I was out at Holiday Park today, and the Broward Sheriff checked my boat out from front to rear. I was perfectly legal with everything except he said my mufflers needed to have baffles in them. He stuck a rod in my mufflers and said that his rod shouldn't touch my flexpipe. Does the muffler law require you to have baffles in your mufflers? This is the first time I have had problem with this, and I even went on FWC website and it doesn't say anything about baffles. Was this sheriff wrong? :?
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Muffler question???
- Thread starter pepi
- Start date
goldhunter_2
Well-known member
interesting question I would like to hear the answer to that also . I thought it just said auto type mufflers but under the test you stated I would not pass either , mine have stuff on the sides but not straight down the middle so his rod would go straight through.
If that's the case i may need to make some urn downs and different angles like waterthunders pipe set so they can't run a run in there :?:
did he write you a ticket or just warning?
If that's the case i may need to make some urn downs and different angles like waterthunders pipe set so they can't run a run in there :?:
did he write you a ticket or just warning?
My mufflers have the same stuff on the sides goldhunter. Eddy was riding with me today and he even told the sheriff that his airboat has the same mufflers and that we bought them from an airboat shop down here in Miami. He didn't write me up, but he told me I needed to change them. Eddy and I both call BS when he walked away. 
SwampMatt
Well-known member
I can't quote the law, but I'm sure someone can if you really need it.
I'm 99.9% sure it says AUTOMOTIVE STYLE MUFFLERS - which have baffles. It may also say THE USE OF CUTOUTS IS PROHIBITED but I can't remember if that was in the FWC 'rule' or the state statute.
Cutout or not, I think the word EFFECTIVE MUFFLING DEVICE is in there somewhere.
This law is meant to BENEFIT us as a group. Granted, you are not going to generate many complaints there in the 'glades. But you never know, test running your boat in your yard could get a neighbor pissed enough to make a complaint. Or if you came roaring back to the ramp at 3 a.m. there might be some groggy eyed camper picking up his cell calling the whiner-line.
Point being - muffle it up. and most of all, understand "the spirit" of the law and be considerate. (I'm not saying you weren't)
Still, I can't believe they are being such sticklers down there about that. I wonder how many complaints come from that area???? It's good to hear they did not write you up.
I'm 99.9% sure it says AUTOMOTIVE STYLE MUFFLERS - which have baffles. It may also say THE USE OF CUTOUTS IS PROHIBITED but I can't remember if that was in the FWC 'rule' or the state statute.
Cutout or not, I think the word EFFECTIVE MUFFLING DEVICE is in there somewhere.
This law is meant to BENEFIT us as a group. Granted, you are not going to generate many complaints there in the 'glades. But you never know, test running your boat in your yard could get a neighbor pissed enough to make a complaint. Or if you came roaring back to the ramp at 3 a.m. there might be some groggy eyed camper picking up his cell calling the whiner-line.
Point being - muffle it up. and most of all, understand "the spirit" of the law and be considerate. (I'm not saying you weren't)
Still, I can't believe they are being such sticklers down there about that. I wonder how many complaints come from that area???? It's good to hear they did not write you up.
bondsman
Well-known member
well if it is a rod up the rear to test mufflers i have been thinking about these not that i want to spend more money on exhaust.but these slide right in.
http://www.spiralturbobaffles.com/streetrod.html
http://www.spiralturbobaffles.com/streetrod.html
I agree that we should try to cut down as much noise as possible for our own good. I really never even imagined my mufflers being illegal. Here's a link to the letter that FWC sent out to all airboat owners. It doesn't say anything about baffles in it.
http://myfwc.com/whatsnew/06/statewide/airboateduc.html[/quote]
http://myfwc.com/whatsnew/06/statewide/airboateduc.html[/quote]
Hey yall
Just ask them if they have a code book with them and ask them to show it to you.
I have never heard of an officer who isn't willing to show it to ya right out of his code book.
Remember though, that the code book isn't the law. The only law is the official written and recorded law that is placed in the whatever its called by the State. I dont think I have ever seen any significant deviation in a code book though, but you can not quote a code book as a defense.
Scotty
Just ask them if they have a code book with them and ask them to show it to you.
I have never heard of an officer who isn't willing to show it to ya right out of his code book.
Remember though, that the code book isn't the law. The only law is the official written and recorded law that is placed in the whatever its called by the State. I dont think I have ever seen any significant deviation in a code book though, but you can not quote a code book as a defense.
Scotty
fatboy0054
Well-known member
AUTOMOTIVE DO HAVE BAFFLES ! THEY TOLD US A WHILE BACK ! THEY WERE GOING TO DO THIS ! GET THEM HUSH ! ANTI S WANTING ENFORCEMENT ! THE ANTI S KNOW HOW THIS WORKS !
Geneva0550
Well-known member
If it's legal on the street it should be legal on a boat! You can look straight through my mufflers and they are quieter than the cone inserts that some people use instead of mufflers. There is no mention of whether or not you can stick a rod through the muffler in the statute.
These would probably work, I have them but have never been stopped and had that type of check done on the ones I have installed.
http://www.afabcorp.com/AFCO_Dynatech_U ... ode=vortex
http://www.afabcorp.com/AFCO_Dynatech_U ... ode=vortex
dblj006
Well-known member
The Magnaflow mufflers I bought for my one boat you can see through them but there is angle inside the muffler and you can't put a rod through. Those mufflers work good too.
Dave Stratton in Inverness is building mufflers for airboats. I have a set from him on my other boat and he builds them with rods welded inside so nothing can be stuck through the muffler. It was believed that was one way they would enforce the statute.
Dave Stratton in Inverness is building mufflers for airboats. I have a set from him on my other boat and he builds them with rods welded inside so nothing can be stuck through the muffler. It was believed that was one way they would enforce the statute.
