Humming rigging

[Guest]

I'm not the best of sleepers even with a few beers under the belt, so the constant humming from the rigging at anchor drives me nuts!! This happens on both my boats so I assume it isn't boat specific and it's either the stays or mast setting up standing waves. It happens in very light winds as well as stronger winds.

I have played with rig tension and all it does is change the tone. I've tried tying rope and shock cord straps between the stays/mast but nothing gets rid of it. A musical person could play tunes by leaning against the stays!! It's worse inside of course as the hull acts like a guitar body. You can't hear it at all from the cockpit or the deck which is where I generally end up sleeping.

Does anyone know what can be done about this!

Cheers

 

[chrisc]

try whisky ?

 

[Guest]

How much?

 

[jimi]

Give it a good blast of anti-deodarant ....

 

[DanTribe]

I've found that it's often the topping lift causing the problem.Try easing the mainsheet tension or tying a towel to the topping lift to dampen vibration.Do you find that the noise stops when you go to investigate, but restarts as soon as you get back to bed?

 

[chrisc]

oh...untill you can't hear.

 

[lyc]

Cut them off.......or change to a stinkpot and get many hours of undisturbed sleep.

 

[wrr]

If the noise is coming from the backstay or topping lift, try setting a small riding sail. An old narrow cut No. 3 Jib with hanks usually suffices. Borrow one and if it works, buy one secondhand. Hank on to the backstay with a downhaul to adjust tack height. Hoist with the topping lift or similar, provided that you can support the boom with the main halyard, gallows or a strut. Sheet to something near the midline or make up a bridle to the winches. Adjust tiller so as to lie quietly. Now go below and see if this has dampended the vibrations. If not, at least the effort may help sleep!

 

[claymore]

Try Earplugs

We have a 5 day gentlemans cruise each year and its impossible to sleep for the noise of whisky induced snores and other extraneous noises. I find earplugs do the job nicely
regards
John S

What care we - tho' white the Minch is,
What care we boys, for wind or weather?

 

[Boathook]

Like a few other replies I have problems with the topping lift. I now use a bridle to hold the boom steady (using small diameter rope) and leave the mainsheet slack. This does work but now I hear other strange noises .....

 

[Piers]

If you don't like the rigging humming, try teaching it the lyrics...

Piers du Pré
MBM Cruising Club enthusiast
www.dupre.co.uk/fsPlaydeau.htm

 

[oldsaltoz]

G’day Derek.
Try setting the mainsheet traveller off centre and use the remaining main sheet to secure the boom in the centre; you should finish up with a triangle. Do not pull it on too tight or the topping lift rope will vibrate (Hum).

Avagoodsleep Old Salt Oz......

 

[ponapay]

Change the frequency, fit rollers to the stays that are humming. Mine stopped using this method.

For topping lift/s just slacken the sheet and use triangulation to keep the boom/s still.

ponapay@aol.com

 

[Guest]

Wow, that's gonna be expensive, I only drink JW Black or better.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the ideas. Yes it does dissappear when you go to investigate. This is why I've decided that it is a calling from a higher being and it doesn't like me. That's not surprising really.

I'llgive the wet towel a go tomorrow.

 

[Guest]

The thought of the fuel bill would keep me awake then. I'd rather spend the money on Scotch as per another suggestion.

 

[chrisc]

but you only worry about the price for the first one

 

[johndf]

Like several others, I've had this problem when tensioning the mainsheet tightly to prevent the boom swinging. Loosening the tension has worked every time. In a rolly anchorage, I use a line from the end of the boom to the guardrails to prevent the boom from swinging around. In a marina it isn't usually a problem.