MacGregorSailors.com

How do you block off the noise that enters from under the helm seat from the motor?

How did you put install it?

Put the sails up

After my trip to catalina Island I was thinking of noise reduction. I could not hear my radio, and talking was limited. I will try an insulated board under the seat. Depending on how it works I may add some over the engine kind of a cone to direct the sound. I know when I put up the sails there is silence but somtimes you gota go

Paul S wrote:Put the sails up

Smartass.

You might have suggested the "Cone of Slience"....

Some with 26X have slightly tweaked the companionway hatch so it can stand under the lip of the helm seat ... double-layered FRP that comes pretty close to completely filling that gap. It surely meets the "dual-functions" test for Macgregors.



Can't yet see the secondary function of the "cone of silence," but someone will prolly enlighten me.

Frank C wrote:
Can't yet see the secondary function of the "cone of silence," but someone will prolly enlighten me.

Dinghy??

Rich

Hamin' X wrote:

Frank C wrote:
Can't yet see the secondary function of the "cone of silence," but someone will prolly enlighten me.

Dinghy??

Rich

It's a diving bell, of course!


To be serious though, I have seen folks use a snap-fit fabric panel - snaps to the back of the seat and to the vertical lip just forward of the motor well. I guess one could use a padded fabric panel for additional noise absorbtion?

kmclemore wrote:It's a diving bell, of course!

Doh!

I have both a fabric panel that came with my enclosure, and rails that allow me to mount my hatchboards. The fabric really does nothing for the noise but it does keep the wind and bugs out. The hatchboard makes a bit of a difference, but my noisy 2 stroke is still loud.

I've seen some mods where people have managed to fit the complete X hatchboard under the seat, but I could never get mine to fit. My hatchboard is cut into 3 sections to make storing it easier.

Here are pictures of my fabric and my hatchboards in place at the rear of the cockpit. The don't interfere and I can actually have both in place. I also have the mounts for my fabric panel duplicated on the companionway. This lets me keep the hatchboards at the back of the cockpit and put the fabric panel in place when we want more privacy at a marina.

Had a net made for our M. Does nothing to keep out noise. I doubt you could quiet it down enough to make a difference..

I just wanted it to keep things that might fall..in the boat..and keep water from spashing up..works good so far



Paul

Here's a couple of "hatch storeage" ideas that block the noise:
http://www.macgregorsailors.com/cgi-bin ... record=344

http://www.macgregorsailors.com/cgi-bin ... record=310

Check out our portable generator mod which included a transom panel insert....which is pretty effective re noise and economical as well. Tahoe Jack.....(mod section under electrical).

You could get a set of noise cancelling headphones from Radioshack. Mine make a big difference on airplanes.

Even though it may not be listed in their online catalogue, I believe BWY sells a custom fitted board for under the helm seat of an . Another boat in the same marina as I bought a number of options from BWY (full enclosure included) and they got a custom fitted door under the helm seat to keep their little dog from slipping out the back, this was supplied by BWY, I am thinking of purchasing one since I can't be bothered to fabricate one myself (yes, I know it is not that hard, I just want to do it the easy way). I'll have to ask about it next time I see them or when I visit BWY. I'll also ask the owners of the little dog if the board keeps the noise out as well as the dog in.

with a bit of hardware added to the hatchboard, and to the back of the helm seat, the hatchboard can be stowed behind the helm seat, at the top, and the bottom of the hatchboard sets at a forward slant under the seat.
I added a second identical hasp to the hatchboard, so there are two hasps, and added an eye to each side of the helmseat back, to "lock" the hatchboard onto, and use stainless steel clips to retain the hasps over the eyes. I also added a second identical eye to the other side of the sliding hatch, to be a second or alternate locking location for the companionway.

This positioning allows the hatchboard to be placed back there without raising the helmseat. Also no need to re-shape the hatchboard or modify its top edge. Does block out alot of the motor noise, and provides a barrier to stuff getting swept out the back of the cockpit inadvertently.
The way my hatchboard fits there, it leaves a space for the fuel line around either side, near the floor, without pinching it.
For those times when you need a hatchcover, but want to see out, I also made a clear Plexiglass 2-piece replacement hatchboard set, with water shedding lips on the upper board which also reinforces the seam between the lower and upper board. The lower board can be used alone to reduce splashes into the cabin in rough following waves.