Help identifying an odd sound!

[Hunter1]

Hello fellow boaters 👋

 

This oddity has been driving me mad and proved impossible to diagnose so far - so this is my first ever post to the boating hive mind...! Hoping some of you will have some suggestions for me - I'm totally open to ideas, however strange!

 

There's a noise that sounds like a release of air (a short expel, as if from something with a diaphragm) (like a quick and relatively quiet - ahem - fart  💨). It happens pretty randomly, and not consistently. Perhaps a few times a day. 

 

My main concern of course is the gas system, as it's the only thing (I can think of) that is pressurised. I have tried turning off the gas for long periods, and the sound still crops up. (Perhaps slightly less, but it's hard to say). Recently passed BSC - though of course this doesn't guarantee too much!

 

The only other thing with pressure would be the water system, but there's no drips I can find, and the pump isn't going off to indicate loss of pressure (apart from the occasional ghostly moment, of course).

 

It is possible its just the boat creaking about... Contracting with the weather. But I can let go of the niggle I'm overlooking something - either serious or completely daft. It's coming from the kitchen area - where there's the most things going on in terms of gas, water, and also joinery/bulkheads.

In case relevant or useful - I'm on a 1995 Liverpool Boat, 50ft, with gas boiler (Morco), gas cooking appliances and 12v fridge (currently sitting unused). I also have a calorifier tank in the engine bay. Have lived aboard for 4 years, and think I've heard an occasional similar noise but it's noteworthy atm!

 

Hoping someone has randomly had a similarly farty boat at some point! 

 

 

[Jen-in-Wellies]

Welcome to the forum.

Do you have a cassette toilet? The cassettes have a pressure relief valve that act in the way you described. Often with a full tank, awaiting a trip to the elsan. They have a manual pressure release button too. Surprising amount can build up. You really don't want a full cassette exploding. 😬

[Momac]

We chartered a boat in Greece and noticed a strange sound. Thought it might be batteries gassing but turned out it was fish picking food of the hull.

Anyhow in the OP's case I doubt its the fish.

[Hunter1]

44 minutes ago, Jen-in-Wellies said:

Welcome to the forum.

Do you have a cassette toilet? The cassettes have a pressure relief valve that act in the way you described. Often with a full tank, awaiting a trip to the elsan. They have a manual pressure release button too. Surprising amount can build up. You really don't want a full cassette exploding. 😬

 

Thanks Jen. Good suggestion - but it's not the familiar warning gurgle of the loo - as it's coming from a different area.

There are some gubbins relating to the bath/shower pump in the suspect area though - not sure if it's possible for that to expand/contract somehow 🤔

 

18 minutes ago, Momac said:

We chartered a boat in Greece and noticed a strange sound. Thought it might be batteries gassing but turned out it was fish picking food of the hull.

Anyhow in the OP's case I doubt its the fish.

 

I would be so happy if it was fish! Although unlikely, the sound is in the vicinity of the kitchen drain outlet - so it's not totally out of the question! If I can't get to the bottom of the issue perhaps I'll just imagine some clumsy fishing getting a snack. 

[Tony Brooks]

Just now, Hunter1 said:

Thanks Jen. Good suggestion - but it's not the familiar warning gurgle of the loo - as it's coming from a different area.

There are some gubbins relating to the bath/shower pump in the suspect area though

 

What type/make/model of shower pump? Some are an ordinary bilge pump in a plastic box, and some bilge pump run for a few seconds every so often, measure the current drawn, and if above a certain value keep running until the water has all gone so the current falls. If your shower pump is like this, it might explain the noise, but I would have thought a whirr rather than a fart.

[bizzard]

Haunted, needs to be exorcised.

[tree monkey]

PRV on the water tank?

[Hunter1]

33 minutes ago, Tony Brooks said:

 

What type/make/model of shower pump? Some are an ordinary bilge pump in a plastic box, and some bilge pump run for a few seconds every so often, measure the current drawn, and if above a certain value keep running until the water has all gone so the current falls. If your shower pump is like this, it might explain the noise, but I would have thought a whirr rather than a fart.

 

Ah, interesting. My shower pump isn't auto though (which sounds like what you're describing) - so it's either just 'on' (pumping) or 'off' (no leccy being supplied)... So I think that rules that out unless I'm missing something... Thank you for the suggestion though.

