Floating Genset Exhaust Hose

[Cocktail Time]

I've had a boating friend talk about several times, a hose he had seen coming out of a genset exhaust on the side of a smaller (30ft) cruiser that was corrugated with floats and lead the genset exhaust out towards the aft of the boat.

I looked up on the web and found a patent from 2007 for something similar but wanted to know, A) why would you want this, besides the obvious. and B) Does anyone offer such an accessory or C) What am i missing here. I prefer to use our genset overnight and if this would make it safer to do so, why not?

Any comments?

 

[skibum]

As long as the silly thing stays down wind, I guess it would be safer for you and your passengers. If the thing manages to float in front of your boat or right up under the porthole of a boat behind you, then it probably isn't safer for you or them.

Current and wind can be moving in opposite directions. If there is a light wind and light current moving in opposite directions, which way will the tube go in relation to the boat? Will the current pull it forward, while the wind pushes the boat the opposite way? This would put the genny exhaust coming out ahead of the boat and the wind blowing it back. No good.

There would need to be a way to ensure that the tube stays aft, and the captain would always need to make sure that the bow was pointed into the wind. No tying off to something on the the beach, or stern anchoring with the wind at your back.

 

[rcknecht]

After hydro-locking my westerbeake this past summer, I would be hesitant to put any on the exhaust that would create back pressure on the genny. I would rather buy a back up C0 detector than attach at hose to the exhaust discharge...

 

[Quint4]

CO.....carbon monoxide.

 

[Creekwood]

Interesting idea though since if there is a breeze, it would float downwind. If there is no wind then its probably no worse than having nothing at all, and maybe better since it would at least be a little way away. Not much good in a raft-up though.

 

[tobnpr]

Sounds like a dangerous idea to me.
A setup like that (floating hose) would orient itself to the current- not the prevailing winds.
The two are not usually in sync. Nothing would stop the "hose" from extending towards the bow if the current were running in that direction against a stronger prevailing wind.