Glenn Hutchinson
Well-known member
I have a silent muffler on my GEO motor and I can't tell any difference when running with the muffler or without. The tach will max at the same spot either way. After exceeding 2000 RPM you can't tell whether the muffler is connected or not, by the sound!
eddy
Well-known member
Effective October 1, 2006, Florida law (Chapter 327.391(1), Florida Statutes) requires the exhaust of every internal combustion engine used on any airboat operated on the waters of Florida to be provided with a stock factory muffler, underwater exhaust, or other manufactured device capable of adequately muffling the sound of the exhaust of the engine. Even though there is a new law specifically addressing airboat operations, current Florida law (Chapter 327.65, Florida Statutes) has required every vessel operated in Florida to have their engine exhaust effectively muffled in a reasonable manner for many years.
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The FWC will not specify which mufflers are to be used on airboats. All airboat owners are encouraged to seek the quietest and most effective muffling device(s) for their particular vessel and engine combination. Exhaust muffling can be effectively accomplished in many ways using a wide variety of devices.
The new state law (which became effective October 1, 2006) allows the use of automotive-style factory mufflers, underwater exhaust or other manufactured devices capable of adequately muffling the sound of the exhaust of the engine.
but then go on to say...
“Muffler” means an automotive-style sound suppression device or system designed to effectively abate the sound of exhaust gasses emitted from an internal combustion engine and prevent excessive sound when installed on such engine.”
They need to clean up the wording a bit... Its defenitely confusing and mis-understanding, plus, if they do need a baffle, then some of us have been Scammed into buying something thats not legal...
my mufflers made a BIG impact on quieting noise on my airboat, and they dont have a baffle in the middle...
:?:
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The FWC will not specify which mufflers are to be used on airboats. All airboat owners are encouraged to seek the quietest and most effective muffling device(s) for their particular vessel and engine combination. Exhaust muffling can be effectively accomplished in many ways using a wide variety of devices.
The new state law (which became effective October 1, 2006) allows the use of automotive-style factory mufflers, underwater exhaust or other manufactured devices capable of adequately muffling the sound of the exhaust of the engine.
but then go on to say...
“Muffler” means an automotive-style sound suppression device or system designed to effectively abate the sound of exhaust gasses emitted from an internal combustion engine and prevent excessive sound when installed on such engine.”
They need to clean up the wording a bit... Its defenitely confusing and mis-understanding, plus, if they do need a baffle, then some of us have been Scammed into buying something thats not legal...
my mufflers made a BIG impact on quieting noise on my airboat, and they dont have a baffle in the middle...
:?:
SwampMatt
Well-known member
Sounds like they are specifying baffles to me. I'm not any sort of expert, but the factory doesn't put the glass-packs on - they're an aftermarket item. The factory uses baffled mufflers.
Charles - you have the final word - you are the pro amongst us. But without actually coming out and saying it, it looks to me that they've done a real good job of "saying it without saying it"!!! (sorta like Henry Ford's model T - Any color as long as it's black)
But as I said before - I'm of the opinion that we should be looking at the spirit of this law - paying more attention to the words "CAPABLE OF ADEQUATELY MUFFLING THE SOUND" and if you have a way to TRULY muffle your boat with "anything" then you are meeting the requirements of the law.
After all, it does not REQUIRE them.... it says "OR underwater exhaust". Take the exhaust below the waterline and you don't need mufflers of any sort. Right?
By the way, a link to the boating laws is here:
http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/ind ... /Sec73.HTM
The airboat specific parts are near the end of the lettered list - items (v) & (w)
Glenn - sometimes you can't really tell from the driver's seat. But from the shore (or distance) it does make a difference. Imagine standing in front of a spot light - and standing a distance from it being shined at you. They are both bright. But take a same wattage flood light, right in front of it, it's still bright, but from a distance it is much dimmer than the spotlight.
matt.
goldhunter_2
Well-known member
glass packs are the first thing that came to my mind also but I do remember seeing a show with I think was a sureflow or flowmaster something like that anyway and when it was cut open it has no baffles either.
I not saying we should not tr to be quieter with are mufflers but mine are much much quieter then the glass packs I had . if it was supposed to be like that then they need to change all muffler laws for cars,boat etc... other wise it is just a way to discriminate against airboats
I mean really they should have wrote the laws more like this:
The state of Fl section XXXXX law now all airboats will have a automotive style muffler but no other vessel will need this and laws are subject to change on the spot depending on the local officer mood at the time
I not saying we should not tr to be quieter with are mufflers but mine are much much quieter then the glass packs I had . if it was supposed to be like that then they need to change all muffler laws for cars,boat etc... other wise it is just a way to discriminate against airboats
I mean really they should have wrote the laws more like this:
The state of Fl section XXXXX law now all airboats will have a automotive style muffler but no other vessel will need this and laws are subject to change on the spot depending on the local officer mood at the time
SwampMatt
Well-known member
I kinda like Cold's approach.... weld something up there and Skrew 'em :lol:
I gotta shoot myself down - they mention "or other manufactured device" and that is nowhere near baffles. I guess that's what you are talking about Charles? That little word.... "or" is a very powerful word. I missed that bit the first dozen times around!!!
Yeah, it's confusing!
What we need - we need someone to actually get a ticket based on the above listed scenerio. And then take it to your airboat club or the FAA or other organized group and FIGHT IT!
matt.
I gotta shoot myself down - they mention "or other manufactured device" and that is nowhere near baffles. I guess that's what you are talking about Charles? That little word.... "or" is a very powerful word. I missed that bit the first dozen times around!!!
Yeah, it's confusing!
What we need - we need someone to actually get a ticket based on the above listed scenerio. And then take it to your airboat club or the FAA or other organized group and FIGHT IT!
matt.