I finally spent the night on my boat Saturday night, and kept hearing a humming sound that was similar to the sound of a motor boat when your ears are under water. I figured that was what it was but it went on all night, and when I would go out to see if I could see anything, there was nothing. The only other thing that I can guess that might be causing it is a vibration in the rigging that is amplified below decks. Any thoughts on what this might be, and how to stop it?
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The sound might be your topping lift. I find in my H30 that the topping lift makes a loud hum in the lightest of breezes, sounds just like an electric motor. Rest your ear up against the line and see if thats the problem.
The main reason it hums...
The reason your boat hums at anchor is that it doesn't know the words. But seriously, I experienced a humming noise in the aft cabin of my 1995 336 while at dock and hooked up tp shore power. Turns out it was my battery charger. Now when the lights go out at night,I hook up my Slap Silencer, turn off the charger and go to sleep.
The reason your boat hums at anchor is that it doesn't know the words. But seriously, I experienced a humming noise in the aft cabin of my 1995 336 while at dock and hooked up tp shore power. Turns out it was my battery charger. Now when the lights go out at night,I hook up my Slap Silencer, turn off the charger and go to sleep.
Other ideas...
Sometimes a bilge pump will stick on and run with no water in it, it usually makes a humming noise. Was anyone anchored nearby? Maybe a generator or something? Did you have anything electric turned on at the panel? A "humming" noise sounds like it might be electrical in nature but I like the idea that your boat's humming 'cuz it doesn't know the words...
Sometimes a bilge pump will stick on and run with no water in it, it usually makes a humming noise. Was anyone anchored nearby? Maybe a generator or something? Did you have anything electric turned on at the panel? A "humming" noise sounds like it might be electrical in nature but I like the idea that your boat's humming 'cuz it doesn't know the words...
Anchor hum (continued)
The noise came and went, once in a while. The closest boat was 200 feet away. I checked the bilge pump, and turned off everything else (except the anchor light). I have noticed the topping lift humming, but usually hear that outside too. Ray, how did you solve that problem? The breeze might have been light enough that I could only hear it inside the enclosed hull. It is a '94 30'.
The noise came and went, once in a while. The closest boat was 200 feet away. I checked the bilge pump, and turned off everything else (except the anchor light). I have noticed the topping lift humming, but usually hear that outside too. Ray, how did you solve that problem? The breeze might have been light enough that I could only hear it inside the enclosed hull. It is a '94 30'.
Maybe
There are other areas to explore, like flag halyards, the rigging itself, wind thru the boom? A hatch that is open with a screen in it. Got to check everything!
There are other areas to explore, like flag halyards, the rigging itself, wind thru the boom? A hatch that is open with a screen in it. Got to check everything!
Hum Along
We have a 320 we bought last year that does the same thing. We determined that it was the boom rigging. Had a few more toddies and guess what, it went away!!
We have a 320 we bought last year that does the same thing. We determined that it was the boom rigging. Had a few more toddies and guess what, it went away!!
Humming
There have been a variety of posts on this topic over the last couple of months. We have had the humming, and it was unquestionably coming from the topping lift. The topping lift was resonating in the wind, fed the vibration into the boom through the boom-end shakle, and thence into all the sheaves and whatever inside the boom setting off just a chorus of hums and vibrations. Someone suggested a shock chord with one end attached to the topping lift and the other end attached to the arch. This past weekend we tried a shock chord attaching one end to the topping lift, going down and arond the boom, and then back to the topping lift for the other end. The total run was long enough to put the shock chord under a bit of tension. Instantly stopped the hums!! GREAT suggestion, whoever out there made it; we are just passing it on!! Carl and Jule s/v 'Syzygy'
There have been a variety of posts on this topic over the last couple of months. We have had the humming, and it was unquestionably coming from the topping lift. The topping lift was resonating in the wind, fed the vibration into the boom through the boom-end shakle, and thence into all the sheaves and whatever inside the boom setting off just a chorus of hums and vibrations. Someone suggested a shock chord with one end attached to the topping lift and the other end attached to the arch. This past weekend we tried a shock chord attaching one end to the topping lift, going down and arond the boom, and then back to the topping lift for the other end. The total run was long enough to put the shock chord under a bit of tension. Instantly stopped the hums!! GREAT suggestion, whoever out there made it; we are just passing it on!! Carl and Jule s/v 'Syzygy'
probably Topping Lift
The best solution - get a ridgid vang and the topping lift becomes redundant.
