Carver Owners Forum

I was wondering if anyone knows where we can get muskrat guards for a 2004 396 carver MY..Thx

Check out this site: https://hurleymarine.com/shop/muskrat-o ... st-guards/

winedown wrote:Source of the post I was wondering if anyone knows where we can get muskrat guards for a 2004 396 carver MY..Thx

If you asking because they have already been in your exhausts then you will have to check the exhaust system internally even after you get the guard.....they chew from the inside out and can be almost thru before they get distracted and leave. They sink many boats a year.

Ask your marina if there is a local guy that makes them ( usually is ). If you are handy you can make some nice ones from 1/2"-3/4" mesh ( can't remember now) welded or unwelded stainless screening.....usually around .100" gage and up. I made some, the local metal fabrication shop had some polished mesh for a custom backsplash, leftovers......epoxied them in and all good.

I may still have pics of them if that is something you wish to try.

I made up a set for my Carver 445 last spring. I bought some stainless steel welded wire mesh online and cut it to fit and then used thickened epoxy to hold it in place. Cut "legs" of the steel mesh to an "L" shape around the perimeter to have something to adhere to. Painted it black to match the existing trim. A little messy because I was in a hurry and didn't wipe off all the excess epoxy from the grid and didn't sand smooth the edges, but it works great.

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Thanks for the suggestions..We have had two sets of the Hurley Marine guards with the adjustable screws but have lost two guards (at different times)..The last time the stainless steel exhaust pipe went as well... So thinking epoxying a screen in may be a better solution..

winedown wrote:Source of the post Thanks for the suggestions..We have had two sets of the Hurley Marine guards with the adjustable screws but have lost two guards (at different times)..The last time the stainless steel exhaust pipe went as well... So thinking epoxying a screen in may be a better solution..

Yes that is why I didn't like those Hurley guards, there was something about the design......mine were almost identical to Polestars pic....if you fit them right, ( just make a cardboard template), they fit tight and the epoxy will hold them there without distorting the shape of the exhaust outlet fitting.......good luck man..

I also made mine using the cardboard template method to rough cut the wire mesh and then I fine tuned it from there. Once you get the thickened epoxy to start setting everything is held in place firmly. I checked mine at the end of summer and they were still the same as when I put them in four months earlier.

Thanks for the advice, new owner to 2000 456 and these are top of my to do list. Was thinking I could make these and install successfully, glad to hear this was the route of others.

What is a good brand of epoxy to use?
Thanks
Mb

Bakoboat wrote:Source of the post What is a good brand of epoxy to use?

I just used jb weld, the two part little tubes.....clean the area real good and maybe a light sand to rough it up for the epoxy to grab.....it really just holds the screens from popping out if you fit the screens tight.

Yup Midland has the furry little devils, that is for sure... FYI....I got my polished stainless mesh from Georgian bay metals in Penetang, ........good luck.

I know this is an old post but thank you for the helpful info! We will be doing this as our marina wanted to charge us over $2000 to install two guards.. I thought that price was out to lunch haha! Thanks again everyone. Mesh and epoxy it is.