Muffler for marine engines

Abstract

A marine engine muffler is provided having a silencing element with an inclined surface defining an array of elongate slotted apertures generally disposed in circumferential alignment. The slotted apertures are preferably defined by angled sidewalls such that exhaust gas flowing therethrough is forced to travel in a path that forms a reverse angle relative to the overall exhaust flow path thus conducting exhaust gases and entrained water to reverse direction while flowing through the silencing element. The conical silencing element is specifically sized to avoid resonant vibration within the operational RPM range of the engine and is further sized relative to the combined displacement of the engine and/or cylinder bank in fluid communication therewith to avoid resonant vibrations caused by reflected exhaust gas pressure waves generated by the internal combustion engine.