Carpet underpayment effectiveness

[Capt Paul]

My LRC with her 453's is pretty quiet to begin with. However, I am considering replacing the carpet in my salon. It doesn't feel like there is any substantial padding underneath it. So I am considering perhaps adding something like the Soundown underlayment. From what I can tell it mostly tames vibration noise from the sole itself. I am not sure if I have a lot of that. Has anyone used these type of products and noticed much difference with them? Or have input on the effectiveness with a 48' LRC? I am wondering if it is worth the money.

 

[bobk]

Paul,

I used a dense foam carpet pad on my 48MY and am satisfied. Engines are 6V92TA. I'd suggest you avoid a soft cushy feel because it will not be as secure under foot.

Bobk

 

[SEVEN]

I used it on my last boat with the a dense foam pad on top. Made a big difference.

 

[Fanfare]

I used the Soundown lead/foam carpet underlayment shortly after I went from the normally aspirated 8V-71N engines to the 6V-92TAs. The original factory soundproofing was not designed to mute the new turbos high pitched sounds. Even though we don't normally run from below the whine was much like fingernails on a blackboard. On the 50MY the engine rooms go out to the hull while the salon has wider side decks than the 53MY which extended its deckhouse six inches each side. So on my boat there is a space between the inner wall and the outer wall of the deckhouse where the underlayment cannot go. Sound leaks through this space. I think the underlayment helps, all things considered.

With the high wear in our salon the average life of a carpet is probably about five years, so we are probably on at least our third carpet. I have never been around to supervise the installations. I don't recall seeing a bill for any new Soundown underlayment even though I have requested it. The noise seems OK and the carpet feels good, so I am happy.

 

[Walter P]

I have a 1982 Series 1 48 MY (sistership to bobk) with 6-92TA's. About a dozen or more years ago we removed the original Hatteras white insulation from the entire engine room and replaced all of it with new Soundown (approx 1" thick). This included all the bulkheads as well as the overhead and we have regular carpet pads and carpet throughout the interior, except the galley and heads. IMO the boat is very quiet underway and I am happy with it. A good example is when we open the door to the engine room while underway, the noise blows you away. Close the door and a normal conversation can be held. The silver mylar of the Soundown brightens up the ER as well.

Walt

 

[Boatsb]

You want a lead loaded product that will bring down the transmisive noise. They make all types and weights. The heavier the better.

 

[SeaEric]

I have discovered that the only sure way to escape the noise of a '53 series Detroit is to be in a different zip code than the running engine.

 

[SEVEN]

How true Eric

 

[bostonhatteras]

Perhaps not as effective as lead lined foam, but substantially less weight, is cork sheeting. On my 45' series 1 there were two layers of resilient flooring. first was a sheet goods product and on top of that was vct. All of this was within or under the aluminum hatch edging so I assume was original. I have had the substantial foam carpet pad and carpet with the resilient flooring and with the cork sheet underlayment. The cork works better than just the pad as a sound deadener.

 

[gbharrington]

Sound reduction is all about density (i.e. weight). Materials that are heavy (lead, high density particle board, mass loaded vinyl, concrete etc.) will have the best results. Foam, fiberglass, cork, carpet etc. will have poor results. It's a fact.

 

[Boatsb]

Sound reduction is all about density (i.e. weight). Materials that are heavy (lead, high density particle board, mass loaded vinyl, concrete etc.) will have the best results. Foam, fiberglass, cork, carpet etc. will have poor results. It's a fact.

Not true.

Different frequencies need different material properties for sound deadening. Then there is the transmissive vibrations that need to be isolated or ring like a bell.