Muffler

[Dave]

I have the motor out of our Irwin38 classic for some work. The muffler was installed just a very short distance from the motor and is verry close to the engine shaft coupler, and it has rubbed. Is there any reason why the muffler needs to be so close to the motor? Can I relocate it farther back under the cockpit? Would there be any more motor noise if it is farther back? Thanks

[Tim]

The answer depends on your configuration, and what sort of muffler you have. You say the muffler rubbed on the shaft coupling, so that sounds like it wasn't secured. Is it a waterlift? Or do you have some other configuration? In any event, it doesn't sound like it was a good installation, as all the components should have been held further away from the shaft.

There are general installation guidelines that govern the placement of a waterlift muffler, but within those guidelines one has plenty of leeway as to where exactly it should go. If you can move the muffler back while keeping it at about the same level as it currently is, then there should be no issues. If the muffler ends up substantially higher or lower, there may be some other changes needed, again depending on your overall configuration.

The short answer is that you should be able to move it. The actual answer depends on a lot of information that I don't have at this point, since I'm not familar with your boat.