Why why why...

[sasada]

OK, Meat Head alert!...

I currently have a great running boat that has about everything I need. BUT, I really want a Cobalt! With that being said, the boat i have has captains call exhaust...i love it, MOST others love it, and if i dont want it on i just flip the switch. Among, many other things that was one of the requirements in my lengthy search for a boat. I know one thing, i cant see myself buying another boat without it because there is no way i am spending the money ($3500-$5000) to put it on later, mostly because it doesn't make your boat worth but maybe a couple hundred dollars more. So many Cobalts out there for sale do not have it. Why is that? Are those Michelob Ultra drinkers too classy for it??? Another thing, why do i love that sound so much? Trashy?...maybe. Music to my ears?...Yes!

 

[JimS123]

Re: Why why why...

Its not what you drink, nor is it trashy. Music...hardly. In my crowd we boat with our families and friends. We all have a good time, drinking beer and swimming and conversing with the kids and grandmas alike. The noise hinders the conversation. The only reason for the noise (er, music) is to let everyone know that we're special because our motor is bigger than yours.

 

[h2odick]

Re: Why why why...

I used to enjoy the sound of open header big blocks when I was younger. I even have a 4 seater dune buggy that has open headers, and it gets to a point where I can't even have a conversation in 1st-3rd gear. I finally decided to put mufflers on it. The loud drone/noise gets old for most after just a bit.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Why why why...

Agreed... Nothing makes me cringe worse on the water than someone who thinks they are cool because everyone within a few miles is forced to listen to their exhaust.
Unless you are breaking 100 mph in a sanctioned event IMHO loud exhaust on a boat is just plain rude.

 

[GHBAY]

Re: Why why why...

Agreed... Nothing makes me cringe worse on the water than someone who thinks they are cool because everyone within a few miles is forced to listen to their exhaust.
Unless you are breaking 100 mph in a sanctioned event IMHO loud exhaust on a boat is just plain rude.

This

 

[sasada]

Re: Why why why...

I guess I should have stated. Most generally, when I run the exhaust through the hull its because I want to hear it. Just sounds BA to me! Not because I want others to hear it. The boat is all bark anyway. Its not like the thing flies (50-55mph depending on prop). Plus, when I putt thru party cove I almost always run the exhaust through the prop, as not to try make people think im trying to be cool. Guess at the end of the day my question remains...Do new Cobalt purchasers just tend to be more snooty/wise/polite towards that sort of thing???

 

[GHBAY]

Re: Why why why...

I think if they arent offering it, it isnt a matter of being 'snooty', it is cause they recognize that most people on the water dont want to hear that, so they are appealing to their market.

In some waters, its illegal to run like that unless you are 5 miles offshore. Sadly, it isnt enforced very well where I go. One of my biggest pet peeves on the water. You hear that crap invading your eardrums from miles away

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Why why why...

because "I want" EVERYONE has too......... You think most people like it but MOST hate it and simply don't say anything....

VERY few new boats come with noise holes cut in the back...... thankfully most of the people who can afford a new boat have enough sense to want it quiet and in most places it's illegal tho not enforced nearly enough.... Same thing with cars.... sure there are always high school kids and even a few "adults" running around with fart cans on their honda's but the new ones are whisper quiet and often faster than the hotrodded ones.

 

[sasada]

Re: Why why why...

because "I want" EVERYONE has too......... You think most people like it but MOST hate it and simply don't say anything....

VERY few new boats come with noise holes cut in the back...... thankfully most of the people who can afford a new boat have enough sense to want it quiet and in most places it's illegal tho not enforced nearly enough.... Same thing with cars.... sure there are always high school kids and even a few "adults" running around with fart cans on their honda's but the new ones are whisper quiet and often faster than the hotrodded ones.

LOL...I guess I know where you stand! I guess when I say "most" I mean the people that I boat with...age range from 30ish-50ish. Vroom Vroom!

 

[sasada]

Re: Why why why...

I think if they arent offering it, it isnt a matter of being 'snooty', it is cause they recognize that most people on the water dont want to hear that, so they are appealing to their market.

In some waters, its illegal to run like that unless you are 5 miles offshore. Sadly, it isnt enforced very well where I go. One of my biggest pet peeves on the water. You hear that crap invading your eardrums from miles away

Its offered on many of them. I referring to used ones.

 

[Joe5.0]

Re: Why why why...

