Boat Creak/Pop

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FlemIslGator

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Over the past year, my boat (1987 Overnighter) has developed this creaking.... I guess more of a popping, somewhere near the port seat when in any kind of chop. It seams to be coming from somewhere between the seat and cabin door area (or likely outboard of there, kind of near, but above floor level), just very hard to locate since it can only be heard when underway in chop. At some conditions, it is downright annoying!!! A very loud pop each time the boat flexes through the chop. I know a long-shot, but just seeing if anyone else had run across this &/or had thoughts on how to handle. I havn't tried anything yet since I can't pin-point it, but my only thought is to try and access areas best I can and spray some lubricant (WD-40 or such). I am pretty sure it is something like part of the shell rubbing against some support, or something like that. Any thoughts??
 
I had an 89 Overnighter with a 200 hp Johnson and did not hear anything like you are describing. I'm no expert but it sounds to me like you have some hull flex going on, probably because of stringers that are getting weak, probably due to water intrusion and subsequent rot. I sure hope this is not the case.

Gary 93 Gulfstream
 
The cabin bulkhead is heavy birch plywood with formica wood grain finish, and the boat flexes (naturally) across the beam incl. the glass bridge, cabin walls,and bridge deck, the plywood doesn't give at all in that direction, so it tends to make a noise as one moves and the other doesn't at contact points, as the boat heats and cools too.

I bet that's what it is. Means nothing other than abother.
My TV does same thing after I shut it off after about 15 minutes, sounds like it just cracked in half.
Floors, walls, ceilings all the same.

You can free the bulkhead away from the glass and recaulk it after spotting a small piece of 1/6 inch thick neoprene anywhere between glass and wood, so a thickness will remain in caulk to flex when you take up the bolts.
WD40 will not work for such a condition, not viscous.

Some work, but may take care of it.

Good luck !
 
BobP, you are probably right. I don't believe there are any serious issues going on, just some annoying binding or rubbing of two pieces wood/fiberglass. Really though, the noise can be very annoying at times. A loud pop on every chop in the right (or wrong) conditions. A 10 - 15 mile trip from offshore will start to get to you. Maybe one day I will do the bulkhead re-build as I have seen others have done on this site. In the mean-time I may see if I can affect the noise by spraying lubricant in different locations while underway, to see if I can affect it & at least try to pin-point the exact location. Appreciate the input.
 
Does your craft have a foot rest? My T-22 port rest sometimes gets a harmonic vibration that sounds terrible ... :wink:
 
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