Noise and vibration are crucial for yacht owners to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable experience on board, especially when staying on board for long periods of time. Steel yachts can be insulated better than GRP due to the material properties. Read here about the best methods for soundproofing steel explorer yachts to achieve the lowest noise and vibration levels.

Optimal hull design:

A well-designed hull minimizes water turbulence and provides smooth water flow around the hull, reducing noise and vibration. Additional vibration dampening materials and coatings should be wired to the outside of the hull to reduce underwater noise.

Advanced engine selection:

Modern, low-noise motors with low vibration levels are an important starting point. Consider electric or hybrid drive systems, which operate more quietly than conventional motors and are also more environmentally friendly.

Vibration damping motor mounts:

There are vibration-damping rubberized engine mounts to isolate engine noise and vibration from the hull, reducing onboard noise.

Comprehensive acoustic isolation:

Acoustic insulation materials such as high-density foam, rock wool or mass-loaded vinyl sheeting on interior hull surfaces, bulkheads and ceilings helps absorb noise and minimize sound transmission. In addition, you should also insulate interior walls and leave enough space between the pipes and cables and the final walls and ceilings. these air pockets take away additional noise.

Floating floors:

Floating floors with vibration damping materials such as rubber or cork to reduce structure-borne noise transmission and increase sound insulation between floor and fuselage.

Soft mounting of equipment:

Equipment and machinery such as generators, pumps and compressors should be soft mounted using vibration damping mounts to reduce noise and vibration transmission.

Silenced exhaust systems:

water-cooled wet exhaust systems and high-quality silencers to minimize noise from engine exhaust and reduce both airborne and structure-borne noise.

Quiet shaft and propeller systems:

Low noise propeller designs and vibration dampening shaft systems such as the Seatorque boss system which rotates completely in an oil bath, creating minimal drag, cavitation and noise to minimize underwater noise and vibration. This helps to create a quieter environment both inside and outside the yacht.

Soundproof doors and hatches:

soundproof doors and hatches with seals to prevent noise transmission between cabins. This helps create a quieter atmosphere throughout the yacht.

Acoustic windows and portholes:

double or triple glazed windows and portholes with acoustic laminated glass to minimize noise transmission from the outside. This increases the overall quietness inside the yacht.

Sound absorbing interior design:

integrate sound-absorbing materials such as carpets, upholstered furniture and fabric wall panels into the interior design to reduce reverberation time. This contributes to a more pleasant and quiet ambience inside the yacht.

Damping paste for outdoor use:

Use damping paste for outdoor areas before laying floor coverings. This helps reduce noise and vibration and creates a pleasant atmosphere on outdoor decks.

Perforated panels around and above the engine room:

Install perforated panels around and above the engine room to absorb sound and minimize noise transmission.

Sound barrier area between engine room and lower deck cabins:

Sound dam area between the engine room and the cabins on the lower deck to reduce noise transmission and ensure quietness in the cabins.

Two-story engine room and engines behind soundproofing:

A two-story engine room allows for better organization of equipment and reduces noise transmission. Place the engines behind a sound barrier to further reduce noise pollution.

Consult acoustics experts:

Work with an acoustics expert during the design and construction phases to analyze and address potential noise and vibration issues. Their expertise helps achieve optimal results in reducing noise and vibration.