Need Ideas: Flame Proof material...

C

Casey

New member
Here's the situation: On a recent cruise we inadvertently permitted a plastic bread bag to contact the Wallas exhaust pipe while the stove was running. After a while we noticed the smell of scorched plastic...ugh. (Not a very good way to make toast either.)

I would like to wrap something around the exhaust pipe to prevent a recurrence, but I'm not sure what is sufficiently flame proof to do the job.

I picked up a small piece of fiberglass fabric and tested it over a candle...seems pretty good (it didn't burn...) but thought I'd ask if anyone has other ideas. It would be simple to buy a larger piece of this stuff and wrap it around-and-around the exhaust, then safety-wire it on both ends.

I considered using a muffler patch kit, but that involves a catalyst to harden the fabric so if I ever wanted to remove it, it would be a major effort.

I'm sure some of you have encountered similar situations ... let me hear your solutions!

Thanks,
Casey
C-Dory Naknek
 
Casey...I would be hesitant to completely wrap the exhaust tube with insulating material. I think that there is a substantial amount of exhaust gas cooling happening there and the result of a wrap would be increased temps at the thru-hull. I know of a boat that has the thru-hull mounted much higher in the hull than most...which puts the tube into the wire run along the gunnel. In that case...a piece of rock wool type insulation was used to "half wrap" just enough of the tube to protect the wires.
On my boat...I installed storage trays on the shelf near the exhaust tube...and permanently screwed them into the shelf in a position to provide positive clearance from the tube. This ensures that nothing can come in contact with the hot tube. I think the approach should be to somehow ensure clearance...not to insulate the tube. Maybe a chicken wire wrap???
 
Our Wallas came with just such a mineral wool sleeve. If your exhaust pipe is bare metal, you should certainly call Karl at Scan Marine and have him send you a chunk.
Al
 
Scan Marine sells an insulation sock for the exhaust, you could also go down to the local hot rod shop and pick up some Header wrap. The header wrap is an insulating wrap that wraps around the exhaust manifold
 
Raven Dancer also has the exhaust pipe wrapped except for about 1" where it goes through the hull, even so we are very careful to make sure nothing can come in contact with the pipe.
I too would call Scan Marine and have them send you a chunk of the wrap, I'm sure it was an oversite on their part not to insulate it.
Big Dave.
 
Casey,
Mine came without insulation also. I called Scan Marine and they sent me two lengths of insulating tubing. One tube is a close fit around the flex exhaust and the second is much larger and slips over the small tube so you end up with a double layer. It is easy to install-just loosen the clamp at the outboard end fitting and slide insulating sleeves on and replace the clamp. Mine stays quite cool to the touch now.
 
Hey - don't sell that Aerogel stuff short. You could insulate the whole exhaust tube for no more than $10,000. I posted this a while back hoping that DoD would tell me how it is no good for a wet environment. I got the comeback all ready for him.
 
This is one of the things I really appreciate about the C-Brat site. I had a question I'd been pondering, decided to mention it within the "community" and received several valid comments (Tyboo Mike excepted...heh, heh, heh). Thanks all.

...even Tyboo. Astrogel, eh?

Guess I'll be on the phone to Scan shortly. Since the Wallas was installed at the factory, the lack of an insulating sleeve probably wasn't Scan's fault.

Thanks again,
Casey
C-Dory Naknek
 
I just got off the phone after talking to Karl (Scan Marine...). He has the insulation material ($5/foot), and is sending me three feet. He suggested SS safety wire or hose clamps to secure it.

Hopefully the situation is solved.

Thanks for the information!

Casey
C-Dory Naknek
 
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