My Acoustiblok Install

[steined]

So I decided to video my Acoustiblok install. I've put up the first 3 parts which explain the planning process, the cutting process, and the installation process.

Spoiler alert - If you are going to attempt this, just remove the engine hatch. My wife was out of town when I started this so I didn't have that option. I'm not young enough to try to remove the engine hatch on my own anymore. (You can also interpret that as not stupid enough )

Overall, the installation was a lot more of a pain in the ass than I expected. Drilling holes for the bolts, threads being barely long enough, hidden screws, dropping those washers and screws into the bilge, retrieving them multiple times, etc. I'm telling you, just remove the damn hatch if you are going to use acoustiblok. The adhesive is not a quick setting product, and while it doesn't run and sag, it also doesn't have a lot of initial tack.

Part 1: Planning

Part 2: Cutting

Part 3: Installing

Hopefully someone finds this amusing or helpful

To Do:
"Curtain" forward of the shower tank and the batteries
Line the plywood that faces the storage area forward of the curtain.
Fuel Hatch

 

[Ronnie]

I found all of the videos amusing and helpful. Thanks for taking and posting them. Now I'm remotivated to start my sound deadening project, maybe even video some of it.

 

[Chillypilot]

Thanks for that. I'm planning a similar project. I'm using stinger roadkill which is similar to dynamat and I'm going to replace the factory foam with a 2" foil backed sound absorbing foam. I'm also doing the fuel hatch and ski locker hatch. Keep us posted on your results.

 

[steined]

So I used 3m super 90 to reinstall the egg crate. That stuff is awesome! Wasn't too windy so we did it on the boat. Had my wife helping me so it was a quick job.

Now I'm working on the fuel hatch down in the bar area... Looks like this might take a while ;-) (To clarify, the taking a while involves consuming beer and watching adhesive cure ) This was pretty straight forward.

 

[jdiaz78]

After watching the videos, this makes me realize that I can deal with some engine noise as this looks like a royal pain in the ass!

 

[Glassman]

Nice write up. Is there a reason you didn't use the 3M 90 in the first place?

 

[steined]

Nice write up. Is there a reason you didn't use the 3M 90 in the first place?

I'm not sure the 3M Super 90 would hold the Acoustiblok. It's pretty heavy. They claim you need this industrial adhesive to secure it or I think you can use 3M 5200. It would have been much easier with an adhesive that had higher initial tack to assist in clamping it and getting more of it to stick. Even with the fuel hatch removed and in the basement, I still had to find stuff to keep the material conforming to the hatch while it cured.

It might be that they want you to use this adhesive so there is a slight air barrier between the surface you are adhering to and the acoustiblok. Like I said before acoustiblock is NOT a mass loading material like DynaMat where the goal is complete adhesion to a surface. So maybe the flexible RTV adhesive decouples the acoustiblock and the surface to a large extent. Something the 3M super 90 wouldn't do.

Not sure yet, this could have been a big waste of time and money (AKA learning experience!)

 

[billyb]

I am very curious if this makes a noticeable diff in sound.

 

[0627Devildog]

After taking the new toy on her maiden voyage. . . .I gotta say, it was a LOT quieter than I remember my 2001 Sea Ray 225 Weekender (w/5.o Merc I/O) being.

 

[billyb]

I agree devil dog...I think it's a diff sound...but if the sound blocking will work, I may look into it.

 

[0627Devildog]

I'm going to hold off for at least this season on any major renovation mods. . . . Use her as she is and then decide what if any improvements are in the cards. Spent enough already between the new truck, new boat, fins, ez-locks, docks, accessories, etc. . . .

 

[Julian]

Nice videos....added this thread to the FAQ!

 

[steined]

Yeah I'm just doing it because I find the acoustiblok product fascinating

, http://www.acoustiblok.com/. I used product from http://sounddeadenershowdown.com/ on my G8 when I did a stereo install in 09 and that car was so much better after the install, it is now a VERY quiet car. I'm not expecting miracles, and I don't think the boat is all that loud, it's more just a thing to try out. I'm a nerd and love technology

 

[Ronnie]

Yeah I'm just doing it because I find the acoustiblok product fascinating

, http://www.acoustiblok.com/. I used product from http://sounddeadenershowdown.com/ on my G8 when I did a stereo install in 09 and that car was so much better after the install, it is now a VERY quiet car. I'm not expecting miracles, and I don't think the boat is all that loud, it's more just a thing to try out. I'm a nerd and love technology

Did you take any baseline decibel readings before you started the install?

I was just going to take some after install readings with my smart phone than compare them to boat tests results but realize that won't be very accurate since boat test doesn't use a smart phone and I don't know where they are taking their readings from.

 

[steined]

Of course not! Why do something scientifically!?

No I wished I could have but I don't have the time to do before/after readings. I barely have enough time to get out on the boat enough the way it is. So when I have time to mod the boat I mod it. When the weather co-operates its about done with modding time and time to boat!

Maybe we can get a subjective opinion from several people in Bimini

 

[Julian]

We should be able to get someone with the same model and same phone to take readings from the same location...???

 

[Evil Sports]

so much work and doubt for insignificant results??

 

[steined]

so much work and doubt for insignificant results??

UPOD! Under promise and over deliver! That's what I'm hoping for here!

 

[Julian]

@Evil Sports I don't think he said insignificant results...just not objectively measurable results, which is why I suggested others with the same model can test theirs and we can have objective results. @steined - so what brand/model phone do you have?

 

[steined]

@Evil Sports I don't think he said insignificant results...just not objectively measurable results, which is why I suggested others with the same model can test theirs and we can have objective results. @steined - so what brand/model phone do you have?

Galaxy Note 3 and my wife has an iPhone 5. So I could do it on both to increase the chances someone else has the same phone.