Waves slapping my Westerly's hull...

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herdman

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Waves slapping my Westerly\'s hull...

I have a centre cockpit Westerly Oceanquest with a comfortable aft cabin but suffers from irritating and loud slapping sounds of waves against the hull at night. Even in a force 3 small waves can generate a constant noise keeping us awake. Does anyone have any bright ideas? I tried dangling some fenders into the water around the stern to break them up but it didn't seem to make much difference. Any thoughts gratefully received. Best wishes, Giles Herdman
 
Re: Waves slapping my Westerly\'s hull...

Park it on the hard. This I am afraid is the only option. Maybe if you turned it around so that the bow faces into the wind or the direction of the swell. Otherwise get used to it. I did.
 
Re: Waves slapping my Westerly\'s hull...

I'm not sure what type of stern you have but I did see on an American website a sort of "nappy" which was used with surar-scoop sterns to prevent this noise. It consisted of a thickish piece of material which was passed under the stern and fixed with lines at each quarter to keep it in place. I guess you could make one fairly easily.

I have to say that I did not think it very practical. My boat suffers the same noise when anchored with any sort of waves coming under the stern (even a ripple); but the thought of having to take this "nappy" off if I had to leave in a hurry put me off even giving it a second thought. We have resorted to sleeping in the saloon when the noise has been really bad!!

Alan.
 
Re: Waves slapping my Westerly\'s hull...

Hi how about leaving your dingy against the stern to break the wavelets down
 
Re: Waves slapping my Westerly\'s hull...

I have seen folk use a sausage about 3 inches in diameter and length depending on waterline at the stern . They pass around the stern at water level...and lead lines back to the cockpit from each end...I believe these are available commercially......
 
Re: Waves slapping my Westerly\'s hull...

Being a light sleeper in a centre cockpit boat I know exactly how you feel.

I solved the problem for about 80% of situations by purchasing a Wave Muffler from Fairclip Yachting in Cobham. It's basically a long inflatable sausage with some holes in it to let trapped air escape (reason for the slapping noise apparently) that wraps around your stern. It takes a couple of minutes to blow up, but can be deployed and recovered in seconds.

It's sweetspot for working is small wavelets, which is fine for most sheltered anchorages. When waves get too large as in exposed anchorages it does not work so well.
 
Re: Waves slapping my Westerly\'s hull...

I thought of this very problem when a recent post asked about centre cockpits vs aft cockpits. If a yacht has an aft cabin they can get very noisy indeed, especially if they have flattish overhangs. I hope something like the aprons and tubes works for you, otherwise learn more anchoring techniques so the waves come onto the bow. Das Boot's reply ("get used to it") is maybe a little blunt but it is possible to work on having a sort of accepting mental attitude to noises, which will help you sleep or even accept the fact that you can't.
cheers
 
Re: Waves slapping my Westerly\'s hull...

Sorry for being blunt but really and truly the best thing is to get used to it. When I first slept in my aft cabin in Spain the slapping woke me with a fright I thought something was smashing into the side of the boat. It was the fishing boats going by. After a few days it did not bother me and I slept through it but missed the lovely sight of the fishing boats leaving in the dawn light.
 
Re: Waves slapping my Westerly\'s hull...

Its fairly easy,and cheap,to knock up a sausage to suppress the noise using some cord and the pipe insulation from B&Q and secure it in position under the scoop.There was a thread on this subject on MOBO a few months ago but I can't find it.
 
Re: Waves slapping my Westerly\'s hull...

I agree with the just get used to it bit.

The slapping (of waves that is /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif) sends me to sleep - as does the sound of the wind, the anchor chain rumbling over the bottom, etc. All nice boaty noises as far as I am concerned and most relaxing - perhaps Giles could practice regarding them in the same way?

John
 
Re: Waves slapping my Westerly\'s hull...

I have successfully moderated the slapping noise under my hull by using one of those beach noodle things (long tubes of brightly coloured foam) which kids find great fun in the pool or on the beach. I tied to warps on each end with constrictor knots, and tie it under the hull night just on the waterline. It breaks up the waves and reduces the irritating noise.
 
Re: Waves slapping my Westerly\'s hull...

With regard to the get used to it advice - for some people this simply does not work and I include me in that bracket. Even if I'm already asleep, if the slapping noise starts, it wakes me up and prevents me from getting to sleep again.

I really wish I didn't get affected, as it impacts my sleep anywhere (boat, home etc) and it can be quite debilitating when you can't get enough sleep because of it.

SWMBO on the other hand can sleep through a bomb going off....
 
Re: Waves slapping my Westerly\'s hull...

Thanks very much to everyone for your help - looks like I will try a sausage!

Giles.
 
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