The best solution - get a ridgid vang and the topping lift becomes redundant.
same humm
I have a 81 H30 and I occasionally get a "thrum-------thrum------- thrum-----. At first I thought it was a boat, a long way off. It's not. It's the boat I just don't have time to track it down. It comes and goes. Not a big deal. Hawaii Dan Illusions
I have a 81 H30 and I occasionally get a "thrum-------thrum------- thrum-----. At first I thought it was a boat, a long way off. It's not. It's the boat I just don't have time to track it down. It comes and goes. Not a big deal. Hawaii Dan Illusions
Ferries? Absurd, well maybeeeee...not.
We just returned after sleeping 4 nights on our Hunter and have noticed on many occasions a somewhat deep humming noise while in the rear bunk. While anchoring by the river ferry terminal for the first time Saterday we realized the hum was comming from the 4 large diesel motors that drive the ferry. The trip is every 15 minutes for 5 min to the oppsite shore. At 12am to 4am the hum stopped just as the ferry stopped. The pitch rose and fell with crossings and docking. We first heard this noise 22 miles upstream and heard it 17 miles downstream from the ferry. The niose must travel very well thru the water and our hull and fittings must be just right for this frequency. Fact and other weird stuff. Ray and Maria sv Speedy
We just returned after sleeping 4 nights on our Hunter and have noticed on many occasions a somewhat deep humming noise while in the rear bunk. While anchoring by the river ferry terminal for the first time Saterday we realized the hum was comming from the 4 large diesel motors that drive the ferry. The trip is every 15 minutes for 5 min to the oppsite shore. At 12am to 4am the hum stopped just as the ferry stopped. The pitch rose and fell with crossings and docking. We first heard this noise 22 miles upstream and heard it 17 miles downstream from the ferry. The niose must travel very well thru the water and our hull and fittings must be just right for this frequency. Fact and other weird stuff. Ray and Maria sv Speedy
1
I think it is resonance travling down the mast.I found that by slacking the main sheet stops it. Most of us pull the main sheet tight to stop the boom from flooping all over the place.Try it. On my 33.5 it works.
I think it is resonance travling down the mast.I found that by slacking the main sheet stops it. Most of us pull the main sheet tight to stop the boom from flooping all over the place.Try it. On my 33.5 it works.
Main Sheet Is It
I had the same problem. I slacked off on the main sheet which decreased the tension on the topping lift and it went silent. Silence is Golden.
I had the same problem. I slacked off on the main sheet which decreased the tension on the topping lift and it went silent. Silence is Golden.
Back off
Back of on halyard tension a bit. You have a huge guitar string up thar................
Back of on halyard tension a bit. You have a huge guitar string up thar................
Ferries
We have experienced both...ferries and topping lift hum. Put your ear against the mast while inside the cabin. If it is your topping lift, it will throb, and increase in both volume and frequency with each gust of wind. We make sure the vang is slack, pull the traveler hard to port, slack the main sheet, and secure the end of the boom to the port rail with a line...then harden the main sheet just enough to keep the boom from swinging. This relieves the tension on the topping lift, yet keeps the boom from flopping around. We discovered the ferry noise while anchored in the San Juan Islands. It is a similar sound, and corresponds to line of sight. Not much you can do about this one!
We have experienced both...ferries and topping lift hum. Put your ear against the mast while inside the cabin. If it is your topping lift, it will throb, and increase in both volume and frequency with each gust of wind. We make sure the vang is slack, pull the traveler hard to port, slack the main sheet, and secure the end of the boom to the port rail with a line...then harden the main sheet just enough to keep the boom from swinging. This relieves the tension on the topping lift, yet keeps the boom from flopping around. We discovered the ferry noise while anchored in the San Juan Islands. It is a similar sound, and corresponds to line of sight. Not much you can do about this one!
Uplifting hum
Our topping lift also hums. An easy cure is to take the main halyard, loop it a couple times around the topping lift, and secure it to the end of the boom. Haul it tight by hand and the hum stops.
Our topping lift also hums. An easy cure is to take the main halyard, loop it a couple times around the topping lift, and secure it to the end of the boom. Haul it tight by hand and the hum stops.
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