I have a 2000 Hunter 460, Voyager, that overall, I have been very happy with except that she is quite noisy! It is not structural, it is the interior, it creaks none stop as she rolls in the swell! Has anybody experiences this and successfully resolved the issue somehow?
Noisey Interior
- Thread starter Acwaman
- Start date
I have an idea, although it could create other issues.
If you can identify the location of the creak, you might try spraying a waterproof expanding foam between the liner and the hull. A small, discreet hole could be drilled to insert the spray nozzle.
I am NOT suggesting standard expanding foam. Most of those products are only water-resistant and may eventually fail in a marine environment. You would want something specifically intended to be waterproof, such as Pond & Stone / Black Foam or Flex Seal Flex Foam.
That said, I can see a couple of potential problems:
- The expanding foam could enter an area designed to allow water to drain to the bilge.
- If there is enough mechanical shear between the hull and liner, it could eventually break the foam into small particles that migrate beneath the liner and end up in places you don't want them.
I have actually done this before on a Coronado 23 that I was rebuilding. I emptied 12 cans of expanding foam between the liner and hull, and two years later, when I sold the boat, it was still holding up.
BUT!!! That was a much simpler, and less expensive, boat than the one you're working with. The only system I could potentially have affected was the bilge pump, so it was a relatively low-risk experiment for me.
All boats make interiors noises in anything but flat conditions and they get exponentially worse as conditions deteriorate. I've spent many days chasing down noises, inside and outside, many can be found especially the simple things, like loose items in lockers, loose lines, simply tightening things with a screwdriver. Furniture movement is more difficult, I still have a screwdriver lodged under my galley furniture to stop a noise.
Worst was what sounded like a ping pong ball rolling in the headliner space. Never found it but its gone now.
Go long enough you actually get used to it but interesting enough I feel that after 10,000 miles the last three years that it is less than it used to be, like the noisy wear spots got quieter. May just be me thinking that though.
Chasing noises is part of sailing/cruising in my world and I'm always listening for something new and unusual on my H410.
All other brand boats do the same, some more, some a little less. Sailing is not as peaceful and quiet as we like to portray it.
Worst was what sounded like a ping pong ball rolling in the headliner space. Never found it but its gone now.
Go long enough you actually get used to it but interesting enough I feel that after 10,000 miles the last three years that it is less than it used to be, like the noisy wear spots got quieter. May just be me thinking that though.
Chasing noises is part of sailing/cruising in my world and I'm always listening for something new and unusual on my H410.
All other brand boats do the same, some more, some a little less. Sailing is not as peaceful and quiet as we like to portray it.
I disagree. Not on my boat. I chased down all noises because once I did I knew ANY noise I then did hear was something to investigate immediately. For example, we once heard some strange pitched noise when motoring. We pulled into a nearby dock and I was able to figure out that one of the coupling bolts had let go. Noises should not be tolerated. I sailed on SF Bay so flat conditions were not the norm. Otherwise sure, some boats may creak more than others. There's a difference between creaks and noises.
Not sure exactly why you disagree with me, I did say all noises need to be investigated, that I (we) always listen for new or unusual noise and a mechanical noise is obviously different from interior creaking. My PSS shaft seal gets noisy if it develops an air lock, scary 1000 miles off the coast returning to the US from Hawaii, something like that takes priority as there is no safe harbor nearby. These things should be obvious to sailors.
Stu, your boats interior furniture creaks on a blustery lively day on the bay you can't tell me otherwise and it wouldn't be better outside the bay. I know you can't get rid of them all but your point is a good reminder to listen to noises carefully and investigate/ fix/separate them all as you can.
Everbilt Plastic Toilet Shims (4-Pack) 88523 - The Home Depot
These are perfect for quieting down noises from cabin features making contact with one another
These are perfect for quieting down noises from cabin features making contact with one another