Engine noise

[jjssas]

Ours is a 2000, 410 Sun Dancer with CAT 3116s.
Of course the engines are noisy.
But, is there a more effective sound suppressor than the original insulation that is under the hatch, other than not turning the engines on?

Thanks

"Court Ship"

 

[BonBini]

I know of three attempts by Cat to quiet down there 3116's.

inside baffle placed just below the crankshaft (sorta like a windage tray)... Oil pan removal would be required.

7E3642 A sound suppressor fitted over the oil pan. This simply slips over the pan and is held in place with longer pan bolts. You would need about 12" clearance under the pan to slide this under your engine and then lift up in place. It is the size of your oil pan and simple slips over it.

A sound suppressor cover to slip over the valve cover. about 8" direct access over the valve cover is needed to drop this over the valve cover.

I've seen sound suppression used in equipment and on highway truck engines where noise emissions are in place. I don't believe boats are required to to enforce any noise emissions.

 

[katricol]

Ron....I don't think any of these three things could be done because of the clearance required. BTW I have 3126 cats and feel they are very quiet.

 

[katricol]

Court ship...with no hardtop why are they loud? What rpm are you running at?

 

[fwebster]

I have never found the 3116 to be especially noisey with 2 exceptions:

Do you have Walker AirSeps on the air intakes?

The turbo whine.......actually it was more like a scream was almost unbearable before we installed AirSeps. It was so bad my dogs wouldn't ride in the cockpit and so loud that you could not have a conversation at the helm station. We added AirSeps and my engines are very quiet now. Dogs are happy and you can have conversations in a normal speaking voice anywhere in the boat. In fact, my engines are noticeably quieter than similar boats with Cummins engines.

Sea Ray used a very good piece of sound deadening material glued/screwed to the engine hatch and cockpit floor on your boat. If someone has removed it or just a part of it you should get it replaced before spending a lot of money on other methods.

Finally, we've got friends who own a 320DA with 6.2L gas engines. Every time he is on my boat he always comments that he wishes his 320 was as quiet as our Caterpillars.