Engine compartment insulation on 1984 H31

[IanJ]

I have been on the General Forum about this and am getting conflicting answers, as to the lining of the engine compartment. Is the adhesive silver padding mainly for heat insulation or sound insulation? I know they do a little of both. Mine is just disintegrating and I want to replace it. Any ideas where to get padding from and exactly which one to use?

 

[Benny17441]

Years ago on another boat I got tired of removing insulation pieces from the engine compartment so I ripped it all out and cleaned the underside of the steps and left it at that. Did noticed more sounds from the engine but nothing significant and as far as heat was concerned did not notice any difference. Just give it a try for a few weeks before you go out an purchase replacement insulation, adhesive and tape.

 

[kloudie1]

That stuff is there for sound attenuation.. This site has some of the best available.. there is some at cheaper prices, but I don't think you'll find this particular one at a significantly better price. http://shop.hunterowners.com/prod.php?17597/Sound Insulation - Vinyl Foam Barrier Composite
I replaced mine a couple of years ago with stick on tiles and it is definitely quieter than the old disintegrated foam!.

 

[wesleysherman]

There are so many things out there I was lost when I decided to work on my h27 and quiet it down..the engine and compartments.

After three unnamed products here is what I did on the third try that worked so well.. I just often still start the engine just to make sure its real lol.

I started with a (Google you will find) RAAMmat BXll.. Really great stuff its a sound dampener mainly. I did two layers of this... (its fire rated but still I kept it off my muffler by 1 1/2"... then I followed it with Ensolite IUO Peel and stick. Did all the walls and floor and ceiling and Lid with this pattern of 2 RAAMat and one Ensolite. Also in my hunter sail boat like the outside walls of the engine compartment around the the inside of the cockpit stowaway compartments and removed one side panel and lined the floor of the cockpit the underside. Was very difficult and allot of wiggling and straining. But the result was so amazing... i can hear from the cockpit steering wheel my partner on the inside and she now goes out with me more often cause it is quieter and less rattly than before.

Its very important you make sure the surface is smooth and wipe it down with something like some interlux 202 i used.

When all was said and done I sprayed some weather guard on all the surfaces.. stuff you spray on your boots to make them water proof inside the engine compartment. The non flammable stuff..

This whole job cost me just over 480 but i used more RAAMat that was required for the engine... again i used so much RAAMat cause its vibration absorption is great for areas that squeak and vibrate.


I am sure different applications different conditions need to be looked it.. what may have worked for my h27 may be different than what your boat may need... but hope this gives ideas. I learned from an old designer left unnamed that key to sound reduction is first dampening the sound then noise absorption. So many products out there have one or the other but rarely both and a reasonable non commercial cost


Sound reduction made my wife sooooo happy.. she now sails with me more now.. cause of the lower sound range that she can watch tv while I drool with joy with wind in my face. (happy wife, Happy life)

 

[robertsapp]

I like to shop from this site if they have what I'm looking for, but for ease of installation I can't think of anything that beats the SPM soundproofing tiles at Sailor Solutions:
www.sailorssolutions.com

12" squares, peel and stick, and then if you want you can tape the seams with foil duct tape from Lowe's. Much easier to work with than trying to size and cut large sheets of soundproofing.

 

[wesleysherman]

Insulation

Yes I agree the tiles from sailor solutions works pretty good.. one thing imho is that it lacks is that its an absorption insulation barrier.. and I tried it couple years ago and its difficult to use on the lid/steps of most sailboats at least mine..... hard to use in small engine compartments like the hunter 27 were 1
" is tight and angles are a bit rough to trim these tiles.. I used them so I do agree there nice.. still for my application it didn't work as well as the current RAAMat and inusulite I just completed on my h27...

My DB read on a meter from our shop prior to my Two layers of RAAMat and insulite.. was 86+ it is now down to 54+_ 5 depending on RPM.. Remember that 90db prolonged for two or more hours has been proven to be damaging to the ears.. so my DB really was decreased by this product. Also remember I lined the under cockpit with the RAAMat as well... so i over did it..the mat is a absorber the insulite is a insulation barrier..