Engine Noise - 2020 242 Limited S-E

[NJ HOF]

Can someone please make a suggestion aside from turning my radio up. Picked up my new 2020 242 Limited SE boat today and while I love most things about it, the engines make a considerable amount of noise. Has anyone done anything to try to solve for this. Thank you in advance - Woody

 

[Dave burke]

I’ve had outboards, stern drives and jets and the jets are the loudest. That said, you do get used to them over time and they’re not much louder at lower speeds.

I’ve seen some posts about adding more sound insulation so you could do some searching if you’d like. That said, I’m not sure I would get into that with a brand new boat if I were you. I’d give it a bit of time first.

For what it’s worth, I’ve had mine for 3 summers now and am not planning on adding any insulation. But everybody’s tolerance is different.

 

[Pro Build]

Hi Woody, congrats on the new boat. Kinda difficult to answer your question, as I could not be happier with mine. Could you be a little more specific with the noise and is it throughout the rpm range.

 

[NJ HOF]

Hi Woody, congrats on the new boat. Kinda difficult to answer your question, as I could not be happier with mine. Could you be a little more specific with the noise and is it throughout the rpm range.

Thanks for your response. No it’s not constant. The noise level increases as I would expect as the RPMs rise. I just didn’t think it would be that loud.

 

[Pro Build]

I guess for me, I like it, and the wind noise overpowers any engine noise. I have a 87' F-150 with a swapped in 460 and I keep it loud. So a little engine sound from the boat is nothing. I was thinking you were getting so much noise it was like having the bay door open.

 

[haknslash]

Thanks for your response. No it’s not constant. The noise level increases as I would expect as the RPMs rise. I just didn’t think it would be that loud.

Yes they are loud and honestly the only thing you could do are what others have done for sound deadening. I believe @swatski found that adding things inside the storage areas to fill up the void helps muffle a lot of the drone that reverberates all through the boat. Time didn't help us get used to it and if anything drove me more nuts as time went on. I would look into others sound deadening threads and posts on here and use what they did. It won't cure the boat from being loud but may make it more tolerable for you,

 

[Jeel]

Funny you talk about noise...had 2 friends on my boat last week and they were saying it was nice to be able to have a conversation while riding in the boat ...i guess it depends on what kind of boat you are used to being in

 

[jamesk]

Yes, very very loud!!!
Added sound deadening to the fuel tank hatch, inside ski locker and inside the engine compartment.
In the storage areas in rear of boat......
1 side I have 5 life jackets and my bow and cockpit covers.
1 side I have my bow filler cushions, mooring cover and trailering cover.
I think having all the stuff jambed in these areas to stop the sound traveling really helps.
Much better, but boat is still loud.
Probably my biggest complaint with these jet boats is the noise.
Came from an I/O that was much different!
I also notice that the boat never really seems to get out of the water even at speed, the shape of the hull throws alot of "splash" to the sides of the boat, this also is the source of some of the noise. IMO...

 

[WildCatFan54]

Beautiful boat @NJ HOF ! I have no issues with the cockpit noise on my 2019 LSE but probably adapted to it from my previous twin engine Yamaha. No real difference between the two boats and certainly does not prevent occupants from having a conversation even at cruise speed. My biggest complaint would be the engine sound mine makes at the second "no wake" position (approx. 1600 rpms). It is more of a metal on metal clanging sound that it does not make at "no wake 1" (approx.1200rpms) or "no wake 3" (approx. 2000rpms) ? I have not investigated yet to determine if it is just one of the engines or both ?

 

[Matt Phillips]

My 17 is way quieter than the 09 ever thought about being.

my starboard has a slight rattle at idle but once the pump is loaded up, it gets better. On my 09, they would get a little rattle every so often and the cure I found was adding a little grease to the bearings. This always quieted it down.

 

[Jeel]

Beautiful boat @NJ HOF ! I have no issues with the cockpit noise on my 2019 LSE but probably adapted to it from my previous twin engine Yamaha. No real difference between the two boats and certainly does not prevent occupants from having a conversation even at cruise speed. My biggest complaint would be the engine sound mine makes at the second "no wake" position (approx. 1600 rpms). It is more of a metal on metal clanging sound that it does not make at "no wake 1" (approx.1200rpms) or "no wake 3" (approx. 2000rpms) ? I have not investigated yet to determine if it is just one of the engines or both ?

@WildCatFan54 I have the same issue and ive read somewhere that it is just a resonance from the waterbox at that 2 nd wake rpm ...i wouldnt worry about it , turn up the radio

 

[BigN8]

Sound deadening self adhered mats to underside of fuel hatch and engine compartment. Close off the rear storage areas on the Stbd and Port sides. Aside from that, not really much you can do. I loved my SX 240, but my biggest complaint was the engine noise for sure.

 

[d_coyne1984]

I second the filling the voids solution. The transom area especially acts like a drum for the engine noise. The most sucess I had with quieting my boat was to spray glue pieces of foam to the fiberglass all around the inside of the transom areas (except for the bottom for obvious reasons). In the larger cavities I used pieces of 2" sheet foam to create baffled compartments to slow the sound waves and deaden as much as possible. I just used open cell foam sheets from the fabric store which worked great and didn't have any issues with mold for the two years I had boat with the foam in it, but if you are in a very humid area or your boat is often exposed to the weather you might want to strongly consider using closed cell foam sound foam. That's probably not what you want to hear upon purchasing a new boat, but it did seem to help little. It definitely helped kill off some of the higher frequencies.

Unfortunately the computer that I had the pictures saved on died so I have no visuals for you.

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

Get some yoga mats and wrap your water boxes "mufflers" most of your noise comes from there.

 

[jamesk]

Get some yoga mats and wrap your water boxes "mufflers" most of your noise comes from there.

Thats the first I have heard about this solution....anyone have any experience with this? ( wrapping material around the water boxes)

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

First time ?? well sea doo wrapped their water boxes for a long time, I'm new to boating so I thought I would share this fact . LOL and if you have a 5 and below store nearby you can get yoga mats for 5 dollars each

 

[jamesk]

First time ?? well sea doo wrapped their water boxes for a long time, I'm new to boating so I thought I would share this fact . LOL and if you have a 5 and below store nearby you can get yoga mats for 5 dollars each

Considering trying this approach to wrap the water boxes......do the water boxes get hot? I would be concerned about the heat melting the yoga mat or what ever I decide to use?

 

[ZGhost]

Considering trying this approach to wrap the water boxes......do the water boxes get hot? I would be concerned about the heat melting the yoga mat or what ever I decide to use?

Or even starting a fire ?