Hello all! Aproximately 2 months ago, I started noticing some odd crackling noises while in my slip at the marina. My wife, kids and I usually stay on the boat over the weekends. Anyway, it's only noticeable at night...which has made some VERY long nights, ensuring nothing is wrong. I hear a crackling, popping noise in the hull. The noise sounds like a campfire crackling. When I sleep in the forward v-berth, the noise seems to be up there. When I sleep in the aft berth, it seems to originate there. When I sleep in the dinette area, it of course seems to come from there! The noise is noticeable everywhere! Because I have been so paranoid, I have tried to track down the noises each time we stay there. It doesn't appear to be electrical, as I have unplugged everything, turned off both DC and AC, unplugged shorepower, and disconnected the batteries - I still have the noises. I temporarily ruled out electricity, and started thinking that maybe drips of water were making the noise. Soo, in the middle of the night I ripped apart my boat, checking every compartment, and ensuring my bilge pump was working. Everything was fine...no unusual water found and my pump was working. Soooo, should I make myself nuts over this? Could there be stray electricity in the water that I'm hearing...or could the little fishies be making the noises beneath my boat???? I know they're strange questions, but I'm once again paranoid anytime I have my kids sleeping on the boat. NOTE: I moved my boat about the same time I started hearing these noises. I never heard them at the other marina. Thanks for the input! Gary Call BTW...I own a '77 Catalina 30'
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Relocate??
Gary, Can you relocate to another nearby slip temporarily? Do any of your neighbors hear anything? Can't wait to hear the bottom line on this one! Mike D
Gary, Can you relocate to another nearby slip temporarily? Do any of your neighbors hear anything? Can't wait to hear the bottom line on this one! Mike D
Shrimp???
While in the navy I was a sonartech. We listened to sounds underwater all the time. Could it be the sound of shrimp? It sounds like a camp fire or kind of like frying bacon. If you listen real close there are a lot of sound you can hear. The hull can be just a big transducer. SHane.
While in the navy I was a sonartech. We listened to sounds underwater all the time. Could it be the sound of shrimp? It sounds like a camp fire or kind of like frying bacon. If you listen real close there are a lot of sound you can hear. The hull can be just a big transducer. SHane.
Such a little animal, such a loud sound!
Shane is right, they are snapping shrimp. We hear them often around the Martha's Vineyard - Buzzard's Bay area. They can be quite loud and annoying at times. When I first heard them I wondered if it was dolphins, but a colleague who works at the Wood's Hole Oceanographic Institute assured me that they are really shrimp. Derek
Shane is right, they are snapping shrimp. We hear them often around the Martha's Vineyard - Buzzard's Bay area. They can be quite loud and annoying at times. When I first heard them I wondered if it was dolphins, but a colleague who works at the Wood's Hole Oceanographic Institute assured me that they are really shrimp. Derek
There's a Monster Under my Keel . . .
Don't know where you are, but in Southern California, more specifically here in San Diego, I hear this noise almost all the time at night. Most say it's the snapping jaws of thousands of tiny shrimp attacking the growth on your bottom. It sounds like radio static or frying bacon. Think of it as free bottom maintenance. What's more mysterious is another noise I hear once in awhile. It's an intermittent croaking sound. It's definitely coming from under the boat and it drove me nuts for awhile until I figured it's some kind of creature that likes to live under my keel. Nick "Julia Bell" C-27, #86
Don't know where you are, but in Southern California, more specifically here in San Diego, I hear this noise almost all the time at night. Most say it's the snapping jaws of thousands of tiny shrimp attacking the growth on your bottom. It sounds like radio static or frying bacon. Think of it as free bottom maintenance. What's more mysterious is another noise I hear once in awhile. It's an intermittent croaking sound. It's definitely coming from under the boat and it drove me nuts for awhile until I figured it's some kind of creature that likes to live under my keel. Nick "Julia Bell" C-27, #86
Shrimp, Gary
..I had my boat in San Diego for a few months. It can be pronounced. Once you get used to the idea that the boat isn't crumbling around you, you can sleep again. I also get a lot of it in Catalina, in Cat Harbor. Also noticed it in Dana Point. Good luck, Rick D.
