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hull "slapping" noise

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by enproep, Mar 4, 2013.

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  1. enproep

    enproep New Member

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    Hello, we recently purchased a Carver 530 Voyager and love the boat. However, when we are at anchor or mooring for the night, the the water "slapping" the hull is very loud and bothersome, which makes it difficult to sleep. I assume it is the water hitting the hard chines of the hull. Does anyone know if there is a product on the market to eliminate or minimize this affect...or any suggestions?
    Thank you in advance, Bob
  2. YachtForums

    YachtForums Administrator

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    You can't be serious?
  3. PacBlue

    PacBlue Senior Member

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    Why not - certainly some hulls slap more than others, and having a berth at or near chine level can make it it difficult to ignore. It can be like trying to sleep in a drum. Maybe out West where boaters tend to anchor offshore overnight it becomes more noticeable than tying up at one of the many cozy Marinas along the ICW.

    There are a couple of paint products that you can apply to the interior of the hull to help deaden the noise, I believe one is called "Noxudol" and is available at West Marine. I have used it before to quiet the bilges and it does work when measured with a db meter. You can further insulate the interior space, in order to muffle the noise.
  4. enproep

    enproep New Member

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    Dead serious.
    It is unbelievably loud while at mooring or anchor. Almost un-sleepable.
    Thanks for your reply though.
  5. enproep

    enproep New Member

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    Thanks PacBlue.
    I'll try to attack it from the inside.
    Sincerely, Bob
  6. Preferred

    Preferred New Member

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    I also have the same problem with my 455 Carver and think I have a solution. I will be testing a devise this spring. i will let you know if its successful.
    it doesn't bother my wife and I, we are in the aft cabin. Some guest don't mine others cant sleep in the fwd berth.
  7. enproep

    enproep New Member

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    Thanks "Preferred".
    Is this a product you are coming up with and or testing?
    Please let me know when you can share it with me.
    Thanks in advance, Bob
  8. Preferred

    Preferred New Member

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    Someone else designed this item and did not want to do it commercially .I will test the idea and let you know for sure if it works.
  9. franzmerenda

    franzmerenda Senior Member

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    :D Know it may sound I'm kidding you, but actually it sends me to sleep such a background sound
  10. enproep

    enproep New Member

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    I wish that were the case for us and we certainly don't mind a little noise, however this is just too loud.
    Thanks for the comment Franzmerenda.
  11. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    Sorry, but this could only come from California. As boaters we're supposed to enjoy these sounds (although halyards clanging still drive me crazy and I try to avoid marinas with a lot of sailboats). However, let me take it seriously for a minute. First, are you sure it's the water slapping? In Florida they have the Spade fish. I call them hull suckers. At night they come alongside of boats that have grass growing at the waterline, lay on their sides and slap their tails against the surface of the water to hold themselves in place as they eat the grass. They'd remind me when it was time to clean my waterline. It's pretty loud. Failing that, try to isolate the area where the slapping is coming from and lay a piece of foam matt or engine room sound dampening material against that area. That should spread and muffle the noise. You could also play white noise in your stateroom.
  12. PacBlue

    PacBlue Senior Member

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    Really, you think this is a California thing? I have been on boats where the noise is not "soothing" and you would have to plumb in enough white noise to have a rock concert to overcome the issue. Get serious, the poster has a relevant issue. Part of the issue from a design and engineering perspective is thin/solid FRP laminate panels that are somewhat overspanned, and certainly chine design/chine angles. This is not typically the case in an aft master stateroom, but a bunk or forward stateroom towards the bow. I know of a few manufactureres who did modify there chines over time because of this issue.

    There have been other threads that discussed the "popping or crackling sound" you may hear from inside the boat, but those have been determined to be small marine life and is not the topic of this thread.

    Fish slapping the hull - now that could only come from FL!
  13. enproep

    enproep New Member

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    Thank you NYCAP 123.
    We do like the noise and rocking, however it is VERY loud.
    We are in CA and moor, and or anchor inside and outside Avalon, Two Harbors, etc. at Catalina Island. Even in somewhat mild conditions, it's an echo chamber.
    While moored, I thought about placing some foam between the water and hull to muffle the slapping, but not sure how to attach it. I've located the affected area which is about 4 ft. or so of waterline on both port and starboard sides of the hull. Just not sure how to muffle it.
    Thanks, Bob
  14. Beau

    Beau Senior Member

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    Have it on my Post - I sleep soundly, my wife hates it.
  15. enproep

    enproep New Member

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    Thanks BEAU:
    Not sure what you mean though...
  16. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Sound like PBS.
    Plastic Boat Syndrome.

    You could try adjusting bow / aft trim to help reduce the slap under the for-chine.

    But, it's PBS.
  17. NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    PacBlue, Don't get in an uproar. I was being sarcastic. NY sense of humor. Something seldom appreciated on the west coast. Just ask Leno and Letterman.
    Enproep, try sticking it with 3M tape, at least until you know it's a permanent solution.
    rcrapps, How do you adjust the trim of a boat at anchor?
  18. Beau

    Beau Senior Member

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    Enproep


    We have the same noise on our boat. It sends me into a deep sleep, my wife sleeps with the pillows covering her ears
  19. Fishtigua

    Fishtigua Senior Member

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    I used to run a boat were the exhausts ran outside, back passed the Owners cabin in the aft.

    See photo of similar layout below.

    The constant 'Slap Slap' of the water hitting the exhausts at night drove the Owners nuts. While in the yard the Boss asked for them to be cut off, every darned inch of them. We did.

    He was much happier. Unfortunately we had even more hull to clean.

    Attached Files:

  20. Ormond Bert54

    Ormond Bert54 Senior Member

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    Liquor ... drink up. Beer is not strong enough.