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Transom Slap
I don't mind my halyards slapping around because I can stop that noise rather easily. And, I don't have a problem with securing the halyard of a nearby neighbor, to insure a quite night. I just can not stop the waves slaping into the transom when the wind blows strong out of the north. I would have to re-orient the bow to face north, which is not as easy as silencing a halyard in the middle of the night and in a strong wind from the north it's not so easy to back into the slip. The transom slap tends to jar the whole boat, so even if you have headphones on, you know when it's slapping cause you can feel it. I also don't have any problem with asking a neighbor to turn down their radio, but it would have to be pretty loud to bother me enough to go ask. Common courtesy works very well at the marina where I dock, and I've never had to ask someone to turn down their radio. The next morning, if that wind is still blowin strong out of the north, I know I will have a great sail and will forget all about the noise last night. - Bruce
I don't mind my halyards slapping around because I can stop that noise rather easily. And, I don't have a problem with securing the halyard of a nearby neighbor, to insure a quite night. I just can not stop the waves slaping into the transom when the wind blows strong out of the north. I would have to re-orient the bow to face north, which is not as easy as silencing a halyard in the middle of the night and in a strong wind from the north it's not so easy to back into the slip. The transom slap tends to jar the whole boat, so even if you have headphones on, you know when it's slapping cause you can feel it. I also don't have any problem with asking a neighbor to turn down their radio, but it would have to be pretty loud to bother me enough to go ask. Common courtesy works very well at the marina where I dock, and I've never had to ask someone to turn down their radio. The next morning, if that wind is still blowin strong out of the north, I know I will have a great sail and will forget all about the noise last night. - Bruce
Old Glory
I take mild exception to Jeff's remark that he doesn't like to hear the sound of Old Glory flapping in a stiff breeze. That ensign is the reason why we can all enjoy our boats. Please keep that in mind. Thanks, Gary
I take mild exception to Jeff's remark that he doesn't like to hear the sound of Old Glory flapping in a stiff breeze. That ensign is the reason why we can all enjoy our boats. Please keep that in mind. Thanks, Gary
I have to second
I REALLY have to second the ski boat blaring music. It's really bad when it is loader than what you are playing on your steroa and they are half way across a 30,000 acre lake.
I REALLY have to second the ski boat blaring music. It's really bad when it is loader than what you are playing on your steroa and they are half way across a 30,000 acre lake.
Worst and Best sounds
The worst sound is the unmuffled sound of twin V10s pushing some Titanic Cruiser or Cigarette boat near me. I cringe and wait for the rudely large wake. Often I salute the captain who only knows how to put the throtle levers forward and has no idea of what is going on in sailboats around him. The number of fingers in the salute depend on how far he has left me in the wake The best is the musical whistling of the rigging when going to weather in 20+ winds. The crashing of the waves add a bass line. The squeal of the crew when water sprays over the bow into the cockpit is similar to mediocre violins. However, my ear to ear smile may effect my hearing in such situations. I also like the low hum of the swing keel pendant when traveling at moderate speeds, in contrast to a previous writer. Perhaps the frequency and tenor of every boat is different. Mine is more than pleasant.
The worst sound is the unmuffled sound of twin V10s pushing some Titanic Cruiser or Cigarette boat near me. I cringe and wait for the rudely large wake. Often I salute the captain who only knows how to put the throtle levers forward and has no idea of what is going on in sailboats around him. The number of fingers in the salute depend on how far he has left me in the wake The best is the musical whistling of the rigging when going to weather in 20+ winds. The crashing of the waves add a bass line. The squeal of the crew when water sprays over the bow into the cockpit is similar to mediocre violins. However, my ear to ear smile may effect my hearing in such situations. I also like the low hum of the swing keel pendant when traveling at moderate speeds, in contrast to a previous writer. Perhaps the frequency and tenor of every boat is different. Mine is more than pleasant.
Worst and Best sounds
The worst sound is the unmuffled sound of twin V10s pushing some Titanic Cruiser or Cigarette boat near me. I cringe and wait for the rudely large wake. Often I salute the captain who only knows how to put the throtle levers forward and has no idea of what is going on in sailboats around him. The number of fingers in the salute depend on how far he has left me in the wake The best is the musical whistling of the rigging when going to weather in 20+ winds. The crashing of the waves add a bass line. The squeal of the crew when water sprays over the bow into the cockpit is similar to mediocre violins. However, my ear to ear smile may effect my hearing in such situations. I also like the low hum of the swing keel pendant when traveling at moderate speeds, in contrast to a previous writer. Perhaps the frequency and tenor of every boat is different. Mine is more than pleasant.
