ON BORROWED TIME

I spoke to Roy Merritt of Merritt’s Boat and Engine Works some years ago about exhaust risers. He told me that any risers five years or older—especially if they are made from Inconel rather than stainless steel—are ready for replacement. Unfortunately, your exhaust riser is sure to fail right before a scheduled departure, or worse, at your international destination. Inconel is an oxidation-/ corrosion-resistant alloy that is used in extreme heat and pressure environment applications, and is the perfect alloy for exhaust risers. Although some will last longer than others, they do have a finite life span, so putting them on your yard list to have checked by a professional or replaced is a safe bet.