I solved it. I bought a boat with the master stateroom aft! Nothing else seemed to work.

 

Have you considered hauling the boat out of the water?:grin:

 

I solved it by sleeping in the port side state room. It's the same size as the front "master". Actually.. I think the bed is bigger but I would have to measure to be sure.

 

We were overnighting last month off one of the barrier islands, forecast was for 5-10 kt winds. Of course, in the middle of the night they picked up to 15 kts, and we got no sleep for just the reasons you mentioned. My wife hates the motion AND the noise of the waves slapping the hull. Me, the motion doesn't bother me, but I had a headache by morning from the waves slapping the hull. Only fix I can think of is earplugs, but then that's a safety concern.

Of course, my kids sleeping in the stbd. guest SR and on the salon couch didn't hear a thing. I don't think you can ever get used to it; and an aft-cabin MY is just not for me...

I have had a thought, maybe laying some heavy padded blankets- like the kind used for moving furniture- along the hullsides before going to sleep. Not much to look at, but it might work?

 

you should hear it in my 280, sounds like someone banging a drum next to my head. 3 glass's of scotch made them go away.

 

Same problem with the 420DA. I think the benefits for the great ride are paid for with the noise at night.

Alcohol is the only thing that seems to make it go away.

 

One thing i was thinking about doing was lining the hull in the berth area with "vinyl barrier" which reduces sound transmission by about 35db (about equal to earplugs). it's an 1/8" thick impregnated vinyl sheet with a foam back that is glued on to generate a gap + barrier. I took rough measurements of what I thought I could cover and then estimated the weight it would add. It came to about 350lbs. This wouldn't do anything about the rest of the hull and any spots you couldn't cover, sound would enter through there. Maybe a lighter material would reduce it a hair, but probably not worth the trouble.

The hull is flexible resonating material and the only effective way at reducing noise transmission with this kind of material is material + air gaps + material. the more air gaps you can generate, the quieter it will be.

 

If it's noise from the boat wandering on anchor then consider using a bridle.

One way is to use a rolling hitch tied to the rode and then back to a cleat on either side. You'd have to let out about 20% more rode that usual. Let out your normal amount, get it set and then attach the line to the rode. Then let out the rode that 20% more. Once it's out then bring that line tied to it over to cleat on the side. Draw the line tighter and notice how it'll shift the angle of the boat on anchor. You only need to pull it 'enough' to get the desired offset. Don't go too far or you introduce other hassles like dealing with it getting tangled when changing direction due to wind, tides or current. It's also possible to use a bridle off both bow cleats to accomplish much the same idea. It's going to better handle direction changes but will require a pretty long line since you'll need to have extra on both ends to allow adjusting (since the knot it fixed in position on the rode).

I used this once last summer when a 15kt breeze started kicking up just enough small chop to make it impossible for me to sleep (the tequila had long since worn off...). Bit of a hassle doing this at 0-dark-thirty in my skivvies but it gave just enough offset to let the waves slap the hull at a 'less annoying' position.

What made it even more of a pain in the ass was having already left a raft-up with some sailboats to escape it. They were anchored such the slap was unbearable. So I just drifted off the end of the raft, far enough to avoid too much engine noise and then motored to another part of the cove (I think it was off the Rhode river somewhere). The wind eventually pushed me nearly back to the same angle as the raft-up. So the bridle was my only other option.

See http://www.animatedknots.com for info on making the right knots. Look for rolling hitch, prusik and klemheist.

If you're sure about the weather and wave conditions you could also use a stern anchor, or even just anchor from the stern. But there you need to be sure you're not introducing the added risk of water coming in through the transom door.

There are lots of reasons NOT to use a single stern anchor and most are correct. But in a small protected cove on smooth water and no weather expected, well, it's an option to consider.

Using two anchors; one bow, one stern, is another option but it's again something you should only be considering if conditions are right for it. There's also the bahamian mooring technique using two anchors, but I've had no experience with it.

