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Mast hummm

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JoergK
Navigator

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USA
140 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/11/2015 : 18:53:01

When laying at anchor overnite, and some wind going, I notice that there is a deep and annoying humming sound, ebbing and increasing with the wind. I guess it comes from the mast which possibly vibrates and imparts this vibration to the hull - it's like sitting in a bass drum.

Did anyone else experience this situation? And, would there be a remedy?

2002 C250 WK

Joerg
2002C250 WK "BerLyn"

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2269 Posts

Response Posted - 09/11/2015 : 20:47:18

quote:
Originally posted by JoergK

When laying at anchor overnite, and some wind going, I notice that there is a deep and annoying humming sound, ebbing and increasing with the wind. I guess it comes from the mast which possibly vibrates and imparts this vibration to the hull - it's like sitting in a bass drum.

Did anyone else experience this situation? And, would there be a remedy?

2002 C250 WK

Could be the backstay or upper shrouds vibrating in the wind, just like a violin string when excited by a bow. Next time it happens, go topsides and grab them to see if the sound stops. If so, you know the source. Not sure what you could do to stop it, though.

Rick S., Swarthmore, PA
PO of Take Five, 1998 Catalina 250WK #348 (relocated to Baltimore's Inner Harbor)
New owner of 2001 Catalina 34MkII #1535 Breakin' Away (at Rock Hall Landing Marina)

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5851 Posts

Response Posted - 09/13/2015 : 15:34:04

I'd suggest stretching a bungee taut between the shrouds. That hum usually only happens at a certain windspeed, which causes the shrouds to vibrate harmonically. If you change their tension temporarily, by attaching a bungee, the hum might go away.

Steve Milby J/24 "Captiva Wind"
previously C&C 35, Cal 25, C25 TR/FK, C22
Past Commodore

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9014 Posts

Response Posted - 09/14/2015 : 15:23:30

Usually the shroud problem results in high-pitched, almost whistling sounds. The low-pitch is probably a harmonic vibration of the mast itself. A fix I've heard about is wrapping a halyard a few times around the mast in a spiral from the spreaders down. The theory is that will create some turbulence as the wind passes the mast, disturbing whatever harmonic is trying to develop. (Hopefully it doesn't allow halyard-slapping above the spreaders.)

Dave Bristle
Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT
PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage, USCG "sixpack" (expired),
Now on Eastern 27 $+!nkp*+ Sarge

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.