Sound Proofing - Keep the Soundown

When we first examined Harmony prior to purchase, we knew that the old engine had been removed.  However, what we were not prepared for was the state of the "empty" engine room.  What a mess!  There was debris everywhere, engine viscera and fluids coagulating in the engine pan, and decaying soundproofing hanging off the bulkheads.

The "before" with accumulated engine room debris

The engine room clean up has been discussed earlier, but we needed to consider how to reduce the racket that would come from the future operating engine room.  The old soundproofing was an age old product that combined open cell foam, lead, and a foil cover.  Effective in its time, but now it was in a state of yuck.  After wrestling with the cumbersome lead filled blankets, I was able to remove the whole of it.

So, now what to do?  After researching the various products on the market, and speaking to several company representatives at the Newport Boat Show, we chose the Soundown sound proofing product.  We could easily obtain it from Jamestown Distributors and it was the most cost effective product for us.  Yes, there may be better products for longevity, but for the dollar value the Soundown product fit the bill.

A sample of Soundown insulation

Since this product is a mylar covered open cell foam sandwiching with a vinyl sheet, we needed to be thorough in sealing the foam edges with mylar tape to mitigate moisture absorption.  Obviously, we needed to keep the engine room dry, too.  Once the new engine installation is completed, the access panel in the cockpit sole will be tightly caulked and sealed.

In order to neatly organize all systems in the engine room on the bulkheads, we needed to encapsulate the Soundown behind panels on which we would mount equipment.  After some consideration, we chose 3/4 inch merranti plywood which would be edge-sealed and painted white.  These panels would be mounted on 1.5 inch through-bolted mahogany studs in between which we would install the Soundown.

While this would intrude into the engine room space by about 2.25 inches on the fore and aft bulkheads, what we lost in space we would gain in neatly organized systems that could be inspected, serviced, and replaced easily.  The white paneling would help brighten up the engine room when work needed to be done.

Aft Bulkhead panel installed over the Soundown - we'll mount the water maker here

After milling the 1.5 inch square mahogany studs, the primary challenge was to cut the Soundown to the right shapes and adhere it to the existing bulkheads.  The second challenge was to fit the 3/4 inch panels into the space, remembering that I had to fit said panels down through the companion way.  The old adage of measure twice cut once, was employed often.  The Soundown and merranti plywood was worth a few boat dollars!

Although the entire project took a few weeks to complete with measuring, cutting, painting, and installing, all went well with the installation.  This part of the project dealt with the fore and aft bulkheads, and once the engine install has been completed, the port and starboard sides, as well as the underneath of the cockpit sole will be covered.

The Port Side of the Forward Engine Room Bulkhead with some systems installed

The Starboard Side of the Forward Engine Room Bulkhead

The Soundown was very easy to work with.  However, the key to maintaining its effectiveness is to ensure a very good seal of its edges.  Having the substantial paneling in the engine room helps us organize everything and will provide a platform to maintain a neat and orderly engine room.

Fair Winds and Following Seas!