Sealine F33 - creaking heads ceiling

[jparham]

Hi, This is a 5 year old boat I've owned since new. Whilst the seas are calm during the summer the boat's quiet. As the seas get bigger at the end of season, the heads ceiling starts creaking as every wave hits the bow. I think it's the upper surface moving/flexing rather then the heads ceiling itself. Has any other F33 owner had this problem and found a cure? Gets annoying after a while......

 

[oldgit]

A little silicon spray round edge would poss stop the noise.Car makers add similar stuff to dashboard mouldings to eliminate squeeks and creaks......

 

[studgies]

Can't say ours does that. Can you reproduce the noise in any way? If there is no sign of damage and you are confident it is not a structural issue then the silicone spray may work.

 

[jparham]

Thanks for your suggestion oldgit. Good idea but I don't want to silicon yet, just in case I have to put sealant (or similar) around it.
I am sure there's no structural damage as it was a new boat when I had it and nothing's been near that section.
I can very definitely reproduce the noise by pressing down on the top section above the heads. And yes, there are black scuff marks where the edge of that top panel meet the vinyl covered filler panel under the front corner of the side window. So that means the top skin is moving up and down. But how to stop it? can't get at it atall from inside the heads...only minor access is by taking off the vinyl covered panel in the top corner of the port locker, but then I can only get as far as the windscreen wiper motor. No further back. I was wondering whether I buy one of those expanding foam canisters that window fitters use and, with a long bit of tube up past the wiper motor, give it a long squirt, hopefully filling and expanding the void between top skin and heads ceiling. What do you think?

 

[gimmesunshine]

foam sounds good, although you can overfill a space a cause it to swell or bulge
have you spoke to sealine ?

 

[[2068]]

Re: structural damage - have a good poke around in the floor area underneath and around the heads. I know access is difficult, but try and have a good look at stringers and bulkheads in that area, checking for anything that might have cracked or come adrift.

I had a similar creaking in the galley on an older S240, and it turned out the tabbing on a bulkhead underneath had come adrift. Not a big job to fix, as it turned out, just a bit of furniture removal followed by a wodge of fibreglass.

If all is solid below, then just fill as advised elsewhere.

dv.

 

[jparham]

Thanks for the thoughts dv. I had a good climb around down there when I fitted an electric toilet. nothing untoward seen.

Sunshine, I haven't yet spoken to Sealine - as most of the good guys with good knowledge have scattered in the winds since last Christmas.
I'll try to track one down to see whether he recalls anything.