Noise levels in cabin

[baz]

In the past there have been a number of discussions talking about noise levels in the cabin for the various Ranger Tug models. Most statements about noise are very subjective and this means one cannot really compare one persons sense of noise level with the next.

With this in mind I propose to measure noise levels in my R25's cabin using an iPhone/iPad application that records/measure noise levels in Decibels. I've been using the iPhone App named Decibel 10th by SkyPaw Co. Ltd. It has close to a 5-star rating at this time. My 1st Mate needed some speech therapy to improve and strengthen her vocal chord. We use this App to measure how well she's doing. Normal conversation noise level needs to be around 70 dB and this App allows her and me to see how well her speaking noise level is progressing.

This gave me the idea for measuring noise levels in the R25's cabin and to compare it with others here.

My method will be to select a location in the cabin such as the middle of the dinette table and measure the dB levels with the engine running at various RPMs with cabin door open and closed. The base line will of course be with the engine not running. 😉

So when I get to the boat next I will perform these measurements and post back here. I'm hoping otherts will do the same so we can compare the dB numbers for each of the Ranger Tug models.

 

[Don and Brenda]

Very interesting app, I guess another variable would be carpet, the factory says this makes a big difference.

 

[baz]

Hmmm -- Carpet laid down where ? On cockpit floor ? On cabin floor ?

If this does make a difference as you say then by all means people posting the noise level dB numbers should state if carpet has been installed and where.

For my part on our R25 for example I've installed 1/4" compressible rubber strips under the cabin step to seal off any gaps that would allow noise to penetrate into the cabin. Subjectively this did make a difference, but cannot say in terms of lowering some number of dBs.

Having windows/hatches open is probably another factor influencing cabin noise level. I will be measuring cabin dBs with the windows and hatches closed as a base line.

 

[Crewdog]

Neat app.

In the living room with tv on softly, reads 55-60 db. When dogs bark it goes to 95 db.

Will post next week from Palm Island with some readings from the R-27 cabin underway.

Bill

 

[Gin]

Cool app! Wish I had a Ranger Tug to test. I'll have to content myself with checking other levels, like power tools in my garage. Lots of good uses for this app. Thanks!

Gini

 

[Todd]

You are correct when you say noise levels are subjective. I have been battling with generator noise issues on my R29 and I made some posts about it back in the fall.

Frequency has almost as much to do with the perceived noise level as volume. Higher frequency noise is much easier to get rid of and is less annoying than low frequency noise which penetrates everything, including your body. With that being said I await your results.

I am unable to contribute any data because my boat is on the hard right now. I do know that the noise I was battling was way below conversation level but was at around 50HZ. Turned out to be a pulse in the air intake that made life in the boat similar to living in a base drum yet it was amazingly quiet out on the rear deck where one would think the generator noise would be loudest.

I think we have it all solved but will not be sure until the boat is back in the water.

 

[Levitation]

On an R25 open the port storage compartment (generator compartment) and notice the opening between the bottom of the cabin wall and the hull.
Stuffing this with foam will reduce the amount of sound getting under the cabin floor and traveling forward.
Also, under the cabin step there is an opening in front of the fuel tank that could be stuffed.
The starboard side is tougher, but you can plug it somewhat around the water heater.

 

[ngleadow]

I have also used a noise measuring app to measure sound reduction measures in our R25. There is a free app called "Too Loud" for iPhones, ipods etc. at the Apple Itunes store.

 

[baz]

Was down at the boat today and found I had not turned on shore power to the boat when last at the boat. Engine barely started as it cranked much slower than normal.

This actually gave me the chance to take the boat out for an hour or so to run engine for a good period at high RPMs to charge the batteries up. So using this excuse I also measured the noise levels at various RPMs and post the results below.

Noise level measurements
2010 R25 - Yanmar 4BY2-150
Mar 18, 2013
Calm and no wind
Cabin door closed
0 RPMs 50 dB
1000 RPMs 70 dB
1500 RPMs 75 dB
2000 RPMs 78 dB
2500 RPMs 83 dB (85dB door open)
3000 RPMs 87dB
3500 RPMs 93 dB
4000 RPMs 95 dB

 

[JamesTXSD]

Here's a reference to see how that compares to typical sound levels...

http://www.gcaudio.com/resources/howtos/loudness.html

On one boat I ran, the Coast Guard inspector measured the sound level - said it was too high at the back of the passenger cabin (near the engine compartments). We had to install engine room sound deadening material to get the sound level down to 98db. Running for long periods of time at high db levels can be harmful to your hearing.

