www.iFourWinns.com

My 97' Vista 278 Kohler 4kw Generator is soooo much louder than all of my other boating friends! Loud in every aspect. Inside the boat, and outside.

My one boating friend mentioned that its probably because they updated the muffler at some point. Well, I looked at my generator and I never spotted a muffler - although on Four Winns parts, it sure does list one

1st question to other Kohler generator owners, particularly on 278 Vistas of my vintage (but others please feel free to chip in): Is your generator loud?

2nd question: Can you identify a "muffler" on your genset?

3rd question: Is this why the generator crankcase ingests water if the water line falls below the exhaust discharge on the side of the boat?

4th question: Do you have a "sound shield" because mine did not come with one.

If I have to add a muffler, than I have to add a muffler. But I find it strange that it looks like I dont have one, yet FW lists one.

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1997 Four Winns Vista 278
T - 4.3l EFI
Kohler 4esz Genset
379 hours as of 8/8/21

The muffler is separate from the generator. Trace the exhuast line from the side of the boat. It will go the the muffler. Through the muffler to the genny

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Jeff

'14 Cruisers 380 Express "Simon Sez"
Merc 8.2 Mag MPI 380
DTS B3X, (x2) Axius Premier


(SOLD)
'08 V318
Merc 350 Mag MPI 300
DTS Seacore, B3 (x2)

The muffler should look like a large black coffee can with the exhaust lines running to and from it. It is typically mounted to the bottom of the bilge. has the exhaust always been loud or has it recently otton louder? If its recently gotten louder, this is usually an indication that he impeller is not pushing enough water through the exhaust.

The sound shield...some have them, some don't. I believe it can be added though.

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Current Boat:
2004 Sea Ray 320 Sundancer "Nauti Luvin'"

Previous Boats:
1999 298 Vista "Seas The Day"
2008 H200SS "Nauti Luv"
2006 Tahoe Q4

Ok when I look at my genset, I cannot spot a muffler at all. Im going to crawl down there tonight but Ive changed the oil 4x already (there was water in the oil) and didnt see a muffler. On the FW site, it states that the muffler was only for certain production dates (sept 1994-july 1997 for example) so I wonder if my Vista was one built after July 1997? There isnt a muffler listed after that point.

The whole thing is noisy. But I guess the exhaust isnt as bad as the unit itself. It sounds like somebody started a jet engine down in the bilge...lol. My friends have a 28' Monterey and the genset is whisper quiet. I mean, literally. I cant figure out why mine is so loud.

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1997 Four Winns Vista 278
T - 4.3l EFI
Kohler 4esz Genset
379 hours as of 8/8/21

without a sound shield they are quite noisy

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2006 348 Vista
"Cruisin Home"
Hampton NH

Yeah I just read in the manual last night that a sound shield was "optional". Dammit. Well, I suppose I could search for one or call a Kohler dealer $$$

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1997 Four Winns Vista 278
T - 4.3l EFI
Kohler 4esz Genset
379 hours as of 8/8/21

The exhaust makes a huge difference!! I do not have a sound shield on mine, but the engine compartment is pretty decently insulated. With the generator running, a passenger can be sitting right next to the generator exhaust port and carry on a conversation. Sounds like a low-level hum that's not particularly disturbing. When down below in the mid-cabin, the generator is about as loud as running the air conditioning or just a tad louder.

I contacted a Kohler dealer about purchasing a sound shield... since it would be for a discontinued model, the price was around $1,200. You can probably have a custom sound shield built for half that price.

First though, before you do any of that, I'd confirm whether or not you have the exhaust and whether or not it is being fed adequate water. If not, install one since it will likely make the most drastic difference. Inspect/replace your impeller too, since when I replaced mine this spring, it knocked quite a few dB off the exhaust note!

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Current Boat:
2006 Chaparral 310 Signature

Previous:
2003 268 Vista
2004 Sea Doo GTX

Yeah Im going to check into that. The last owner said they replaced the impeller last season as maintenance but I will pull it out and check it. Right now it ejects a very good amount of water. The exhaust isnt as loud as the genny itself. Its really noisy. And $1200 for a sound shield is absolutely redonkulous.

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1997 Four Winns Vista 278
T - 4.3l EFI
Kohler 4esz Genset
379 hours as of 8/8/21