Engine Exhaust Outlet - What Does this Mean and How Do I Fix it ?

[Palarran]

The exhaust outlet is discolored around the fiberglass. It's worse on the port engine then the starboard. Do I just need to buff it out or is there a more serious problem here? The boat is 10 years old.

[James S]

Hard to tell from the picture but it looks cosmetic to me....hit it with some rubbing compound and see whats what.

[David M]

As long as you have water flow when your engine is running then you are fine. Of course you want more than a tiny trickle of water.

It looks like pretty normal metal oxidation from the heat and being right at the waterline. Try some spray on rust remover and see if that helps. For the stubborn oxidation use some stainless steel metal polish that you rub on and then use some elbow grease to polish it out.

One trick is to move some weight up on the bow so your transom comes up a little higher which will allow you to polish the lower portion out of the water.

[Palarran]

Thanks for the suggestions. The boat is being hauled out and a new bottom coat put on. I won't be there so I'll let the yard know to buff it out. I was worried as this is the only outlet with the staining and it is in the foam core (above waterline) area of the hull.

[Chief Engineer]

Looks like rust to me......Maybe non-stainless screws?

[crashkahuna]

Either Diamond Magic or Wink will easily clean this up.