to be bent out like that? Can you check to see if someone has put any screws in that area from the inside that may have hit it and pushed it in that far? That's just a strange place to be deformed like that. I agree that that is more than likely your leak though.

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Thank you.

Holdmybeer, I was thinking the FAE would come with a part that replaced the pass-thru exhaust fitting. Apparently that's not correct. Do you know how I can go about finding out how to identify / source that part?

HFarr, no clue. I'm wondering if it was deformed once when the boat ran too hot for a minute? Not sure if that happens or not, but I've seen that on one other thread -- however, that was a plastic piece. There haven't been any screws / bolts put in that area.

Reading through other forums I found this.

https://forum.moomba.com/showthread....ts-suggestions

Looks like you might still have the plastic internal version and the heat finally warped them. Seems to be common and once warped they leak.

Skiers doesn't make them anymore and you will have to get 3.5 flanged exhaust fittings and do some magic. If the FAE comes with the thru-hulls or does in fact replace them, this might be your best bet. But I thought the FAE mounted to the thru hall exhaist fitting.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Holdmybeer

Reading through other forums I found this.

https://forum.moomba.com/showthread....ts-suggestions

Looks like you might still have the plastic internal version and the heat finally warped them. Seems to be common and once warped they leak.

Skiers doesn't make them anymore and you will have to get 3.5 flanged exhaust fittings and do some magic. If the FAE comes with the thru-hulls or does in fact replace them, this might be your best bet. But I thought the FAE mounted to the thru hall exhaist fitting.

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I saw that one, but mine's not plastic. It has a sharp metal edge. Thanks for the response. I'll go looking.

Weird it would bend like that without getting hit from the inside of the boat. That would quite a bit of heat to make it collapse like that.