Last night I was awoken twice by a noise: Chunka-chunka-chunka-chunka-chunka that seemed to be coming from either the bilge or the port side settee (which is where I was sleeping). This morning I checked the bilge and it seems fine as does the Par pump (located in that port side locker). Anyone have any ideas what goes "Chunka-chunka-chunka-chunka-chunka" in the night?
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Peggie Hall/Head Mistress
Do you have a VacuFlush toilet?
If so, that's the sound the vacuum pump makes when it's running...which it should not be except for 30-45 seconds after each flush. Running continuously will burn out the pump.
If so, that's the sound the vacuum pump makes when it's running...which it should not be except for 30-45 seconds after each flush. Running continuously will burn out the pump.
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Eric C Lindstrom
No, on the VacuFlush toilet ...
Can't be that. Our toilet is manual all the way. It really sounded like it was in the bilge but the floater switch and the pump worked fine when I tested it.
Can't be that. Our toilet is manual all the way. It really sounded like it was in the bilge but the floater switch and the pump worked fine when I tested it.
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Peggie Hall/Head Mistress
V/Flush pumps are often in the bilge...
but if you don't have a V/Flush that can't be it. If your holding tank is "dumpable" at sea, what kind of pump does that? If it's an electric diaphragm pump, it could be your culprit. Whatever it is, you do need to find it...'cuz if it's an electric motor, the motor will burn out.
but if you don't have a V/Flush that can't be it. If your holding tank is "dumpable" at sea, what kind of pump does that? If it's an electric diaphragm pump, it could be your culprit. Whatever it is, you do need to find it...'cuz if it's an electric motor, the motor will burn out.
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Roland
Leak in the water line
Thought a while about this one. The most obvious cause, that I could think of, would be a small leak in the freshwater line causing the pump to recycle every so often. Try sleeping with the pump switch off and see if the noise stops. If and when you do find the noise, let us know. -Roland s/v Fraulein II P.S. By the way, Eric, since my boat's picture is on your site, we did not make the trip all the way to the Keys. Weather forced us to hang out in Charlotte Harbor for two weeks - Oh, darn! Might want to update the caption. We are upgrading for another try next June. -Roland
Thought a while about this one. The most obvious cause, that I could think of, would be a small leak in the freshwater line causing the pump to recycle every so often. Try sleeping with the pump switch off and see if the noise stops. If and when you do find the noise, let us know. -Roland s/v Fraulein II P.S. By the way, Eric, since my boat's picture is on your site, we did not make the trip all the way to the Keys. Weather forced us to hang out in Charlotte Harbor for two weeks - Oh, darn! Might want to update the caption. We are upgrading for another try next June. -Roland
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James Marohn
Other vessels in your area!
Very very funny. Over the past few years, my wife and I noticed a faint yet distinctive sound very similar to what you are describing. I swore it sounded like something coming from the bilge. Everytime time the sound would come up (usually when we're at anchor, on a bouy, or tied in a marina...but never when we're underway!!), I would pull up the floor panels and listen carefully, only to be more confused by the lack of the source. It turns out that we were hearing ferry, cargo ships, tug boats, or other larger vessels passing by and we are hearing their props and engine sound being carried by underwater. Everytime you hear that sound, don't look at your boat, but look outside. Chances are there's a vessel passing by. Mystery solved (at least for us). Cheers, -j- PS Sound carries well underwater. We would sometimes here vessels 2 or 3 nautical miles away!
Very very funny. Over the past few years, my wife and I noticed a faint yet distinctive sound very similar to what you are describing. I swore it sounded like something coming from the bilge. Everytime time the sound would come up (usually when we're at anchor, on a bouy, or tied in a marina...but never when we're underway!!), I would pull up the floor panels and listen carefully, only to be more confused by the lack of the source. It turns out that we were hearing ferry, cargo ships, tug boats, or other larger vessels passing by and we are hearing their props and engine sound being carried by underwater. Everytime you hear that sound, don't look at your boat, but look outside. Chances are there's a vessel passing by. Mystery solved (at least for us). Cheers, -j- PS Sound carries well underwater. We would sometimes here vessels 2 or 3 nautical miles away!
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Eric C Lindstrom
I think Roland has the right answer!
Other boat's noises was a pretty good guess but we're at a dock in a very secure harbor (and the noises occured in the middle of the night with NO other boats in motion). The other "issue" I've been battling with is the fact that in one weekend we seem to blast through 30 gallons of fresh water. This is hardly possible since we brush our teeth (2 gallons) and wash dishes (3 gallons). Then, by the end of Sunday I have to fill the tanks again. This past weekend I left on Sunday ... filled both tanks to capacity and wrote a reminder note that I needed to check the tanks (to make sure they're still full). I betcha I find them down and this would explain the Chunka-chunka-chunka-chunka-chunka noise! Now I just need to find that small leak! I will let y'all know on Monday! Thanks.
Other boat's noises was a pretty good guess but we're at a dock in a very secure harbor (and the noises occured in the middle of the night with NO other boats in motion). The other "issue" I've been battling with is the fact that in one weekend we seem to blast through 30 gallons of fresh water. This is hardly possible since we brush our teeth (2 gallons) and wash dishes (3 gallons). Then, by the end of Sunday I have to fill the tanks again. This past weekend I left on Sunday ... filled both tanks to capacity and wrote a reminder note that I needed to check the tanks (to make sure they're still full). I betcha I find them down and this would explain the Chunka-chunka-chunka-chunka-chunka noise! Now I just need to find that small leak! I will let y'all know on Monday! Thanks.
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