 

If you have a storage compartment under the bed, line it with insulation. You can use the soft kind or buy the pink board type and cut to fit and glue down. It helps.

 

How about using some of the adhesive-backed sound insulation sheets? Like the kind they make for engine compartments or between the rug and floor in automobiles?

 

those sheets are like what I referred to earlier. foam backed barrier. they are very good if you can install them correctly and don't mind the huge amount of weight they add.

 

Buy a Tiara.

 

You'd look pretty silly wearing a tiara to bed, but if it works for you.....

 

You should try it if you are up to it.

 

The only thing the insulation will do it change the frequency of the sound transmition. If you had access to a RTA meter, you can plot the frequency of the sound and then calculate the effectiveness of the insulation if you know it's rating. This will only be effective at certain frequencies (higher frequencies). since you'll only be adding the insulation in an air gap, this will only reduce the higher frequencies.

Being that most here are older (near deaf) it's likely that it won't do much other than keep the boat a little warmer.

another alternative (and possibly much cheaper), would be to add an active noise reduction system in your boat. A phase reversed system added to the stereo, might reduce it enough to make it acceptable. But generally they are only effective with low impulse noise. Think of it like a giant bose noise reduction headphone. I've never tried it in a boat environment, but it's pretty effective in other controlled environments so it might work with a little tweeking.

 

again these measures will only be effective with sound transmission, not structural transmission. And will be frequency dependent.

Ok, i've talked enough on this issue as it's bringing back nightmares and work related stress. Time for some olives marinated in finely distilled vodka.

 

I'm now thinking that next time- given that our preferred anchorage is only a few miles offshore in 10' of water- I may anchor off the stern. Anyone tried this?

 

What is it exactly about the SR hull that causes this wave slapping noise? Is it because it is solid fiberglass?
Before purchasing the AJ270 last August I went for a sea trial in a 260 Sundancer and was very surprised by the amount of wave slapping noise while running. I assume the cause of this is the same as at anchor.
The boat that I had for the last 17 years, a Tiara Continental 2200, did not make that kind of noise. I don't think I'm going to like it!

Thanks in advance,
Seabbatical

 

What is it exactly about the SR hull that causes this wave slapping noise?

I'm probably going to get the actual word for it wrong. I'm thinking they're called strakes...but on my boat on each side of the bow there is a strip of the hull that is completely horizontal (parallel with the water surface).

This (strake?) lifts the boat out of the water as you move forward...allowing it to plane quickly - but its also the area that slaps the water as the bow bobs up and down and/or the waves impact the front of the boat while stationary.

If a guy could figure out how to temporarily attach some of those earlier-mentioned foam tubes (or even some flat foam strips) to these flat areas..you could probably disrupt the water clapping up against this area...it'd look kinda funny - but I think it would work. On my 420 - probably only need about 8' on each side...just where the waterline makes contact with the horizontal surface.

MAYBE...some flat foam strips with double sided tape...though any tape that would be good enough to stick on a wet surface would probably be a nightmare getting back off.

 

That noise is what puts me to sleep. That and a movie. We never seem to make it all the way thru a movie before dozing off. Especially if I'm forced to watch a chick movie.

 

Amen. I should record and loop it to help me sleep at home. Maybe some of these for the rest of you?

 

That is exactly the area I am talking about. It can be almost smooth and every little rock of the boat from the wiind makes the noise. It can be really bad when the waves kick up. The VIP suite is an option when we don't have guests, but the admiral needs the master bath for makeup, hair dryer, curling iron. I guess the next step is the 580DB with the mid cabin master...

 

Briamanst, I know what you mean on the wave lapping and I agree with many of the other guys that 3 drinks should cure that. I keep thinking how my wife likes the 55DA (or an older model 54DA) with the stateroom aft. We were looking at a 54 and she really liked the larger master aft, no more climbing up to get into bed. Oh well, next boat! Sea Gull hit it right, just buy a new 58SB and think how well you would sleep- I know I'd be up all night worring about how to pay for it!

