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ianhef · 03-06-2010, 18:01

Hello

We have just recently moved onboard our 36ft steel cutter, for the past two years she has been sitting on a mooring, for the 20 years prior to that she was sailing around the world in the hands of a very capable couple who owned her from new.

My question is this. I have noticed that when it is very quiet I can hear a constant crackling type sound. This has me extremely worried as I'm terrified of corrosion, stray currents, electrolysis etc (mostly because I don't understand it or know much about it). My previous boats have all been wood, I have never heard this crackling sound.

To be honest it has always been there, I remember quiet evenings on the mooring wondering what it was. I've disconnected all the batteries and the sound persists. I'm hoping someone is going to tell me all metal boats make this sound and its just the annodes doing their job? A racer next-door on an all carbon fibre job tried to convince me of this, I'm hoping someone out there can confirm this?

If not, if it is the dreaded electrolysis or some other such problem what do I do? Metal boats are a whole new ball game for me.

Any help much appreciated, I may even get a good night sleep! Its a bit of a worry.

Hef

Vasco · 03-06-2010, 18:02

The dreaded pistol shrimp again!!!

ianhef · 03-06-2010, 18:19

Pistol Shrimp? Are they dangerous? Any ideas?

Sailmonkey · 03-06-2010, 18:22

our fiberglass boat also crackles.......and so does my dive gear when there are shellfish and shrimp around.....come to think of it so does the rubber dinghy!!

DeepFrz · 03-06-2010, 18:33

Apparently they can break your finger.

ianhef · 03-06-2010, 18:41

All very helpful guys but seriously, I haven't slept since moving onboard as I'm convinced the hull is being eaten away by stray current/electrolysis/galvonic corrosion or anything else you care to mention. Is the crackling normal? Please someone just tell me I'm being paranoid.