This morning, from bed, I could tell the current and wind were opposing each other and we were taking the chop on our starboard side and starboard quarter. So, I got up and ran the engine for a bit to ensure everything was OK. Then I stuffed a small sized fender into the exhaust port on our starboard quarter waterline.

This fender fits snugly into the exhaust, and should prevent waves from pushing water up into the engine which can cause a disastrous hydrolock condition.

I also used this same fender at the dock in a few marinas on the western rivers where rats and muskrats were known to exist. They have been known to swim into exhaust ports and eat the rubber exhaust hose, again with disastrous consequences.

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Addendum – October 29, 2024

Here is a pic of an empty plastic bleach bottle which fits in our exhaust better than my small green fender. A bit of oil absorbent “diaper” snugs it in better. A small line saves the day in case I forget to remove the bottle in the a.m. when we start the engine and get underway.

I was at a boatyard last week in Belhaven NC. There I saw a MS 390’s engine which was ruined by water making its way into the cylinders through the exhaust.

Seeing a scum line above the waterline just under the swim ladder, yacht insurance REJECTED THE CLAIM. “This boat was overloaded which caused the problem.” $35,000 later, this boat will be underway again in a month or two… with a new engine.

Come up with YOUR strategy to avoid this potential problem.

When deploying your “tampon” safety device in a strong current, consider wearing a PFD & a tag line around your waist in case you fall overboard. You could fall off the swim platform and no one would know OR know how to recover you!