Fresh Air Exhaust

Our family loves to wakesurf but carbon monoxide poisoning is a real issue when traveling at only 10 miles per hour which is the optimal speed for wakesurfing. We also take clients out on our boat and safety is a major concern. We just installed the Fresh Air Exhaust on our 2001 Centurion Elite V wakeboard boat to hopefully reduce the CO emissions coming to the surfer and to the passengers in the boat. We also wanted to be able to hear other people talking on the boat at the same time. Fresh Air Exhaust claims to be able to solve both of those problems at the same time so we felt that it would would be really nice to take care of these two issues. I'd seen the sideswipe that Centurion offers (looks cool and love it for the fumes reduction to the surfer when we tested it but it is VERY noisy and doesn't necessarily change anything as far as CO emissions to the passengers compared to the straight rear exhaust)
Anyhow, the installation was very simple (took me about 45 minutes and I am very meticulous about making sure that it was fit perfectly to the boat and followed the instructions exactly. I even had a custom aluminum swim deck made with custom fittings underneath just for connecting the FAE so it looks really cool. Anyhow we took it out and took with us a Carbon Monoxide tester so here are the results: At idle without the propeller engaged, it acted the same as without having the FAE installed (made sense because we weren't going anywhere and the propeller wasnt pushing the fumes away underwater yet so we were getting a high reading on the CO meter with exhaust just bubbling straight upwards from the rear of the boat). When I put the boat in wakeless speed, that is when I could tell a HUGE difference. The CO meter dropped to ZERO! The engine noise reduction was even more obvious (takes quite a while to tell without a meter whether you are getting CO poisoning until you go home with a headache or nausea or heaven forbid anything worse since CO poisoning is cumulative in the bloodstream), like night and day (much much quieter) The guys out being towed on wakeboards and the surfboard could barely hear the motor. All they could mostly hear was the sound of the water moving (INCREDIBLE!) All that we can say from our tests of this system is that it is a MUST HAVE. We would Highly recommend this product to anyone.

Nice review. I need to do this ASAP.

I wanna see the top of the swim deck.. looks nice! Very clean!

Here is the top of the custom swim deck designed and installed by UtahWaterToys (The rubber inserts are really nice to keep you from slipping)

We're building one. Hopefully it will dampen down the engine noise.

Nice install Chris. Here's a picture of my install with the "quick disconnect" option that allows easy removal of the swim deck. If you surf the FAE is a must have, much reduced Carbon Monoxide levels along with the bonus of quieter operation that lets you hear the tunes better.

I do like the quick disconnects. I would like to eventually incorporate that as well into my FAE.

so when you mount these, there are brackets that go onto the swim deck?

Yes.. otherwise that puppy will get ripped right off!

if it hits something will everything stay attached and just the single tube part swival up so nothing gets ripped out?

I plan on purchasing this later this month (after our move) or the begining of Sept if anybody wants to get together and do a group buy.

Chris - good review and I could not agree more. I installed mine on my 07 Avy two weeks ago and was blown away. Great product.

Here is my install picture link.

http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/3183/719438.html?1249192639

T

nice instals guys. i have never heard a boat with fae and was wondering if anyone had some sound files of before and after they can post? anyone have db readings? just curious.

Hey factories!
This should be an option (as I've always said).

Nice thinking to get one after I get the new boat? Should I install this only after break in period?

Bryan check www.boatpipes.com they have before and after video w/sound to compare.

I agree, this should be a factory option. As far as installing it after the break in period, if it were my boat I would just have it installed on day 1.

We put one on, besides just the drop in engine noise the exhaust smell is gone also. I wish these came out a longgg time ago!

I love mine!!!! Can hear the water off the boat hull at all speeds. Only noise is the pullies inside the engine box spinning. Can literally whisper from driver to rear passanger at full speed.

I am curious how this restricts the exhaust flow and if it increases back pressure. All which could harm the engine. You would not go out now and cover up one of your exhaust ports. It maybe fine but needs to be addressed

Read the web-site, it has these basic questions answered and more.

Chris, at speed, it creates a suction so you're actually exhausting into a slight vacuum, which is a good thing.

Yes I love mine too, but I think the noise reduction factor is being over-stated here.

So whats the total cost on a FAE system. Been surfing more and more and was considering one.

