Muskrat exhaust guards

[Nancy]

It seems to be a bumper year for muskrats. in 25 years, we've never had a problem until now.

Has anyone has experience with muskrat exhaust guards from Hurley Marine, Mike's Marine, other, or fabricated? Temporary workaround is a Kool Whip tub stuffed into the exhaust port and tethered with an 1/8" line.

[DougSea]

Hey Nancy - this post fascinates me! What, dare I ask, is a boating muskrat problem???

[jetter]

Had one take up residence a couple of years ago. It made a hasty exit when my mechanic showed up to perform the season end service. It had constructed a major nest which followed it out with exhaust water..

[Nancy]

Hey Nancy - this post fascinates me! What, dare I ask, is a boating muskrat problem???

Hi Doug - this is when muskrats make a nest by inside the exhaust outlet. Not only do they stuff it with weeds, they eat the exhaust hose! Not good! It can be even worse with outdrives. They chew through the bellows with sometimes disastrous results.

I should have kept the photo that the marina sent me last Wednesday with the subject "Start your engine". The weeds were flowing out of the exhaust outlet. We'd used the boat the previous Sunday . . . the muskrats are quick. It's quite spectacular when you start and rev the engine. All those weeds come out in a wad. Any muskrats in residence don't survive.

Temporary fix is a Kool Whip container stuffed in the outlet and tether with an 1/8" line in case it pops out.