Sound reduction attempt on a 88' Catalina 27 with an M18 In an effert to reduce the engine noise that has been bothering me for years I finally tryed to do something about it....... I recently installed the sound proofing material that is in the link below and have mixed opinons about the product. I installed the material on the entire backside of front panel, the area above the engine which is the underside of the cockpit floor back about 2 feet from the front panel and the starboard side area of the engine room near the engine engine access door. After installing the material the noise has changed pitch slightly and I would say a reduction of "noise" by only 20 percent or less. Has anyone else used a product or done something differently to reduce the noise generated by the engine?
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Yesterday I decided to research the archives and my Practical Sailor issues on this subject. I ordered today the 1" sheet kit from Defender for $119. which includes shipping to my home.
Full area must be covered
I was told by an expert that unless you can cover the full area around the engine insulation will have only a very limited effect - as you are experiencing. According to this expert leaving 10% uncovered will let 70% of the noise through (this is a very rough indication obviously depending on other factors as well, such as shape of the area to be covered, quality of the insulation material etc.) There are some threads about insulation in the archives.
I was told by an expert that unless you can cover the full area around the engine insulation will have only a very limited effect - as you are experiencing. According to this expert leaving 10% uncovered will let 70% of the noise through (this is a very rough indication obviously depending on other factors as well, such as shape of the area to be covered, quality of the insulation material etc.) There are some threads about insulation in the archives.
Since diesel engines need air to work
most have louvers inside the boat, in addition to the clamshell vents and hoses (which are usually too small to provide the total area needed for air intake). So most of the time you're trying to kill the sound, only you need the big holes to let the engine work. It's like trying to go to sleep when the baby's crying in the next room, but you're forced to leave the door open. After all these years, I'm still not quite sure what all the effort to install sound deadening material is for...it would be better to install sound absorbing material, but the covers of all the stuff I've seen is solid, which is reflective.
most have louvers inside the boat, in addition to the clamshell vents and hoses (which are usually too small to provide the total area needed for air intake). So most of the time you're trying to kill the sound, only you need the big holes to let the engine work. It's like trying to go to sleep when the baby's crying in the next room, but you're forced to leave the door open. After all these years, I'm still not quite sure what all the effort to install sound deadening material is for...it would be better to install sound absorbing material, but the covers of all the stuff I've seen is solid, which is reflective.
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