Ask any builder of modern cruising boats, and they’ll readily confirm that sound levels are extremely important to their owners and potential buyers. Not only at the helm and salon, but also even in the staterooms, particularly since many master staterooms now are located midships, just forward of the engine room. A noisy boat with a lot of decibels coming from the engine or the generator (or both) can make for an uncomfortable cruise; it makes talking difficult at best, and it can lead to a headache and a longing to return to the peace and quiet of home back on land at worst.
The goal is to keep the boat as quiet as possible. Easier said than done. But installing good soundproofing can reduce noise levels significantly. It’s not easy, but new soundproofing in the engine room can cut the noise level in half, which is certainly worth doing. A quieter boat will easily result in longer and happier cruising days on the water. Here’s a great story from Southern Boating about how to do this yourself. Take a look:
https://southernboating.com/soundproofing/