Not a Cobalt owner, but the vast majority of midsize cuddy's/bowriders dont have silent choice. Couple reasons IMO:

1. $$$$ On my single 350 mag it was a $3k+ option, and pretty sure Cobalt charges more than that (on average).
2. It doesnt do anything other than make noise. I LOVE the sound of a built engine on a speed boat, but who wants to hear open headers on a bone stock engine?
3. Its another "thing" to maintain & break.
4. Most people with midsize boats are families with younger kids, a wife, and friends (with wives). The noise doest impress them at all. Truth be told, I want my boat to be even quieter, and its on the quieter side of most boats with 89dB at cruise.

With all that said if it came on my boat for free I definitely wouldnt mind, but I wouldnt spend more than $500 for it.

 

[rallyart]

Re: Why why why...

Most people don't order them because it costs a lot of money extra and provides no benefit past sounding like a stock car at the track. There is no power benefit and it wrecks the ability to carry on a conversation.
I'm 50ish and have built a number of winning race cars in a variety of types of racing. My boat might be the quietest on the lake.
I certainly don't always agree with smoke but I'd have to agree with his comments here. I do appreciate that the sound of a V8 burbling away is sweet but I'm glad you don't impose it on everyone too often.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Why why why...

Also don't get me wrong, I CAN see the appeal and even went as far as buying two complete merc silent choice systems at a GREAT price for my 28'er but then decided not to install them after thinking about what goes through my head every time I hear someone else with open exhaust on the water (usually something like "another &^$&^ *&%*% *&%&$$ thinks he's cool" and didn't want people thinking that about me so they sat on the shelf.... looking back I'm SOOO glad I didn't put em on.

If I need loud I have an offroad only jeep on 1 ton axles and 37" irok's with a built 350 running a flow master muffler ...... The biggest difference is that trees n hills absorb sound unlike flat water AND I'm just above idle 90% of the time and only snap the throttle here and there for a couple seconds.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Why why why...

LOL...I guess I know where you stand! I guess when I say "most" I mean the people that I boat with...age range from 30ish-50ish. Vroom Vroom!

I'm 39..... sure most of your buddies like the "look at me factor" but most of the people who are listening to you, many of which are too far away to even be seen are NOT impressed.

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: Why why why...

Thankfully the police here don't like it and write tickets. Those making noise only do it to say "look at me, I have a boat". Most are afraid to go outside the inlet. Very childish.

 

[Deltarat]

Re: Why why why...

Some waterways in the Calif Delta area are giving out noise violation tickets for those real noisy boats. Years back a lady complained to the Harbor Patrol that the noise hurt her child's ear. The guys boat was impounded until test results could be taken to determine the loudness of the motors. He eventually got sued for damaging a little kids ears and lost in court! So beware!

 

[thumpar]

Re: Why why why...

Just get a Crownline. Most LPX (I actually think all) came with captains call through hull. I have thought about adding it to mine. There are the haters but oh well. When you have the guy with dual supercharged 502s and all the open exhaust jet boats on the lake it is tame.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Why why why...

I would rather go with a corsa 'quick & quiet' (or something like that) for the thru-hull portion of the captain's call. Noise should be muffled, hardly anyone wants to hear it for miles around.

Formula used to have what they called "Silent Thunder", which was a permanent thru-hull exhaust into an extended swim platform assembly that muffled the noise. It gave a nice macho V8 sound at idling, but was fairly quiet underway. I had it on my F-242. They have done away with it, probably for cost reasons.

I'm not sure if Cobalt ever had anything similar. I do like the 'capacity' that you get from thru-hull exhaust, just without the noise.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Why why why...

LOL...I guess I know where you stand! I guess when I say "most" I mean the people that I boat with...age range from 30ish-50ish. Vroom Vroom!

You're talking about your small circle of boating friends. Unfortunately, a whole bunch of people outside that circle is FORCED to listen to the noise whether they like it or not. You see it as a personal right, while most see it as either a plea for attention or a simple lack of courtesy.

 

[agallant80]

Re: Why why why...

You know I really like the Beets Audio that came with my Chrysler 300 but I know that no one at the stop light appreciates it as much as I do so I turn it down. Honestly the people with the really loud boats just give the appearance of some d-bag with a closet full of Ed Hardy clothes who only cares about what makes him happy and not how his behavior can affect other people. We go to the lake to relax not listen to some red neck with money create noise pollution.