General Info: Crackling Noises Coming From Bilge Area

[Sailing Off]

Hello,
We have a 2007 Lagoon 440 Owners Version. There is a crackling noise coming from the bilge area and/or the bulkheads adjacent to the bilge area on the starboard (owners) side. This may sound odd, but it almost sounds like a mouse trying to scratch its way thru a wall. At first we thought is may be small creatures eating any growth on the bottom, but is seems to localized to just the bilge area. We have checked the entire area and cannot seem to find the origin of the noise. We were thinking maybe a leak in a water line and we were hearing the water drops hitting the hull, but it doesn't really sound like water, and no leaks.

Has anyone had a similar issue that might be able to point us in the right direction?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
John

[Don C L]

I often hear crackling noises too, and in my case they are little shrimp snapping at things (or so I am told because I have never actually witnessed it under a microscope.)

[Sailing Off]

Hello,
We have a 2007 Lagoon 440 Owners Version. There is a crackling noise coming from the bilge area and/or the bulkheads adjacent to the bilge area on the starboard (owners) side. This may sound odd, but it almost sounds like a mouse trying to scratch its way thru a wall. At first we thought is may be small creatures eating any growth on the bottom, but is seems to localized to just the bilge area. We have checked the entire area and cannot seem to find the origin of the noise. We were thinking maybe a leak in a water line and we were hearing the water drops hitting the hull, but it doesn't really sound like water, and no leaks.

Has anyone had a similar issue that might be able to point us in the right direction?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
John

[BlueH2Obound]

I would carefully inspect all the attach points (tabbing) between the bulkheads and the hull. Look for broken tabbing, and any signs of chafing or movement between various components. Often sounds like you are describing can occur when there is movement between components of the hull.

[jcapo]

Originally Posted by Don C L

I often hear crackling noises too, and in my case they are little shrimp snapping at things (or so I am told because I have never actually witnessed it under a microscope.)

Those sounds are probably from pistol shrimp, aka: popgun shrimp.

[Ryban]

Almost certainly shrimp -- where are you located?

I freaked out the first time I heard these noises on my boat, and they quickly became a comforting white noise to fall asleep to.

I'm not sure I hear them here in Monterey, CA, though, but I'm not living on the boat. Definitely heard them throughout the tropics.

[h20man]

Almost certainly pistol shrimp.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkY_mSwboMQ

[Chotu]

It's the shrimp. Freaks everyone out the first time you notice them.

[Searles]

Most definitely the dreaded polyester mite ,widely distributed where fibreglass boats are known to be ,only solution known is to have a wooden boat .⛵️⚓️

[The Yacht Rigger]

Definitely just the sealife. Shrimp etc.
Wait until you have a Toadfish nearby.... those have extra special sound effects!