The worst sound is the unmuffled sound of twin V10s pushing some Titanic Cruiser or Cigarette boat near me. I cringe and wait for the rudely large wake. Often I salute the captain who only knows how to put the throtle levers forward and has no idea of what is going on in sailboats around him. The number of fingers in the salute depend on how far he has left me in the wake The best is the musical whistling of the rigging when going to weather in 20+ winds. The crashing of the waves add a bass line. The squeal of the crew when water sprays over the bow into the cockpit is similar to mediocre violins. However, my ear to ear smile may effect my hearing in such situations. I also like the low hum of the swing keel pendant when traveling at moderate speeds, in contrast to a previous writer. Perhaps the frequency and tenor of every boat is different. Mine is more than pleasant.
Halyard slap and transom slap
1. Transom slap: buy a pool noodle (color of your choice) and sling it around the stern of your boat -- noise goes away, very inexpensive solution. 2. Halyward slap: here's another reprint of an old tale: The Romantic Sound Of Clanging Halyards Sunday, November 28, 2004 By Capt. Alan Hugenot Have you ever been woken up at night while sleeping in a marina because the neighboring sailboat’s halyards were banging against the mast in the wind? If you have ever tried to sleep through this constant noise, which is like someone continuously knocking on your door, then you know the dilemma which this causes for any poor sailor trying to sleep nearby. Of course, the skipper of the offending boat is not there to hear the incessant slap, slap, slap, and he probably wants to keep those halyards ready to hoist sail as soon as he comes aboard, totally unaware that by doing so he is creating a nerve-racking noise machine. So what can you do? You can’t sleep and you are conflicted about what action to take. You know that if you go aboard his boat and swing the halyards outboard around the spreader before making them fast again that the incessant slap will stop. And, you wonder why the inconsiderate skipper did not do that before he stowed his boat. Maybe you also know that he only comes down to the marina once a month or even less to check his boat. You know he is totally unaware that you have to listen to his halyards going slap, clang, slap, clang every night. On the other hand if you go aboard his boat to fix the problem, it will actually be trespassing - not quite breaking and entering - but trespassing none the less. When he comes back to the boat, he may even get angry at the “prankster” who tangled his halyards around the spreaders, thinking “who would do such a thing, just to confound him.” He, of course, never realizing the true reason unless you tell him. Yet, from a different perspective you might only be a “good Samaritan.” For instance, if the halyard were loose and about to carry away through the top of the mast, then that same skipper would want you to quickly go aboard his boat (even though he had not given you permission) and “properly” secure it. That simple act of neighborly seamanship would save him the grief of having to go aloft to re-thread the halyard through the top of the mast. So wouldn’t it be the same thing here? His halyard is clearly wearing itself out beating against the mast, and if you will just “properly” stow it for him, then it will not wear out as quickly. Also your nerves won’t wear out as quickly either. This is no small problem. I have lived aboard for several years, in both Seattle, Wash. and San Francisco, and have also spent a night or two in nearly every marina from San Diego to Seward, Alaska. In every one there are these slapping halyards. At first you might think that a polite word to the offending skipper would solve the problem. But, a couple of times when I asked the owner of an offending boat if they could take a moment before going ashore to quiet their halyards by rigging them away from the masts, they became defensive. They acted like I was being rude for butting into their business, criticizing their seamanship. They arrogantly pointed out that they knew what they were doing, had studied proper halyard techniques, and had graduated from ASA or US Sailing. They were not going to quiet their halyards by rigging them outboard. Besides who was I to tell them anything. In one case the offending skipper said that “If they found their halyards any different than how they chose to leave them” then they would blame me for trespassing on their boat, and would report it to the marina manager. After this encounter, I could not stop the noise from his boat, and wished I had never spoken to him about it. I knew that if I had never brought it up, I could have quieted his halyards and he would not know who “fouled” his lines. Instead, I changed marinas and learned the lesson that my safest bet was to quiet all offending halyards myself, and do so without telling the owner that I was the culprit. This “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy allowed me to sleep, and several weeks later when the offending skipper turned up to sail his boat I was not there to hear his wrath about “Whoever fouled his halyards was going to catch hell.” I guess it comes down to who is more inconsiderate: Me for trespassing on his boat, or him for leaving the noisy halyard slapping against the mast. It is such a simple thing to just tie the halyards off on the shrouds, or swinging them around the spreaders. Maybe 60 seconds to quiet every halyard on the boat. Another, idea is to use a shock cord to pull them over toward the shrouds and away from the mast, and there are dozens of other ways to stop the slap, slap, slap. Of course no way am I advocating that you climb on someone’s boat and adjust their halyards. Trespassing is something I would never encourage you to do. Several times in marina parking lots I have heard novice boaters saying “Wow, listen to the clanging of the all the sailboats in the wind. Isn’t it romantic.” So maybe it is a matter of perspective, or rather ignorance of the harm that may be caused by what may be romantic to one person and pollution to another, depending upon perspective. It baffles me to no end why sailing instructors don’t teach this simple courtesy to their students. It seems that simple courtesy should always be part of every lesson for novice sailors. We live pretty close together on the water, which means we need to cultivate proper manners and respect for our fellow boaters. Learning how to rig our boat so that it does not create undue noise pollution should be part of every sailing lesson. Actually, in California the boating laws are beginning to take notice of noise pollution. Beginning in the fall of 2004 agencies will begin to enforce a new law that makes it illegal to have a power boat that is too noisy. Maybe this idea that noise pollution on the water is a crime can be stretched to include sailboats that are too noisy. Clang, slap, clang - but it’s so romantic. Yea, right.