 

Brian-

I had a 370DB that I added sound insulation on the hull sides under the V-berth, but I've never looked in my 480.

If that doesn't work, I have 2 of these on my boat..... and they do work!

http://www.supersidebar.com/features.htm

 

This is not a SR only issue. All boats experience it to some extent. Many sailboats have the same issue - only at the transom instead of at the bow.

I remember from my sailing days that there was a company that made a device to wrap around the stern of a sailboat (or the bow of a powerboat). The device was basically an insulated curtain (maybe 12" top to bottom and 6-8' long) that had floatation at the top and weights at the bottom. There were lines attached at least at each corner. The idea was to float this thing a few inches away from the boat with the idea that it would break the wavelets and provide an area of still water against the hull. Not sure if it worked, but it's cheaper than buying a 58DB.

 

The noise is from air being trapped up under the hull creating the "Slap" noise. There is no mechanical cure for this that can be undertaken from inside the boat. Floating collars and barriers may work, but they are tough to carry along on cruises. So if you just can't learn to sleep through it try these solutions.

Fix # 1 Knock back a stiff drink and cuddle up to the Admiral and maybe you'll be able to lsiten to different noises.

Fix # 2 If on the hook and the winds and currents co operate lead your anchor line aft to a stern cleat and lay off stern to the wind. This will quiet things down, But I wouldn't do in more than 5 to7 knots of wind on my boat.

Fix # 3 If in a slip, spin the boat around bow in for the evening, but in heavier winds the sea walls will make more noise so belay this idea at the slip in high winds.

Fix # 4 If tied along side a dock, spin your boat around so the master is away from the wind.

Fix # 5 Put on a few CD's with the music low and give yourself something else to listen to until you drift off, put on Barry White and you'll never get to sleep:smt038.

 

The noise is from air being trapped up under the hull creating the "Slap" noise. There is no mechanical cure for this that can be undertaken from inside the boat. Floating collars and barriers may work, but they are tough to carry along on cruises. So if you just can't learn to sleep through it try these solutions.

Fix # 1 Knock back a stiff drink and cuddle up to the Admiral and maybe you'll be able to lsiten to different noises.

Fix # 2 If on the hook and the winds and currents co operate lead your anchor line aft to a stern cleat and lay off stern to the wind. This will quiet things down, But I wouldn't do in more than 5 to7 knots of wind on my boat.

Fix # 3 If in a slip, spin the boat around bow in for the evening, but in heavier winds the sea walls will make more noise so belay this idea at the slip in high winds.

Fix # 4 If tied along side a dock, spin your boat around so the master is away from the wind.

Fix # 5 Put on a few CD's with the music low and give yourself something else to listen to until you drift off, put on Barry White and you'll never get to sleep:smt038.

So Chad you would not buy a Tiara to solve this problem :huh:

 

I never had this problem, I simply dont hear it...oh wait, im deaf.

 

Ok...this is not good news. I just bought my first cruiser, with wonderful thoughts of the family out camping on the water in some distant beautiful port. Instead, I am struck by the brutal reality, of a wife who barely sleeps anyway, who will bolt to the nearest Hilton at the first waves banging the hull. Well...it sounded like a good idea. :smt101

 

Yeah I'd say you're not in trouble yet. A lot of it has to do with your timing...especially early on. Pick some calm days/nights to get started and go from there. You'll find that after a good day of boating and lounging in the sun (on one of the 6 days that you guys actually get sun)...you'll be ready for solid sleep.

Nothing better than that first calm, quiet morning on the hook in a calm anchorage...what a great feeling.

 

Doug... Does she drink wine?

My admiral is the same way... on land... on the water we both tend to sleep deep and long. I usually wake up at the crack of dawn, but on the boat both the admiral and I sleep late every time.

Don't give up yet...

Michael

 

+1

At home on the weekends we are up at 7, on the boat, up at 9...sleep like logs in "the cave".