We have a Hunter 380 (first and only boat experience) and when the tide or any small wakes hit the aft section of the hull it pounds down on the water so hard and so loud it feels like the boat is going to crack open. Do all makes and models do that? Or is this some design flaw? Our main cabin is in the aft section and you can't possible sleep when this is happening.
Aft lapping/pounding noise
- Thread starter jackzimmerman
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Ahhhh yes, the infamous Hunter butt slap. Rest assured that it is not some flaw in your particular boat. It's a result of the relatively flat hull shape of the hull at the stern. We too thought the boat was going to snap in half the first night we ever spent aboard. There is actually a "diaper" of sorts that you can purchase and wrap around the stern of the boat to mitigate the problem, but in my opinion they look ridiculous and would be a PITA. We minimize the noise by running about 20' of line through a spare fender (10" diameter) which we slip under the stern, cleating both end of the line on the stern cleats. We tie a knot at both ends of the fender to hold it at center. This seems to break the wave action up enough to minimize the pounding racket. Some have resorted to sleeping in the v-berth to get away from it, but that just doesn't work for me.
Good luck and fair winds!
Good luck and fair winds!
We had the same annoying issue with our h240. I ran a spare line through a couple pool noodles we kept on board for the grandchildren visits. Floated them around the stern and tied off loosely and they reduced the noise tremendously by dampening the wavelets.
Hell my 410 hardly makes any noise (none really) compared to my last boat that had a sugar scoop aft .
Put some weight in the lockers (fuel, water, etc) and make sure you don't have a lot of extra weight in the forward half of the boat. (I never use the aft water tank really just so there s weight to off set the 350' of chain in the bow)
Put some weight in the lockers (fuel, water, etc) and make sure you don't have a lot of extra weight in the forward half of the boat. (I never use the aft water tank really just so there s weight to off set the 350' of chain in the bow)
This may look like a dumb statement but since my 34 does it also I'll give you my solution. All boats of that design do. Of course the boat has to be lined up with wind and waves stern to. Which means you are docked somewhere. My solution: if docked, turning the boat around facing the wind eliminates the back slapping. Never had the problem when anchored as boat is bow to the wind or current and turns with the tide.
I use the Slap Silencer too and find it is very effective. We have the problem at anchor when the wind and tide are opposed.
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A couple questions on the slap silencer:
- how big of a PITA is it to install (is it really 5-10 mins ?). It looks like it has to be pulled between the rudder and hull gap, which is not very big on my H36.
- does it rinse off easily ? I think it will be pretty slimy after being strapped across the bottom of the boat.
- are they still in business ? (the "order now" button on the web site goes to some error message to contact the webmaster).
// Paul
- how big of a PITA is it to install (is it really 5-10 mins ?). It looks like it has to be pulled between the rudder and hull gap, which is not very big on my H36.
- does it rinse off easily ? I think it will be pretty slimy after being strapped across the bottom of the boat.
- are they still in business ? (the "order now" button on the web site goes to some error message to contact the webmaster).
// Paul
I find if I leave our Walker Bay hard dinghy tied loosely to the stern, that does the trick.
That is to say, the sound of the dinghy banging against the stern drowns out the slapping
Seriously, I don't have this problem and I'm wondering if it's because we typically tie our dinghy broadside tight against the stern with some fenders in between. Possibly it disrupts the waves?
That is to say, the sound of the dinghy banging against the stern drowns out the slapping
Seriously, I don't have this problem and I'm wondering if it's because we typically tie our dinghy broadside tight against the stern with some fenders in between. Possibly it disrupts the waves?
Under the search heading, you will find this text:I fabricated a "slap damper" for our H356 out of two closed-cell sleeping pads from Cabela's/Bass Pro Shops. I installed brass-coated grommets in all four corners of both pads, connected the two pads long-wise using these grommeted corners thereby creating one long rectangular pad and then fitted this elongated pad to the boat, snugging it up against the rudder post, with cords attached to the to the four remaining corners and tied to the stanchions. Works like magic!
Good luck.
Good luck.
The silencer is pretty easy to install once you do it a few times. I find it is not so important that it be installed exactly right, as long as is stops the incoming waves. I also don't deploy it unless I feel the forecast indicates there is a pretty good chance of having the problem.
If you do search on "pool noodles" you'll find the answer. Most efficient and cost effective solution.
FYI, most production boats have aft quarters off the water. All depends on where you are and where the waves are coming from.
FYI, most production boats have aft quarters off the water. All depends on where you are and where the waves are coming from.
i often wondered what the perfect solution was for this problem, and then remembered the wave attenuators used in pools for swimming events. i think they would be great for the smaller wavelets slapping aganist the stern at nite. a 10' line of these things tied around the back should make the rear berths allot more pleasent for sleeping. i personally believe a few cold beers work just as well.
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