[bristol299bob]

I've got hard, fiberglass, nesting dinghy, no motor. It rows beautifully, is quite light, and is rather handsome. I bought it used, it was home made. I love this dinghy except for ...

When tethered to the mothership at anchor it makes an awful racket. Every little wavelet that slaps against the dinghy resonates, amplifies and is channeled directly to my spine.

Since it nests it stows on deck easily. However when the weather is right, it's often convienent to leave it in the water overnight at anchor.

Like most of us, I like the sound of wavelets gently lapping at the hull of the mothership. It's a Peaceful sound and makes for a good nights sleep. But when the dinghy is in the water, the same ripples make a dreadful sound. There is no escape, and ultimately little sleep.

I believe that the flat bow, and light weight are the contributing factors to the sound this thing makes.

I've tried letting it trail further away, hoping distance would muffle the sound. The painter is at least 100 ft, and that was not far enough.

Any tips to quiet it? Or just suck it up and put on deck every night?

 

[Alex W]

This is what I did last year: Put two large fenders out on the sides of the mothership. Use the bow and stern painters on the dinghy to tie it tight against those fenders. The boats won't move with relation to each other and the dinghy is quiet.

This year I installed Taylor "Gunnel Guard" on the gunnel of my dinghy. This is basically a foam core in a heavy duty canvas (like fire hose) cover. It is expensive (about $150 in materials for a 8' dinghy), but gives you a full perimeter fender on the dinghy. It also protects the wood rub rail saving me from having to varnish as often, so it's well worth the cost.

 

[Andrew65]

I have your solution which will put me on your Christmas card list FOREVER. Go get yourself a 4 foot or so long piece of pvc tube and tread your painter through it, then secure it off your stern to hold it off.

 

[Dog Ship]

If you have a spinnaker pole you can make a harness up for your dinghy and hang the dinghy from the pole over the side of your boat.
This will keep things quiet and deter theft.

 

[MarkofSeaLife]

. The painter is at least 100 ft, and that was not far enough.

if its really 100 feet long (30 meters) then you have a safety issue is someone drives their boat between yours and the dink.

You could try some floats on the painter tied off so they are about 5 or 10 feet between them. That may make the dink float off better.

Change the painter to polypropolenyeetuikasdjvhzjkxbcjh (sp?!) so it floats.

If you are in a non-tidal area like a trade winds area wehre you always lie the same way you could try (in addition to the floats) try a stern anchor of a brick chuck it off the big boat as far as you can and see if that helps. In the morning you just pull the dinghy in as the brick ain't a Rocna.

If all that fails get ear plugs.

 

[bristol299bob]

if its really 100 feet long (30 meters) then you have a safety issue is someone drives their boat between yours and the dink.

This is a good point. For the record, I was experimenting to see if getting some distance would reduce the sound. I wouldn't have left it like that ... Although if it helped I might have been tempted!

 

[capta]

Many of the cruisers down here who don't have davits will use a halyard to pull their dink up to the cap rail and leave it there overnight. Obviously, they use a fender or two to protect the boats. Could be a simple solution for you if your dink is light enough not to give you and uncomfortable list.

 

[SailRedemption]

You should paint the inside of the dinghy, or at least it's bow area with something to dampen the sound.. Try bed liner for trucks. Or you could glue or screw slats of teak to the outside bow to break up the waves lapping. You need a sound dampening solution. If it's is indeed traveling through the painter, get a rubber mooring shock thingy to isolate the dinghy from the cleat of the boat.

 

[newhaul]

Here's my two cents worth http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o85Agy0ORqc/U5CvSDrK3iI/AAAAAAAAE2E/cccqsDBUJIE/s1600/IMG_2075.JPG

 

[Merit25lovers]

I've got hard, fiberglass, nesting dinghy, no motor. It rows beautifully, is quite light, and is rather handsome. I bought it used, it was home made. I love this dinghy except for ...

When tethered to the mothership at anchor it makes an awful racket.

You might want to check to see if my Ex is hiding in there... :laugher