Pardon me? 😉

Best wishes,
Jim B.

 

[baz]

Jim B. So from your reference noise stats it seems running my R25 at 4000 RPMs is not advised due to the noise level created in the cabin. I rarely run the engine at this RPM and if I do it's around 3800 RPM and only for maybe not more than 20 minutes.

BTW -- my noise level measurements were taken at the forward lip of the cabin's dinette table. I used the iPhone dB application I displayed in my OP.

Oh... and I did have the helm window open at the time and I was the only noisy human onboard. 😉 ... and as another member noted I do not have carpet on the cabin gangway floor. I wonder how much difference in cabin noise level that would make ? :lol:

I'd like to read other noise level measurements taken in other Ranger Tugs as well as the R25 for comparison purposes.

 

[walldog]

Jim B. So from your reference noise stats it seems running my R25 at 4000 RPMs is not advised due to the noise level created in the cabin. I rarely run the engine at this RPM and if I do it's around 3800 RPM and only for maybe not more than 20 minutes.

BTW -- my noise level measurements were taken at the forward lip of the cabin's dinette table. I used the iPhone dB application I displayed in my OP.

Oh... and I did have the helm window open at the time and I was the only noisy human onboard. 😉 ... and as another member noted I do not have carpet on the cabin gangway floor. I wonder how much difference in cabin noise level that would make ? :lol:

I'd like to read other noise level measurements taken in other Ranger Tugs as well as the R25 for comparison purposes.

I wonder how much the helm window being open contributed to the noise level.

 

[baz]

Herb: I did close the helm window one time and it made no difference to the noise levels, so I reopened it. I would expect the floor carpeting could make a difference as that form of material is sound absorbing.

Oh... and all roof hatched were closed and the head closet door was closed as well.

There's a huge difference in noise level between the closed cabin and the cockpit. Also, if the engine hatch is raised when underway the engine noise is almost deafening.

 

[Wolf Pack]

For those like me that don't have iPad's or iPhones and such, we can use our trusty Radio Shack sound level meters to do the measurements.

When ever Wolf Pack gets out on the water, we will also do some measurements. Sounds like a worth while exercise.

Gene R
Wolf Pack (R29)

 

[Levitation]

Sound varies widely (or wildly, your call) depending on the position of the ear/meter in the boat.
Note Jim's comment on the tour boat being out of limits at one end.
I think that besides the forward edge of the dinette there could be measurement(s) at ear level at the helm and at ear level at the portside buddy seat. These are the two areas where people will spend the most time with the engine running at cruise power levels.
While our Tugs are not silent by any stretch of definition, they are better than most. Last year went out on the slip neighbors boat, a Sea Ray 31. At cruise speed you had to shout (and clutch your hat).

 

[baz]

Sound varies widely (or wildly, your call) depending on the position of the ear/meter in the boat.
Note Jim's comment on the tour boat being out of limits at one end.
I think that besides the forward edge of the dinette there could be measurement(s) at ear level at the helm and at ear level at the portside buddy seat. These are the two areas where people will spend the most time with the engine running at cruise power levels.
While our Tugs are not silent by any stretch of definition, they are better than most. Last year went out on the slip neighbors boat, a Sea Ray 31. At cruise speed you had to shout (and clutch your hat).

I did move the sound measurement device (iPhone) around to other places such as where I was at the helm and the port side Nav seat and did not see any significant difference in the sound level. I opted to simply measure at the forward lip of the dinette table keeping the iPhone in the same place for all sound level measurements.

What did make a difference was if I moved the iPhone closer to the cabin door and obviously closer to where the engine is... but even there the sound level did not raise to any large degree. I have insulated the cabin step which I think helps a lot. I also think that cabin carpet would help in decreasing the noise level.

 

[baz]

I guess one could always use ear plugs to lessen the noise but that has its downside as you cannot hear sounds that you would want to investigate further.

My wife wears hearing aids in both ears so she can deaden the sound if she wanted. I would then need to use hand gestures to communicate with her. Many times she's in the V-beth area reading or doing her crossword so I have to lean forward and stick my head into her space to get her attention. There are times when she writes on a piece of paper and holds that out so I can see it with the words "Tea please..." :lol: She is undisturbed by the engine noise unless she sitting in the cockpit with another person chatting away. In these situations I run the boat at a slow pace to keep the cockpit noise level reasonable for conversation.

I should have taken noise level measurement in the V-berth area as passengers will sometimes be sitting there while underway.