1. Transom slap: buy a pool noodle (color of your choice) and sling it around the stern of your boat -- noise goes away, very inexpensive solution. 2. Halyward slap: here's another reprint of an old tale: The Romantic Sound Of Clanging Halyards Sunday, November 28, 2004 By Capt. Alan Hugenot Have you ever been woken up at night while sleeping in a marina because the neighboring sailboat’s halyards were banging against the mast in the wind? If you have ever tried to sleep through this constant noise, which is like someone continuously knocking on your door, then you know the dilemma which this causes for any poor sailor trying to sleep nearby. Of course, the skipper of the offending boat is not there to hear the incessant slap, slap, slap, and he probably wants to keep those halyards ready to hoist sail as soon as he comes aboard, totally unaware that by doing so he is creating a nerve-racking noise machine. So what can you do? You can’t sleep and you are conflicted about what action to take. You know that if you go aboard his boat and swing the halyards outboard around the spreader before making them fast again that the incessant slap will stop. And, you wonder why the inconsiderate skipper did not do that before he stowed his boat. Maybe you also know that he only comes down to the marina once a month or even less to check his boat. You know he is totally unaware that you have to listen to his halyards going slap, clang, slap, clang every night. On the other hand if you go aboard his boat to fix the problem, it will actually be trespassing - not quite breaking and entering - but trespassing none the less. When he comes back to the boat, he may even get angry at the “prankster” who tangled his halyards around the spreaders, thinking “who would do such a thing, just to confound him.” He, of course, never realizing the true reason unless you tell him. Yet, from a different perspective you might only be a “good Samaritan.” For instance, if the halyard were loose and about to carry away through the top of the mast, then that same skipper would want you to quickly go aboard his boat (even though he had not given you permission) and “properly” secure it. That simple act of neighborly seamanship would save him the grief of having to go aloft to re-thread the halyard through the top of the mast. So wouldn’t it be the same thing here? His halyard is clearly wearing itself out beating against the mast, and if you will just “properly” stow it for him, then it will not wear out as quickly. Also your nerves won’t wear out as quickly either. This is no small problem. I have lived aboard for several years, in both Seattle, Wash. and San Francisco, and have also spent a night or two in nearly every marina from San Diego to Seward, Alaska. In every one there are these slapping halyards. At first you might think that a polite word to the offending skipper would solve the problem. But, a couple of times when I asked the owner of an offending boat if they could take a moment before going ashore to quiet their halyards by rigging them away from the masts, they became defensive. They acted like I was being rude for butting into their business, criticizing their seamanship. They arrogantly pointed out that they knew what they were doing, had studied proper halyard techniques, and had graduated from ASA or US Sailing. They were not going to quiet their halyards by rigging them outboard. Besides who was I to tell them anything. In one case the offending skipper said that “If they found their halyards any different than how they chose to leave them” then they would blame me for trespassing on their boat, and would report it to the marina manager. After this encounter, I could not stop the noise from his boat, and wished I had never spoken to him about it. I knew that if I had never brought it up, I could have quieted his halyards and he would not know who “fouled” his lines. Instead, I changed marinas and learned the lesson that my safest bet was to quiet all offending halyards myself, and do so without telling the owner that I was the culprit. This “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy allowed me to sleep, and several weeks later when the offending skipper turned up to sail his boat I was not there to hear his wrath about “Whoever fouled his halyards was going to catch hell.” I guess it comes down to who is more inconsiderate: Me for trespassing on his boat, or him for leaving the noisy halyard slapping against the mast. It is such a simple thing to just tie the halyards off on the shrouds, or swinging them around the spreaders. Maybe 60 seconds to quiet every halyard on the boat. Another, idea is to use a shock cord to pull them over toward the shrouds and away from the mast, and there are dozens of other ways to stop the slap, slap, slap. Of course no way am I advocating that you climb on someone’s boat