38 Open Exhaust Flapper

[Martuni]

Does anyone know if the exhaust flappers for a 2002 38 Open are stock items or do they need to be made custom? I wrote a couple times to Marshall Germany at Luhrs and he has yet to respond.

[davku]

I just got two last year. I just called the factory and ordered them.

[HisDoghouse]

When I last hauled out, I just flipped my starboard to port and vice versa. They appear to be nothing more than heavy gauge sheet rubber.

[irishrogue]

the oems flaps are more than just sheet rubber. they are multilayered and include a fabric reinforcing layer. i got them years ago from luhrs parts. i probably need a new set too....let me know if they still have them...

u used germany@luhrs.com?

sean

[Martuni]

I did get a response back from Marshall. Here is what he said:

"I am sorry I have not replied before now but I have moved from the production plant that is now closed. The flappers we had cut out of a sheet of rubber with a pattern. The problem is the plant has been sense Jan. so there is no longer anyone around to make them. I would contact Centek 1-800-950-7653 or www.centekindustries.com. The are suppliers of anything having to do with exhaust systems."

[irishrogue]

hmm...the rubber was definitely reinforced - almost like a flat section of reinforced heater hose. i checked mcmastercarr.com to see if they had sheets of it - nothing.

maybe check grainger.com and msc.com

[Martuni]

I found this website that appears to have the stock for the type of rubber needed for exhaust flappers. It is not cheap.

http://www.rubbersheetroll.com/epdm-rubber-cloth-inserted.html

[irishrogue]

that looks like the right stuff.

it would be great to find a place that is willing to cut out the flappers - cutting that stuff with a utility knife wont be easy....

i m guessing that the 29, 32, 36 and 38/40 all have different size flappers based on increasing exhaust diameters....

try this place -
http://www.allstategasket.com/info_gasket_material_style-1175.asp

only a $50min. i m guessing you need 3/16 or 1/4" thickness. if it is only 1/8" thick, you can order it online by the foot....

please post any success you have.

thanks
Sean
'98 32 Open

[witeagle]

I'll double check today when I am at the boat. Marshall sent me a set last year, I think they were not very expensive. I don't remember seeing any cloth reinforcement in them which is most likely why they tear up. The were very inexpensive - maybe 12 or so a piece and came with new mounting clamps.

The factory is now up in NJ. I wonder if you call them if they could at least supply the rubber. I did look around on the net and found www.imcomarine.com which states "Silicone rubber seal withstands high temperatures & uniformly stretches around exhaust". The flaps could just be made out of Silicon Rubber.

[witeagle]

The flaps are not fiber-reinforced rubber. Just plane old 1/8 (maybe) rubber gasket material. Maybe that is why the are tearing off so fast for everyone. If you use the cloth/fiber reinforced rubber maybe they will last longer.

[irishrogue]

the replacements we got a few yrs ago from luhrs definitely are fiber reinforced and are thicker than 1/8"...

silicone would be great but could rip easily when you make holes in it for the screws....it also would have to be thick enough not to push back into the exhaust hole when backing down....

[Martuni]

I measured my old ones and they appear to be .250". They were a little shy of that but that could be because of ware. I agree, they need to be sturdy to keep from bending in when backing down.

[Momentai]

Gentlemen,
When we refitted our 38 open last summer, had a beautiful 45' Vik Express beside me. Got to talk to the owner quite a bit.
Our exhaust covers where shot and the Vik said forget them. They are a pain in the ass and if you are backing down or slowing down hard enough to backwash into the exhaust, you will lprobably be swamping the boat over the transome. Remember you have hot gasses coming out so water going in is minimal.
Look -hitting after short period of time and do little. Look at any of the big boys and you will not find exhaust covers.
I made myself nuts on this one as well and the hard-chargers say better without.

[Martuni]

With my Yanmars being around $50K a each to replace, I will err on the conservative side and leave them on. The difference in comparing to a Viking is the design of the muffler system iteself. Not all designs are created equal and Vikings, Cabos and others can take more of a back down without problems. You may be right and they may not be necessary but a splash of sea water in a cylinder will be the end of the engine.

For those that are interested in getting replacement flappers, I have been talking with a company that sells the material. They also said they can cut the material to any pattern. They are sending me a sample of the rubber so I can make sure it is the right stuff. If so, I will give Marshall their contact information and maybe they can supply Luhrs with the flappers.

[witeagle]

With my Yanmars being around $50K a each to replace, I will err on the conservative side and leave them on. The difference in comparing to a Viking is the design of the muffler system iteself. Not all designs are created equal and Vikings, Cabos and others can take more of a back down without problems. You may be right and they may not be necessary but a splash of sea water in a cylinder will be the end of the engine.

For those that are interested in getting replacement flappers, I have been talking with a company that sells the material. They also said they can cut the material to any pattern. They are sending me a sample of the rubber so I can make sure it is the right stuff. If so, I will give Marshall their contact information and maybe they can supply Luhrs with the flappers.

I am interested in knowing who they are also. I replaced my flaps later year as Marshal had sent them to me. I wouldn't mind having a backup pair when these tear again - which is bound to happen.

[irishrogue]

wit, i dont know what originally came, but luhrs parts definitely provided me with fiber reinforced rubber flaps in '99/'00. they have easily lasted are just now starting to rip a bit below the stainless bolt bar... i dont think silicone rubber is the way to go - too soft IMO...

[Martuni]

I ended up buying a truck mud flap from NAPA Auto Parts for $12 and was able to make 4 flappers out of the one mud flap. They made it through the enture season thus far.

[davebanks]

My 38 had one exhaust flap missing when i bought it the one that was still there was made by Salisbury and was a very professional looking part. It clamped onto the short exhaust spigot with a hose clamp It appears they are no longer made in 8 inch . How are the original ones fitted? Conveyor belt rubber is layered and very strong ,it wont rip!

[Rusty]

Exhaust Flappers:
I have a 32 Open 1999 Model. Changed the flappers a couple of years ago that Marshal sent to me. Just hauled the boat for bottom job and other works and flappers still operational. I would likewise like to have a spare set. I will contact Marshal to see if he is "still in the loop" with Luhrs. Has anybody done so recently??
Rusty

[Martuni]

I spoke with Marshall about this and he said they no longer had their fabricating shop and therefore were no longer making the flappers. I checked around some rubber fabricators and found some good material but in the end the truck mud flap worked great. The exhaust ports on my 2002 40 Express are flush with the hull so the flappers mount right onto the hull and not with a hose clamp around an exhaust pipe. I had the old torn flapper that I used as a template and cut out 4 flappers from the one mud flap.

[Maka Koa]

I went to the Goodyear Rubber store in St. Pete & the sell the reinforced rubber by the square foot. Very inexpensive. I made 2 flaps in about 10 minutes. Check out Goodyear Rubber on line.