MacGyver help needed

[Greg4cocokai]

A little assistance needed from the pros. My exhaust elbow has a missing section in the top of the flange, where it connects to the heat exchanger. I’m in a remote Anchorage and need to motor Probably an hour to get into town to get a new one fabricated. I would like to put something in the 1 inch by quarter inch gap, so to keep most of the fumes from dirtying my walls in the engine room. I have on board some gasket material, an old ball of butyl tape, and some quarter inch flax packing for my gland. Any other ideas you have could be helpful, thanks, GREG

[jeanathon]

First thought is why don't you sail?
Second is do you have some tinfoil on board that you can ball up and stuff in the gap?

[Bellinghamster]

Hard to see the shape of the missing bit, but from your description I'd try packing it with tinfoil (aluminum foil)

[Greg4cocokai]

That’s a great idea guys, why didn’t I think of that. I have lots of foil on board. I am Sailing most of the 18 miles but I have to pull into a marina. Can’t sail in.

[Baby tug]

You will need to do something more than ball up tinfoil and stick it in there you’ll have to have something to hold it in place , If there’s a way to wrap a piece of wire around it , think bailing wire that would be good , a hose clamp off of something else maybe where you have a double hose clamp , if you can get that around it that would be great , if you can’t get anything around it , I would cut a piece of wood and wedge it in there it shouldn’t get too hot because it’s a water cooled manifold and Exhaust elbow

[Baby tug]

After looking at the picture closer loosen the clamp cut a piece of tin can stick it over the hole and re-clamp it , Or maybe even just rotate the clamp to cover the hole

[hpeer]

Eat some beans, repurpose the can.

[Greg4cocokai]

Originally Posted by Baby tug

After looking at the picture closer loosen the clamp cut a piece of tin can stick it over the hole and re-clamp it , Or maybe even just rotate the clamp to cover the hole

I have loosened the clamp, but it didn’t seem to want to rotate with it really loose. I’m sure it will, I will try again, and I think use the can trick, or else the tinfoil, and then clamp it back down to get me over there. Thank you all for your suggestions!

[jeanathon]

Be sure to get anything you'd need from below before hand so you don't have to be breathing the carbon monoxide that is sure to fill the space. Also I would keep the companionway closed. I've gotten a heavy dose of exhaust in the cockpit from a leaky elbow.

[JPA Cate]

Even a soft drink can will do for a short run. It is NOT a long term fix. It could still get fumy. Got any hi-temp silicone seal aboard. If not, leave a hatch cracked open and the companionway open so that the fumes can get out easily.

Ann

[Greg4cocokai]

Thanks all, got it apart yesterday and the foil seems to be working pretty good

[jeanathon]

nice.