Frank,
Like you, I am bothered by the exhaust issue. I'd prefer a dry exhaust like most commercial vessels use. The problem we face is that on a sailboat there is no good place for an exhaust. A mast would be the ideal place blowing it out of the top. With a wet exhaust the temperature of the gas is significantly cooled down, and indeed, one could use the mast with a suitable vent at the top be safe from seasickness inducing fumes. The wet exhaust injects water directly at the end of the manifold that connect to the exh. ports into a short length of steel pipe to have the water as it is mixing with the exh. gases turn into steam. The transition from liquid to steam absorbs the thermal energy through the expansion of the water into steam. (In the tropics, when it is blowing while sailing along, the water from the whitecaps have the same effect and winterclothes provide protection from the ice cold air.) The wet exhaust can be under the waterline and will with the pressure from the engine push the water up the exhaust loop. Btw. The water muffler is connected to the pipe from the water injection with a rubberhose, and then from the muffler also with a rubber hose, up with a loop over the waterline then to a through hull up above the waterline. Some place a "flopper" cover ( my words) over the exhaust through hull. I do not know how effective this is, I have a Groco valve there. I had a valve lifter spring break on me in mid ocean once, and kept the exhaust closed from then on until in port where the engine was fixed(supposedly).
After this lengthy explanation, I want to make clear that I am not a mechanic not is engine design my specialty. The issue as I see it is that the back pressure on the exhaust with each obstruction from the engine to the exit of the gases can be damaging to the valves and or reduce the output of hp. Making a special through hull to which you could snap a larger extension hose would be one solution.
The question that concerns me, is a modification necessary? Are you using a lot of electricity? I used a small Honda generator for running small power tools, a blender for making "screw drivers= Tang and Vodka), milkshakes and ice cream. Do not store the gas generator below decks, it took me a while to show the Coast Guard that the generator wasactually totally empty as they tried to give me ticket.If you are a musician with an amplified system, the sound level of the generator is the same as the boat diesel.
Are you in an area that is exceedingly dry hot at night? What about rigging up an evaporation type cooler (small water pump dribbling water through a screening type of sponge material and a fan blowing air through it producing cold air. I used to live in Oklahoma in the 60's and that was popular then.
I would like to redesign the water muffler, so that the exhaust pipe can be above deck level and diverted to PVC pipes tied to the back stay or something else like an overboard hose that keeps the exhaust fumes from suffocating people below decks What about a carbon monoxide detector?. The water from the muffler can be collected.and drained elsewhere.
Jay, can you place this off topic item into a new category topic like "Exhaust Fumes" or so?
I think Frank brought this up and it is important to many of us.
Thanks to Frank and Jay and Bud.
Mike Z