2011 AR 240 carpet and noise

[Mark]

I just wanted to let people know I and my wife made an interesting observation today.
We have been running the boat since I purchased it used two seasons ago without the carpet. I did this
Because I did not want the hassle of taking care of it. Well the wife and I have the same complaint that a lot on here do. It was loud. Well today we put the carpet in and the noise level was much quieter! So that gives me hope that something can be done. The first question I have is do the people with Seadek notice a big improvement in the noise level? And the next question is does everyone agree that the carpeted areas are the ones that need addressing for noise improvement? Let me know what you think and your observations with the Seadek please!

 

[robert843]

I just wanted to let people know I and my wife made an interesting observation today.
We have been running the boat since I purchased it used two seasons ago without the carpet. I did this
Because I did not want the hassle of taking care of it. Well the wife and I have the same complaint that a lot on here do. It was loud. Well today we put the carpet in and the noise level was much quieter! So that gives me hope that something can be done. The first question I have is do the people with Seadek notice a big improvement in the noise level? And the next question is does everyone agree that the carpeted areas are the ones that need addressing for noise improvement? Let me know what you think and your observations with the Seadek please!

Darn you @Mark I never use the carpet either and now I have to try it.

 

[Mark]

@robert843 let me know if you notice the difference too. I would really love to hear from some that have Seadek on their entire boat to see if they noticed a difference in the noise level too! If so may be able to kill two birds with one stone!

 

[tdonoughue]

Hmmmm... I used the carpet pretty consistently until I got the SeaDek last off season. I can't say I have really noticed if it is quieter. Been too distracted by the wonderful SeaDek look and feel.

 

[Mark]

I'm trying to justify a reason to buy some Seadek Guys and Gals! Well at least that's one excuse for buying it! But if it truly makes a difference then maybe the wife will be more in for it!

 

[tdonoughue]

Oh, well, in that case: it makes a HUGE difference! You should hear it! Or rather, you shouldn't hear it...

(never let it be said I didn't assist with a rationalization)

 

[robert843]

I have put sea dek everywhere hydroturf was and love it. I have not done the interior as its just so easy to clean with no carpet or sea dek in there. If you have not replaced all the hydro turf in the boat with sea dek that is a good place to start. half the cost of doing the whole boat and you will love is compaired to the hydro turf and you will get a good gauge from that if you want to do the interior. After a season I'm still on the fence on doing the interior I know it will look awesome but it is so easy to clean the floors with out it. Everyone says it was to do still who has it but I just cant see there being any way its easier then the bare floor. I boat to a lot of sandy beaches though so there is always sand being drug in my boat if I didn't I probably would have done it already but I can tell already from the swiw deck and anchor locker the stuff catches and holds sand easy and from trying to clean it off this week end I could tell if there was a lot of sand involved it could be a little bit of a pain on the interior.

 

[Mark]

Luckily I don't do much sand where I'm at. But really would think it would help with the noise. Being that it seems like it would absorb vibrations. So if it were on the interior... which people who have tried to quieten our floats seems to concentrate their effort.

 

[swatski]

@Mark I sent a lot of time wondering the same thing, when soundproofing my SX190, which was louder than hell - stock.

So, when I installed SeaDek, I installed a layer of HashMat underneath. I also installed a ton of Dynamat Extreme and I don't remember why I decided to go with HashMat for that particular application, either one would do and the cost was comparable. Hard for me to tell exactly how much it helped, but it helped a lot - it is a great mass loading application for dumping vibrations across the ENTIRE deck.

Not exactly inexpensive... and a lot of work, but worth considering in my opinion. The only drawback (other than cost and labor) is added weight, but I figured that was a good way to add weight, so to speak.

Here are some pics from my install, I didn't take many, but you will get the idea.









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[Mark]

I've never heard of hashmat. But I'll check it out! How well is the Seadek sticking to it? Any pulling up?

 

[swatski]

I've never heard of hashmat. But I'll check it out! How well is the Seadek sticking to it? Any pulling up?

I had zero issues after a year, and of course I tested it for binding before the install, with an extra piece of seadek. I concluded that SeaDek bound as well as or better to hashmat vs clean deck; dynamat extreme would be the same as hashmat - with aluminum surface. Both are butyl rubber based, and permanent install.

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[Mark]

@swatski did you put the hashmat under the Seadek everywhere? Or did You put it under the compartment lids where ever you could? And under the Seadek everywhere else? Sorry for so many questions. Just that the Seadek looks like it is flat on the floor everywhere. Did you cut the hashmat smaller than the Seadek pieces so it would fit flush to the floor on the edges? By the way it looks great!

 

[swatski]

@swatski did you put the hashmat under the Seadek everywhere? Or did You put it under the compartment lids where ever you could? And under the Seadek everywhere else? Sorry for so many questions. Just that the Seadek looks like it is flat on the floor everywhere. Did you cut the hashmat smaller than the Seadek pieces so it would fit flush to the floor on the edges? By the way it looks great!

@Mark thank you. Yes under SeaDek and yes under ALL hatches lids and compartments I could get into. Even the floor over the ski locker. And yes, the under layer of hashmat was trimmed - recessed by about an inch or less.
I decided not to double up on it, and it came out completely flat.
I'll post more pics when I get home from work.

 

[0627Devildog]

My $0.02 . . . .the carpet is overlapping the seams on the floor in a way the SeaDek isn't designed to do. Both are about the same thickness so I would expect the carpet the dampen the sound more effectively overall.

That said, I ditched my carpet at the end of the first season and haven't looked back. LOVE my SeaDek.

 

[Mark]

@0627Devildog can you tell a difference in noise level? I understand what you are saying about the carpet covering seams in the floor though. Makes good sense. But I would the the Seadek would have a better dampening effect?

 

[Mark]

@swatski thank you that would be great! Although your pics are making it harder to put the Seadek off much longer!

 

[0627Devildog]

@0627Devildog can you tell a difference in noise level? I understand what you are saying about the carpet covering seams in the floor though. Makes good sense. But I would the the Seadek would have a better dampening effect?

I wish I could say there was a noticeable difference. . . . However, it was loud before and STILL is now.

With regards to Sea Dek having better dampening qualities I think it may be a trade off. The rubber carpet bottoms would nearly equal the noise dampening of the seadek and surpass it when seams are covered IMHO.

Try this as a test. . . .run the boat with the carpet dry. . . .then soak it and tell me if there is a difference.

 

[Mark]

I will give it a shot next time I'm on the water. Hopefully this weekend!

 

[0627Devildog]

Here's a simple app you can use to compare. . . .just try and keep the variables as close as possible.

 

[Mark]

I don't need the app. I have a spl meter. But thanks for the heads up!