Depending on the boat it is about $450

I installed the FAE on my in June of last year so it's not a new thing to us anymore. A couple weekends ago my wife and I jumped on my buddies boat without FAE. My wife usually surfs for 20+ minutes behind our boat but she was done in about 5 minutes behind his. She had forgotten how unpleasant it was surfing behind a boat without FAE. This weekend we had the option of going on a different boat (which I kind of preferred) but she insisted we take our boat to the lake because of the FAE. The surfing experience is so much better with FAE, as stated above MUST HAVE if you are wakesurfing.

Mine...

Looks great!

nice install. you will hit your prop and rudder before you would hit the exhaust. Unless your backing up

Has any one installed this on an X2? If so, do you have pictures you can send? I am really interested in getting it.

Is there any drilling, or putting holes in the swim deck?

Jason - depends on your swimdeck and boat. call them (just emailed you some details). I didn't have to drill holes in my boat or swim deck to do mine.

T

Typically the FAE bracket mounts off an existing swim platform bracket. I have a SAN and you have to send them the custom specs. but most boats he already has the kit for. I believe mine cost around $300 and I bought it last year on the WW group buy. I would say it is the best upgrade I have done to my boat and it allows me to run my stereo at a lot lower volumes to hear it which saves on batteries and my amps run a lot cooler here in AZ.

Im sold on getting one

I am thinking of trying to put a gasket between the swim deck and the transom to force the exhaust to the outside of the platform. Has anyone tried this?

Jason, don't you need a boat first?

KIDDING!!! Had to say it.....

Hey you are right! If this experience doesnt tant me. At this point, the money I have lost and time I could do without.

I'm curious the end result on a Sanger 215, too. Does anyone know if it adds to the length of the boat with the swim step off? I cannot add any more length to the boat for it to fit in the garage.

Plus just noticed a deal on their website about a group buy being 3 or more...

Also on the web site is a "stimulus package" of $50 off. Combine the two for $75.00 off! Count me in on a group buy. I have a 04 sanger v215.

Alright...i'll contact them an see what their details are.

Just spoke with Larry. He's stoked to do a group buy with us. He'll do $75 off no problem. I'm starting a new thread.

I'm in just have to wait til after my move from Wa to Ca later this month.

Eric - funny I a called Larry just after you, he said you had called too. Are you going to set up a new group buy thread?

No new thread. We'll continue it here. Email me at ericrowley18 at gmail dot com (sorry about the anti-spam email display, just had my last email obliterated by spam by putting my email straight out on the web) with your name, email, phone and what boat you have and I'll start compiling a list. We'll give a it a few weeks, if that works for you guys. Larry will take care of the billing and what not.
He said if your boat doesn't show up on his website that he'll provide me with measurements for the FAE to adapt to your boat.

Eric, I'll post pics of one on a 215 later today. It does stick out past the hull.

Eric, with a Platform Quick Release (PQR) the swim platform is easily removed from the boat and FAE. There is a picture above that shows the FAE with the PQR. If you still need more room, the FAE can then be completely removed by loosening 4 hose clamps. Overall should only take a couple of minutes.

count me in eric .... i sent you an e-mail you can e-mail me or call me .... if you dont get my e-mail just pm me sir .... thanks!!

I have more information on options.

The quick release is $40-46 depending on your boat. Also, in addition to the standard black finish, there is the electro polished finish (As seen in Mikeski's pic) with an up charge of $86, as well as an additional 2 weeks to complete the polish process.

Also, I will stop taking names at 12 am pst August 16th, and will forward the info onto FAE on the 17th.

BTW, I am not affiliated with FAE in any way. I just thought we could take advantage of a group buy. Any further questions in regards to the product, contact FAE.

-Eric

Eric, here is the FAE on a 215 with the fixed plate on. I now have the adjustable plate which is one inch shorter so you could gain an inch with that.

Cool Art, how does the FAE attach to the swim step?

Stainless box tube screwed to the deck. There is a quick release so the deck is easier to remove.

Ah. You wouldn't have any pics of that up close?

I found this. Step by Step install pictures.

http://www.wakeoutlaws.com/freshairexhaustinstall.php

Sweet. That explains a lot. How do the quick releases tie into it?

Flanges


Rear to show deck

Today's the last day I'll be taking names for the Group Buy. See above posts.

I like mine too on my 99 Air Nautique, but I agree with John (that the noise reduction is being overstated), at least on my DD boat. It is quieter, but I can definitely still here the motor. It does, however, help with hearing music when riding 70' back (instead of motor noise). I wish I had done some SPL meter tests before I put it on, but I'm not taking it off to do that now!

I'm going to spl tests and co tests once I get it.