Still not sleeping

R

ro

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Joined
Jan 15, 2007
RO Number
24874
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64
Hi guys,
We tried the "noodle" over the side thing to try to get some sleep. (buffering the glub, gurgle from the air/water under the chines) It didn't work so we are looking for other alternatives. There is not a lot of space under the cushions in the front to insulate the area (275 Bayliner Cruiser) and I don't really feel safe with ear plugs. I know, I know, it takes time, but I'm TIRED of walking around like a zombie.
 
I love that sound, that's what sleeping on the boat is all about.
 
Morning RO

Were you in the marina or on the hook?... How many nights in a row?
 
Put's me right to sleep. Gentle rocking and the water sounds plus the night birds. This says all is well in my world.
A heavier wind sound or unusual motion has me instantly awake to check it out.
 
Hi Guys,
Are there any solutions to my problem.We were on the hook for 1 night 2 weekends in a row.
Any real solutions to stopping this sound is appreciated.
Ro "The Wife"
 
Ro, the wife

Have you not read the responses? It truly is a love it or hate it thing. As apart of boating, water will make sounds against the hull. Since you won't use earplugs it really sounds like the only solution for you is get a much larger boat so that you are away from the sound or give up boating. I guess you could try finding a more protected place to anchor so there is no water movement.

I happen to be part of the "find it relaxing" group.
 
quote:
Originally posted by ro

Hi Guys,
Are there any solutions to my problem.We were on the hook for 1 night 2 weekends in a row.
Any real solutions to stopping this sound is appreciated.
Ro "The Wife"

Click to expand...


Ro,

The sound is part of the experience. I have found, after many, many years of sleeping on the boat that the first night out on an excursion is the hardest. I bet while you were tryingfighting to sleep, your day to day (on the land) world was the last thing on your mind. (Other than the bed on the hard) forgetting that other world is exactly what we go to the boat for. Did you try the cabin fan? Ambien was also another good idea that was suggested. We (my wife and I) call our first night on the boat “getting on lake time”……..that is why we always try and stay two or more nights when we go…1st night is the adjustment….the rest are heaven….Keep trying…I admire your tenacity!!
 
RO...you may never get used too it...I find it's ok...sometimes when we're on the river dock...something will roll under the hull and I'm instantly awake...it's just a log or stick..but with my active imagination..I imagine it's a body or something...but the glub of water on the chines is really not a bad thing..try and relax and try a fan..the fan is called white noise...it will help drown out the water slap on the chines.....
 
Anchoring in a more protected area is likly the only answer. Find an area with an off shore wind and anchor near shore. With little fetch there will be less wave action.

PS this is a reason many prefer aft cabin boats.
 
An aft cabin boat may be in your future. There is significantly less noise aft. Many blue water sail boats have their cabins aft due to the noise while being underway.

If you have to be foreward, I would break myself in easy and invest in a few nights in the marina. It will help you get used to the noises and movements.

Vivian and I had a tough night at Ayala cove. It drove me to consider sleeping in the boat's mid bunk. At the time, we were storing much of our gear in midship bunk. Due to the limited access, it was a poor spot to store our gear. Things tended to get piled on top of each other.

Later, I noticed that the V-Berth in the bow would make a superior storage area for our gear. I could walk up into the center of the V and have access to any of the gear stored in the surrounding bunk area. So, it would appear that we solved two problems at once.

Having said all this, I think we'll try the mid ship bunk to make sure we fit in there before making our next trip.

One thing I noticed on our trips, is that we were off the boat for much of the day, hiking here and there. After a days adventures, we were ready to rest. The exercise put us into a deeper sleep than we ever had at home. (Desk work all day and all the anxieties)

The picture is of our boat in the downtown Petaluma turning basin. The calm waters and cool morning had Vivian was asleep until 9:30 that morning.
Early_Morn_Small.sized.jpg
 
RO the Wife,

pdecat makes a good point…you might be trying too hard

We have awoken with dear watching us, eagles overhead diving and hunting by our boat, beavers upset that we are in their territory, mountain lions walking the shore, not to mention the snakes, turtles and fish that find us interesting interlopers. If you can’t sleep that first night, try napping during the next day…you’ll get used to it and the adjustment in attitude and pace that boating involves. Give yourself up to the power of Mother Nature while respecting her. Beats the heck out of being on land.....there being very few bite-ems (mosquitoes) on the water is another of the many good things.
 
Sleep while at anchor, not a problem with 3 anchors out and a position alarm coupled to the GPS. Sleeping at sea while underway, well if you can call 2 to 4 hours at a time sleeping then maybe but I usually do not get much sleep until we put into port and either tie up to a mooring ball, dock or I set the anchors and dive to check their setting. We use a LOT of chain and scope, we have rarely dragged more than a few feet even in strong storms.

SeaQuest OE
 
Are you sure you feel safe at all sleeping on the boat, even without ear plugs? Can you nap during the day?
 
Anchoring off the stern would help the noise, it has other problems however. If you were tied off to a ball or something that was really secure it would be alright.
 
sail boats and I expect Tigers cat have smoother entry hulls that are generally less noisey than hard chine planing boats.
 
if your boat sails around at anchor there will be more noise as the water hits the hull side rather than bow.
 
I suspect that much of the problem is that the noise you hear is different than at home.

For instance:

When I lived in NOLa, evening noises were: traffic, emerg. vehicles, the sound of the streetcar rattleing, and sometimes, foghorns on the river.

Here in PCMs, I hear highway noise, and freight trains ( about 1000 ft away and accelerating ).

Aboard, you hear "hull slap", and birds.

All of these environments are different, all are actually noisy. But the sounds are different. Sooner or later, you will get used to the new environment.

I like the random noise when aboard, and when the pattern of the noise changes I awake, knowing that I need to check the lines.
 
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