www.iFourWinns.com

So I pulled apart the exhaust this weekend to replace the exhaust hose that sprung a leak last year and found that both exhaust flappers and all components had been removed. I'm thinking this happened when the engine was replaced in 2003 from a cracked block after the heater in the original owners storage building went out over the winter. So far I have not had any issues with them not being there, but thinking its a better piece of mind to have them. Anyone have a differing opinion about not having vs. having them? OMC 5.0 EFI Cobra Drive, btw.

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2008 H200 Frenzy Edition 5.0 GXi

1993 Horizon 190 5.0 EFI (Sold)

Volvo Penta do; they issued a technical bulletin recommending they be removed and described the method to do it !

OMC never made any recommendation to remove these. And since Volvo 'adapted' the OMC transom/exhaust design in the joint venture and later models, its not surprising that they might have a different view. However, based on my experience, each boat is different and to be on the safe side I'd replace them. I'd rather gamble the OMC was right and Volvo was wrong, than to leave them off, then have to stop fast for some reason one day and have a following wave come up the Y pipe and hydrolock the engine. The only time they will cause trouble is if you have a bad overheat and they will melt and fall down the Y pipe. I had this happen and was able to get them out without too much trouble.

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

Put all 4 new exhaust hoses and flappers in on Sunday and went for a ride. Had a small leak from the manifold to the hose when running on muffs and fixed that. Test ride on the river seemed to have no issues, did have some water in the bilge but not enough for the pump to suck up. Need to take back out and look for leak with the engine cover off...

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2008 H200 Frenzy Edition 5.0 GXi

1993 Horizon 190 5.0 EFI (Sold)