..I had my boat in San Diego for a few months. It can be pronounced. Once you get used to the idea that the boat isn't crumbling around you, you can sleep again. I also get a lot of it in Catalina, in Cat Harbor. Also noticed it in Dana Point. Good luck, Rick D.
Creature making noise under the boat
A friend of mine heard a strange noise under his boat while they were in Florida for the winter. They tracked it for a while and it slowly moved. Turned out to be a manatee. He figured the noise to be it's heartbeat. It was laying right against he hull, possibly munching on the growth on the hull. I hope it wasn't susceptable to the poison in his bottom paint. Pete
A friend of mine heard a strange noise under his boat while they were in Florida for the winter. They tracked it for a while and it slowly moved. Turned out to be a manatee. He figured the noise to be it's heartbeat. It was laying right against he hull, possibly munching on the growth on the hull. I hope it wasn't susceptable to the poison in his bottom paint. Pete
Fiberglass eating termites!
No, just kidding... It's either shrimp or maybe mussels or barnacles on the pilings opening and closing their shells. I noticed it a lot down in San Diego but it's nothing to worry about, just a little annoying.
No, just kidding... It's either shrimp or maybe mussels or barnacles on the pilings opening and closing their shells. I noticed it a lot down in San Diego but it's nothing to worry about, just a little annoying.
I Heard Shrimp in San Diego, Too
Yeah, it is "popcorn shrimp". Scared me, I thought the fiberglass was spontaneously delaminating or disintegrating! But it is shrimp.
Yeah, it is "popcorn shrimp". Scared me, I thought the fiberglass was spontaneously delaminating or disintegrating! But it is shrimp.
Chesapeake Bay too
We've got them on the York River in Virginia. Once you realize that they aren't doing any damage, it's easier to cope.
We've got them on the York River in Virginia. Once you realize that they aren't doing any damage, it's easier to cope.
Little Green Men
I have seen and heard of this, common to aviators as well. It is little green men keeping you awake at night. Too many it sounds like the little green men are using hammers or other tools. The correct procedure is to take away the hammers or the tools that are causing this noise. Once all implements to cause noise are removed, everything should go back to normal till they find some more tools and by then they usually move on to San Diego or or somewhere. Sorry, couldn't resist this one, have a feeling it's the shrimp! CapnChuck
I have seen and heard of this, common to aviators as well. It is little green men keeping you awake at night. Too many it sounds like the little green men are using hammers or other tools. The correct procedure is to take away the hammers or the tools that are causing this noise. Once all implements to cause noise are removed, everything should go back to normal till they find some more tools and by then they usually move on to San Diego or or somewhere. Sorry, couldn't resist this one, have a feeling it's the shrimp! CapnChuck
crackling noises
believe it or not, it's probably shrimp in the water! I'm also a scuba diver, and at the right time of the year they're really noisy at night! try hanging a light over the side and see if you get a cloud of them near the surface
believe it or not, it's probably shrimp in the water! I'm also a scuba diver, and at the right time of the year they're really noisy at night! try hanging a light over the side and see if you get a cloud of them near the surface
Thank you all!
Phew...I think I can sleep better now! I was sooo worried, especially with my small children on board. I FINALLY feel like I can relax a little. My neighbor, claims he hears the same things. Anyway, thank you all for the responses. It took a huge load off of my mind. Thanks, Gary
Phew...I think I can sleep better now! I was sooo worried, especially with my small children on board. I FINALLY feel like I can relax a little. My neighbor, claims he hears the same things. Anyway, thank you all for the responses. It took a huge load off of my mind. Thanks, Gary
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