Boats running their engine outside 8 till 8 rules

[roland elsdon]

Noise over water can travel miles. Back in the day there was an unexpected pint waiting for me at the globe pub just as they were closing. It was November and a cold frosty night. My friends had heard me open up the motor coming out of solbury three as I picked up the butty. That is about 3 miles.

 

[MtB]

5 minutes ago, roland elsdon said:

Noise over water can travel miles.

 

Never mind that, I find a boat running it's well-silenced engine half a mile away can be clearly heard inside mine, the engine noise being transmitted via the water. A deep and unpleasant throb coming up through the hull, even if the sound cannot be heard outside on the wind.

[Arthur Marshall]

34 minutes ago, MtB said:

 

Never mind that, I find a boat running it's well-silenced engine half a mile away can be clearly heard inside mine, the engine noise being transmitted via the water. A deep and unpleasant throb coming up through the hull, even if the sound cannot be heard outside on the wind.

Same here. Even worse late at night. You stick your head on the pillow to try to get to sleep, and there it is. Even when there's nothing to be heard elsewhere in the boat,  you can't escape the noise through the hull.

[ditchcrawler]

3 minutes ago, Arthur Marshall said:

Same here. Even worse late at night. You stick your head on the pillow to try to get to sleep, and there it is. Even when there's nothing to be heard elsewhere in the boat,  you can't escape the noise through the hull.

That is so true. Last trip I got up looking for the noise source and couldn't hear a thing

[Tony1]

3 hours ago, Triumph-Rat said:

Me neither, but if I end up on the water I damn sure want to know what is acceptable and what isn't before I get off the dock.  This is a big thing for me, a potential complete life change at 52yo and I want it to go right!!

 

I don't listen to music in my house and haven' done for years because my neighbors are so uptight that if they get a whiff of tunes they are banging on the door.

 

I am looking for somewhere to fit in, because I sure don't where I am.

 

Not looking to rock boats, just have a bit of peace.

 

I think this is a case of getting off on the wrong foot, and giving an initial impression of yourself that might not be the full reality.

The thing is that loud noise, engines or music, is a really, really hot button subject for many boaters, and many of us do find it very annoying and stressful, especially when they dont know how long its going to carry on for. Noise nuisance is a huge negative experience for most people, and your initial post could be interpreted as you not caring whether you might caused others to get stressed out. 

This is a community that probably cherishes the peace and quiet of nature more than most, so your initial statement that you will 'play your tunes whenever you want' did give the impression that you dont care if you upset and anger the people around you.

I'm sure that initial impression is not the full truth- after all, you avoid playing music at the moment so as to avoid angering your neighbour- so you're clearly not as selfish as that initial post might have made you seem. It's an initial perception thing based on a couple of paragraphs, but unfortunately it was concerning one of the most sensitive issues to many boaters. 

 

What I would suggest is you try to work with what you have here.

Do bear in mind that this forum is the single greatest source of information about waterways life that you will ever find.

The search function will find you information and discussions about almost every aspect of boat life and equipment that you possibly need.

Some of the posters are easily irritated, and some take themselves too seriously (for my own personal tastes anyway)- but they will give advice as well.

And if you do get a boat, I can guarantee you are going to need the information that you can get here- if you come across in a more neutral way about the really hot topics.

 

No offence intended, and not wishing to patronise or anything, but just a thought.

 

Edited October 7, 2021 by Tony1

[Dave Potter]

14 hours ago, Triumph-Rat said:

Really???

 

I am just trying to understand why it is such a bad thing.

 

I have stated that I like my music but would level it down as I would here if I thought it would offend, to get people telling me that I said I would play it as loud as I want when I want.  That is not what I said, read the post before attacking your keyboard.

 

Is the sound of an engine very loud?  I do not know, this is why I ask questions.

 

And to offer me an impromptu swim without even knowing me, I think some of community are showing their true colors with that one and if  do get a boat you are welcome to try 😄.