and adjust their halyards. Trespassing is something I would never encourage you to do. Several times in marina parking lots I have heard novice boaters saying “Wow, listen to the clanging of the all the sailboats in the wind. Isn’t it romantic.” So maybe it is a matter of perspective, or rather ignorance of the harm that may be caused by what may be romantic to one person and pollution to another, depending upon perspective. It baffles me to no end why sailing instructors don’t teach this simple courtesy to their students. It seems that simple courtesy should always be part of every lesson for novice sailors. We live pretty close together on the water, which means we need to cultivate proper manners and respect for our fellow boaters. Learning how to rig our boat so that it does not create undue noise pollution should be part of every sailing lesson. Actually, in California the boating laws are beginning to take notice of noise pollution. Beginning in the fall of 2004 agencies will begin to enforce a new law that makes it illegal to have a power boat that is too noisy. Maybe this idea that noise pollution on the water is a crime can be stretched to include sailboats that are too noisy. Clang, slap, clang - but it’s so romantic. Yea, right.
The Iron Jenny
Running because there is no wind! Followed closely by Unmuffled Go Fast boats, Waterski/wakeboard boats with the stereo blaring, Water gnats (PWC) The dingy bashing against the boat at 3am because the tide has turned against the wind. Halyards
Running because there is no wind! Followed closely by Unmuffled Go Fast boats, Waterski/wakeboard boats with the stereo blaring, Water gnats (PWC) The dingy bashing against the boat at 3am because the tide has turned against the wind. Halyards
Most Annoying SOund
Without a doubt - other then my own halyards flapping - is my neighbors wind generator wirling, whizzing and high-pitch hissing ....amazing when they're on their boat they shut it down..but alas if they are away - it does nothing but annoy the neighboring boats.
Without a doubt - other then my own halyards flapping - is my neighbors wind generator wirling, whizzing and high-pitch hissing ....amazing when they're on their boat they shut it down..but alas if they are away - it does nothing but annoy the neighboring boats.
Grass Carp
We sail on an Illinois lake and the grass carp slap there tails against the hull to loosen bits of algae. Sure wish their meal time wasn't all through the night. It's bad enough trying to sleep while they beat on my fiberglass hull but on nearby pontoon boats it becomes extremley annoying hearing that aluminium ring. Sure forces you to keep up with bottom cleaning. Jeff
We sail on an Illinois lake and the grass carp slap there tails against the hull to loosen bits of algae. Sure wish their meal time wasn't all through the night. It's bad enough trying to sleep while they beat on my fiberglass hull but on nearby pontoon boats it becomes extremley annoying hearing that aluminium ring. Sure forces you to keep up with bottom cleaning. Jeff
Best and Worst sounds
The best sound is that of the splatter of the spray on the bow and the resonding thud when you dip back into a trough. The worst is the sound of the mast letting go and ripping its tabernacle in two, AND the sound of screws pulling themselves out of 30 year old Fiberglass. Followed closely by the sound of my head knocking into the deck out of sheer frustration........ But the best sound makes it all worth while.
The best sound is that of the splatter of the spray on the bow and the resonding thud when you dip back into a trough. The worst is the sound of the mast letting go and ripping its tabernacle in two, AND the sound of screws pulling themselves out of 30 year old Fiberglass. Followed closely by the sound of my head knocking into the deck out of sheer frustration........ But the best sound makes it all worth while.
Two Worst Sounds
Worst sound #1: Sound of my engine when I have to start and return to my slip after a great sail. Worst sound #2: The sound of the Gulf surf immediately after I try to start my engine (and it doesn't start) after the wind completely dies. BrianW
Worst sound #1: Sound of my engine when I have to start and return to my slip after a great sail. Worst sound #2: The sound of the Gulf surf immediately after I try to start my engine (and it doesn't start) after the wind completely dies. BrianW
Love/Hate
I hate the sound of motor boats and jet ski's. I'll throw a nice wave but thats not what my wave really means...<grin> I love the sound of the lines pulling on the cleats on the dock. I love the sound of my husbands wallet opening up to hand me money for boat stuff
and I will absolutley love the sound of my children and mother-in-law saying good bye to us as hubby and I spend an overnighter away on the boat by Lu Lu's and or the islands very soon.
