Engine soundproofing

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NickNap

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I'm aiming to add some soundprooffing to the engine compartment of my Westerly Pageant - anyone recommend a supplier? Have seen it on the web at £106 for 1m x 0.6 m - is this the going rate for stuff that does the job or is there a less pricey alternative?
 
Unless the world of yachting has moved an awful long way from the rest of the world soundproofing has always been glassfibre batts in one form or another. If Wickes could sell it for £106 per .6 sqm Mr. Wickes would be up there with Mr. Gates on the rich list.
 
a.s.a.p supplies do it (along with others). Yes it is expensive, but most will split up boxes. Use the thickest you can. Havn't tried the self adhesive type. Probably well worth a go as the spray adhesive is not nice if you get it in your eye (even with eye protection it can find its way in!).
 
As well as soundproofing you also want fireproofing, so I think you have to bite the bullet and buy the proper stuff. ASAP Supplies do good stuff at a competitive price. AS I recall there are two thicknesses available, both with a foil facing and dense foam and lead sheet section that is really effective. You will also need the self adhesive foil edging tape. The self adhesive stuff may be OK for the thinner, lighter material but for the thicker stuff you will need the spray on adhesive which can be messy and needs to be used in a well ventilated situation. ASAP can also sell you the special spiked washers that are used to hold the panels in place where adhesive alone won't hold, for example in overhead sections of the engine compartment
 
Thanks guys, good call - ASAP is £85 for 2.4 sq m. That's more like it.

David, thanks for your reply; couldn't understand it, but I'll have a glass of what you're on!
 
There is a newish type of sound insulation which is much easier to install, based on Thinsulate. There was an article in PBO. Cannot recall supplier. My experience with heavy insulation is - do not rely on the adhesive.
 
Quietlife soundproofing - I have just bought some which I am about to fit.

I went with the "expensive" option because of the oil and fire resistance properties. Also, if you go down the fibreglass route you would also need to add high density material eg lead sheet or lead polymer to cut down the dB's.
 
Whatever you buy, be sure it has the foil face to proof against fire, and has a sound deadening layer sandwiched between two layers of foam - this dense layer is the one that absorbs the noise.

Avoid simple foam sheets, flat or eggbox type - look the part but deliver nothing.

Fix on with Evostick or similar and screw with large washers at intervals to prevent any accidents on passage!

£80-90 for an engine room is about right. Be sure to seal hatch entrances - where air can move, so can noise. BUT there has to be a supply of air for the engine to work - probably didn't need to remind you, I hope!

PWG
 
[ QUOTE ]
does fibreglass insulation wool burn?

[/ QUOTE ]

The actual fibre (glass or mineral wool) won't burn, but these materials usually contain small quantities of a binder of some sort which will burn-off if heated.

Any fibrous material will also absorb oils, diesel, etc. and act as a 'wick' which makes it much easier to get them to burn.

Andy
 
i found some at a boat jumble £17 a sheet it was the type with foil outer then foam then lead then foam. it seems to be good stuff im sure you can get it off the net somwhere.
 
you'd do well to also seal any air gaps into the engine bay from the saloon.

I've commented on sound insulation a couple of times before, try searching for the posts. I'm affraid fluffy stuff alone won't do a lot, what will absorb noise is something heavy on a layer of something fluffy, hence the layers of lead type stuff in the expensive variants.
 
Read the Halyard brochure...

There's an excellent little brochure by Halyard Marine on noise insulation - you can download it here. Very useful information.
 
I had nothing in my boat, which had the engine compartment going right back to the transom.

At SBS I bought three or four sheets of the self adhesive cheap foam eggshell type, £7.50 each, which I am assured will not burn. At the sides and back of the engine I have fixed battens and stuck the soundproofing to lino, which is then hung from the battens by screws and washers like curtains. I have also stuck it to the front panel, sides and cockpit sole.

It's much, much quieter now, though probably not as quiet as a modern AWB.

Boating on the cheap is possible! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
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