Just installed my FAE

[NewMalibu]

I have a 07VLX with the HammerHead. We use the boat primarily for surfing, and i was getting really worried about the exhaust output not only for the riders, but for my daughter who likes to sit in the rear corner surfside seat (station wagon effect).

So i got an FAE and installed it last night.

Installing the FAE was a challenge because i had the STE exhaust. In order to get the FAE installed, i had to remove the 3 screw FAE, and install the 4screw baffles that are used with the flapper exhaust.

Anyone that knows me, knows that i really should have left this part to Paul and team. On the Port side, i broke off one screw, and stripped another. On the starboard side, i stripped 2 screws. on both sides, i was only able to get the FAE flange (that connects to the baffle) secured with 3 of the 4 screws. it was a calamity of error, however, around 1am, i got it all installed.

I had surf club tonight, so i had to put the boat in the water. knowing my mechanical skills, i was an absolute wreck, checking the engine compartment at least 15-20 times, checking to make sure that there were no water leaks and no exhaust leaks.

To my surprise, there were NO water leaks (knock on wood), the FAE held on tight, and there were no exhaust fumes leaking into the boat.

In fact, i was REALLY happy with how it removed the fumes behind the boat while i was surfing.

So here is my only real issue though. When i pulled the boat out of the water tonight, i noticed that where was a little water coming out of the connection between the baffle and the flange on the port side.. it was a small stream of water, and i would guess that the total water amount was ~2-3 cups of water. I tried tightening the 3 screws, but had no luck. Should i be worried about that? i am assuming not, but any advice, would really help me sleep better.

[sabre]

I agree, I installed mine a few weeks ago. I also ave the stainless exhaust ports but with the XTI I didn't want to pull the floor and rear seat to take them off. I sent an e-mail to Larry and got more hose, to slip over the tips instead of adding the other ports. The real problem with me was the power wedge. The FAE works and is on but the instructions aren't really clear so I'm hoping it's on the way it's supposed to be. It works and is solid so I'll get some pictures uploaded and see what Dr. Mann says.

[TrickyNicky]

I've been interested in this but last I checked they don't have a system that works with a manual wedge. Anyone know if thats changed?

Also whats an FAE run for?

[mcbean7]

Any of you guys mind snapping a pic with the FAE on? I'm curious to see how it sits with respect to the wedge.

Thanks in advance.

[TrickyNicky]

Any of you guys mind snapping a pic with the FAE on? I'm curious to see how it sits with respect to the wedge.

Thanks in advance.

Quick google images search yeilded this.

[NewMalibu]

i will try to get a picture this morning. Mine does not look quite like the one in the pic above because they stopped connecting the wedge to the swim platform. it now connnects to the wedge bracket, so it comes up, and runs parallel to the wedge.

[NewMalibu]

I agree, I installed mine a few weeks ago. I also ave the stainless exhaust ports but with the XTI I didn't want to pull the floor and rear seat to take them off. I sent an e-mail to Larry and got more hose, to slip over the tips instead of adding the other ports. The real problem with me was the power wedge. The FAE works and is on but the instructions aren't really clear so I'm hoping it's on the way it's supposed to be. It works and is solid so I'll get some pictures uploaded and see what Dr. Mann says.

i wish i would have thought of that!

[NewMalibu]

I've been interested in this but last I checked they don't have a system that works with a manual wedge. Anyone know if thats changed?

Also whats an FAE run for?

i think it ran ~$500 by the time it was shipped. i dont know if it works with the manual wedge, but i dont see why it would not because it works with teh power wedge just fine.

I also have to say that they have FANTASTIC customer service. when i was ordering the wedge, i sent an email, and within 10 minutes he replied. when i figured out i had the wrong exhaust tips, i emailed him (on a saturday evening over the 4th of July weekend) and within 5 minutes he called me back, and on Monday, he sent me the new baffles. he is VERY passionate about his product and really stands behind it.

[NewMalibu]

Here are the pictures of the FAE installed.....yes, i realize that it is not straight and i will be fixing that...

[mcbean7]

Ahh...so they use the power wedge plate as a mount. OK.

Thanks for getting the pics up. I was curious about the mounting points. We were looking at getting this awhile back but they didn't have anything available that would work with the floating wedge so we bagged the idea.

[Pistol Pete]

Doesn't look too bad. Luckily it sort of blends in with your black transom.

[TrickyNicky]

Ahh...so they use the power wedge plate as a mount. OK.

Thanks for getting the pics up. I was curious about the mounting points. We were looking at getting this awhile back but they didn't have anything available that would work with the floating wedge so we bagged the idea.

Yup, I remember reading about this and thats why they have no manual wedge version. I'm thinking if I just got that versiuon it wouldn't be too hard to extend a connection and harness it off the swim platform. i never have to take my swimplatform off, so that wouldn't be a problem. Anyone see anything wrong with this idea? Is the power wedge and manual wedge pretty close to the same size?

BTW, FAE is always a practical thing and not a cosmetic thing and I've always found they look very botched up and afterwarket, but on your black transom, it really doesn't stand out that much.

[sabre]

I'm sure that if you e-mailed FAE they'd find a way to make one for the manual wedge. My guess is that it would be a power wedge setup that mounted to the swim platform.

They might not list it on the site but I'm sure they could work something up.

[Ndawg12]

But the manual wedge is all ready a pain to operate, imagine that thing in the way

[TrickyNicky]

But the manual wedge is all ready a pain to operate, imagine that thing in the way

Just to clear things up for everyone, the manual fixed wedge 2006 and previous (apparently) is a pain to operate. The manual floating wedge (2007 and newer) absolutely is not! I say this because when we were buying I read it was a pain, and tried to avoid it. Now that we have it, I honestly don't know how you could struggle at all. Pinch the pins to let it drop, grab the bar and pull up to raise. If you get more than your elbow in the water, your doing it wrong.

[Ndawg12]

Just to clear things up for everyone, the manual fixed wedge 2006 and previous (apparently) is a pain to operate. The manual floating wedge (2007 and newer) absolutely is not! I say this because when we were buying I read it was a pain, and tried to avoid it. Now that we have it, I honestly don't know how you could struggle at all. Pinch the pins to let it drop, grab the bar and pull up to raise. If you get more than your elbow in the water, your doing it wrong.

Yes that's what I meant, although Malibu did not change the name, on here they are typically distinguished as manual and floating.

[NewMalibu]

Yup, I remember reading about this and thats why they have no manual wedge version. I'm thinking if I just got that versiuon it wouldn't be too hard to extend a connection and harness it off the swim platform. i never have to take my swimplatform off, so that wouldn't be a problem. Anyone see anything wrong with this idea? Is the power wedge and manual wedge pretty close to the same size?

BTW, FAE is always a practical thing and not a cosmetic thing and I've always found they look very botched up and afterwarket, but on your black transom, it really doesn't stand out that much.

I dont know about the dimensions of the Manual/Floating/Power wedge, but it is pretty adjustable, so i dont see why it would not work. I am also pretty sure that you could call up Larry and ask for the old version of the Malibu FAE which connected to the swim platform.

Cosmetically, i think you are right. they do look kind of goofy, and i was originally thinking of getting the Polished version. but they did not have any in stock at the time, and honestly, now that it is installed, it is smaller than i envisioned and i dont really even notice it.