I hate the sound of motor boats and jet ski's. I'll throw a nice wave but thats not what my wave really means...<grin> I love the sound of the lines pulling on the cleats on the dock. I love the sound of my husbands wallet opening up to hand me money for boat stuff
and I will absolutley love the sound of my children and mother-in-law saying good bye to us as hubby and I spend an overnighter away on the boat by Lu Lu's and or the islands very soon.
Noise
I hate the cable hum also. i put a new cable on this year and added 2' extra. just slack cable a bit and noise is gone. Favorite sound? wind, waves and the opening of my beer as i'm sailing along!
I hate the cable hum also. i put a new cable on this year and added 2' extra. just slack cable a bit and noise is gone. Favorite sound? wind, waves and the opening of my beer as i'm sailing along!
I too, like Quiet
I think one of the most awesome sounds was the wind whistling through the Marina in a tropical storm. It was eerie, but exciting. The other sound which I nearly had a knock down. was thunder. The squall hit so hard it pushed us over and we righted again quickly. I did lose a good hat pulling the sails down.
I think one of the most awesome sounds was the wind whistling through the Marina in a tropical storm. It was eerie, but exciting. The other sound which I nearly had a knock down. was thunder. The squall hit so hard it pushed us over and we righted again quickly. I did lose a good hat pulling the sails down.
Halyards, worst and best sounds
sorry to say i always liked the sound of rigging blowing in the wind or because of the waves. even when i slept aboard. however, after hearing all the tirades ;D , i will make sure that i tie my halyards/sheets and whatever else makes a noise on my boat so that my fellow sailors can have a nice nights rest. worst: those d??? cigar boats/motor cruisers/pwc/getto blasters at 3 in the morning..etc, etc. best: the hum from the keel cable as i cruise along at a 25 deg. angle and in my dreams....15 knots. the silence, the screams of my crew as they get wet before i do. iain. venture 224, Perry Lake, KS
sorry to say i always liked the sound of rigging blowing in the wind or because of the waves. even when i slept aboard. however, after hearing all the tirades ;D , i will make sure that i tie my halyards/sheets and whatever else makes a noise on my boat so that my fellow sailors can have a nice nights rest. worst: those d??? cigar boats/motor cruisers/pwc/getto blasters at 3 in the morning..etc, etc. best: the hum from the keel cable as i cruise along at a 25 deg. angle and in my dreams....15 knots. the silence, the screams of my crew as they get wet before i do. iain. venture 224, Perry Lake, KS
Any sailing sound is great
Wind over the ears and creaking jib sheets on the winch is my favorite. GG Bridge fog horn while sailing through pea soup fog is interesting. I also like the low hum made by reaching hull speed. Least favorite sound is my shroud rollers clanging against the shrouds (solved, btw). For all you liveaboards, try going to RadioShack to pick up a noise cancelling machine. I have them for all three of my kids and they are amazing. Choose the wind setting and you will hear nothing. You may want to attach an electrical shock device to your toe from the bilge pump. That way if it goes off, you won't sleep through it
Wind over the ears and creaking jib sheets on the winch is my favorite. GG Bridge fog horn while sailing through pea soup fog is interesting. I also like the low hum made by reaching hull speed. Least favorite sound is my shroud rollers clanging against the shrouds (solved, btw). For all you liveaboards, try going to RadioShack to pick up a noise cancelling machine. I have them for all three of my kids and they are amazing. Choose the wind setting and you will hear nothing. You may want to attach an electrical shock device to your toe from the bilge pump. That way if it goes off, you won't sleep through it
All is Quiet
Sometimes, under sail, have to quiet aft bimini straps from making the sound like a kid blowing through closed lips. Wish the head flush wasn't so noticeable. Hearing the water pump pressure up when system is at rest. Hearing Spencer, our dog, shake, telling me he needs to number one or two. Pressure washer before eight a.m. Cocktail shaker later than five p.m. "Honey, we should get ready to go home."
Sometimes, under sail, have to quiet aft bimini straps from making the sound like a kid blowing through closed lips. Wish the head flush wasn't so noticeable. Hearing the water pump pressure up when system is at rest. Hearing Spencer, our dog, shake, telling me he needs to number one or two. Pressure washer before eight a.m. Cocktail shaker later than five p.m. "Honey, we should get ready to go home."
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