Fair enough, sentence one was not what I actually said (and therefore within my remit) but sentence two explained the issue, thankyou.

Thankyou, a well thought out and articulated answer.

you will fit in anywhere 1 because you say you would lower the sound if it offended anyone and anyone i think there is a great community on the canals and if you are willing to put sume thing in than you will do just fine no swimming    

[doratheexplorer]

12 hours ago, MtB said:

 

Never mind that, I find a boat running it's well-silenced engine half a mile away can be clearly heard inside mine, the engine noise being transmitted via the water. A deep and unpleasant throb coming up through the hull, even if the sound cannot be heard outside on the wind.

And this is why a quiet genny on the bank is a much better option.  The sound just doesn't carry.

[cuthound]

Two relevant anecdotes.

 

Many moons ago I was moored up one night when someone knocked on my boat. I opened the stern door and a bloke said "do you mind if I run my engine after 8:00pm, my batteries are knackered and I want to watch the football?"

 

I replied "why not come aboard and we can watch it together". He went back to his boat and brought back a few bottles of beer. We are still in touch today.

 

One sunny evening we were moored on the Leicester Branch in total solitude. In the distance I heard what I thought was the sound of a slow revving engine, perhaps a Bolinder. As the noise got closer it was apparent it was not an engine, then as it got closer again it became appaerent it was music, played loudly. 

 

After a short while it became clear the music was the Rolling Stones, Sympathy for tne Devil, playing really loudly.

 

Eventually a boat came into view, perhaps half an hour after I first heard it. I asked the steerer if he could turn the music down a bit, but he couldn't hear me.

 

[MtB]

3 minutes ago, cuthound said:

Eventually a boat came into view, perhaps half an hour after I first heard it. I asked the steerer if he could turn the music down a bit, but he couldn't hear me.

 

He probably assumed you were asking him to SLOW DOWN!!
 

 

 

[Mike Todd]

16 hours ago, roland elsdon said:

Noise over water can travel miles. Back in the day there was an unexpected pint waiting for me at the globe pub just as they were closing. It was November and a cold frosty night. My friends had heard me open up the motor coming out of solbury three as I picked up the butty. That is about 3 miles.

 

That effect of sound over water links to a number of performance locations which are built with a lake between the stage and audience.

 

Note also that humans have understood this phenomenon for a very long time - the NT has stories of Jesus preaching from a boat to a large crowd - who clearly were able to hear him well.

[Alan de Enfield]

31 minutes ago, Mike Todd said:

the NT has stories of Jesus preaching from a boat to a large crowd - who clearly were able to hear him well.

 

National Trust ?

[doratheexplorer]

25 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:

 

National Trust ?

Nigel Tufnel?

[GUMPY]

8 hours ago, doratheexplorer said:

Nigel Tufnel?

He would have it turned up to 11

 

[IanD]

14 hours ago, Loddon said:

He would have it turned up to 11

 

The oven in our old house went up to 11. Always caused a laugh at parties when people -- as is traditional -- gathered in the kitchen after a few drinks...

[Bewildered]

A couple of years ago we were moored on a visitors moorings, the opposite bank being permit holders moorings.

We’d been out most of the day, returning early evening, perhaps 5 O’clock. Decided to run the genny on the bank as it is quieter than the engine. After around 15 mins I heard some shouting, I went out to see what the commotion was about to find a very abusive man on the permit holders moorings shouting at me to turn my genny off as it was interfering with his TV reception. 
I happily complied with his request (even though it was quite obnoxiously put) I packed the genny away and started my engine which had at the time a slight exhaust blow. I went back in the boat and noticed the man fuming on his back deck looking daggers in the direction of my boat. I ran the engine until the batteries were fully charged and I had plenty of hot water. I switched off at 5 to 8.

Had the man originally asked in a more civilised manor I would probably have cruised off and charged elsewhere.

 

In life you get what you give. And small victories make it interesting (even if they are a little petty)