 

18 minutes ago, tree monkey said:

PRV on the water tank?

 

I got very acquainted with the PRV in January - just when we all love doing a bit of plumbing 😅🥶... It's down in the engine bay (far, far away), and currently I'm not much using the calorifier - might be worth me opening up that loop of my water system to check it's not a little quirk that'd developed down the line from the PRV.  Good suggestion - thanks!

 

26 minutes ago, bizzard said:

Haunted, needs to be exorcised.

 

This is clearly the truth of the matter. I'll call a priest. 

[magpie patrick]

I get a similar noise in my flat if the wind is blowing across the bathroom window at the right speed - took me a long time to work out what it was. My flat doesn't move, your boat presumably does, which would add another variable. 

 

Should perhaps add my bathroom window is always open a crack for passive ventilation, other windows are not. 

[MtB]

Do you have a dog?

 

Or a wi..... 

 

No forget that bit.

[Gybe Ho]

1 hour ago, tree monkey said:

PRV on the water tank?

 

Or the reverse, as the calorifier cools might there be splurty ingest of water via the main water pump to equalize pressure?

[StephenA]

Fridge?

[Tony Brooks]

Rather late in the year for it, but gas from rotting leaves collecting under the hull and escaping to the side(s)

[magnetman]

Boat sinks. 

 

These can act as a megaphone for sounds outside the Boat. 

 

So if there was a noise being made by a flora or a fauna close to the waste outlet they it could be magnified. 

 

 

Does it sound the same if the plug is in the sink? 

 

I had a coot nest under a pontoon adjacent to the Boat once and when the chicks hatched I thought they had come aboard as the sound was so loud. 

 

 

11 hours ago, Hunter1 said:

 

 Although unlikely, the sound is in the vicinity of the kitchen drain outlet - so it's not totally out of the question!

 

[Hunter1]

On 03/11/2024 at 20:51, magpie patrick said:

I get a similar noise in my flat if the wind is blowing across the bathroom window at the right speed - took me a long time to work out what it was. My flat doesn't move, your boat presumably does, which would add another variable. 

 

Should perhaps add my bathroom window is always open a crack for passive ventilation, other windows are not. 

 

Certainly could be some sort of quirk like this - thanks for the suggestion... 

 

On 03/11/2024 at 21:40, Gybe Ho said:

 

Or the reverse, as the calorifier cools might there be splurty ingest of water via the main water pump to equalize pressure?

 

Hmmm, yeh... Mostly noticing the sound in the morning (dawn) and around 11pm/midnight - so I do wonder if there's something about the water system cooling/warming and causing the sound when the temp is warming up and dropping.

 

On 03/11/2024 at 21:42, StephenA said:

Fridge?

 

My fridge is off atm - but it's quite old and I did wonder if the noise could be related to it somehow. Tbh I have no idea about the innards of a fridge, and if anything could expand / contract / release in their to cause the sound. If anyone have any fridge knowledge that could provide an insight, please be my guest...!

 

 

On 04/11/2024 at 07:11, magnetman said:

Boat sinks. 

 

These can act as a megaphone for sounds outside the Boat. 

 

So if there was a noise being made by a flora or a fauna close to the waste outlet they it could be magnified. 

 

 

Does it sound the same if the plug is in the sink? 

 

I had a coot nest under a pontoon adjacent to the Boat once and when the chicks hatched I thought they had come aboard as the sound was so loud. 

 

 

I read: "boats sink" - and panicked a little 😅 

I'll put the plug in tonight and see if it helps! Thanks!

[ditchcrawler]

9 hours ago, Hunter1 said:

 

Certainly could be some sort of quirk like this - thanks for the suggestion... 

 

 

Hmmm, yeh... Mostly noticing the sound in the morning (dawn) and around 11pm/midnight - so I do wonder if there's something about the water system cooling/warming and causing the sound when the temp is warming up and dropping.

 

 

My fridge is off atm - but it's quite old and I did wonder if the noise could be related to it somehow. Tbh I have no idea about the innards of a fridge, and if anything could expand / contract / release in their to cause the sound. If anyone have any fridge knowledge that could provide an insight, please be my guest...!

 

 

 

I read: "boats sink" - and panicked a little 😅 

I'll put the plug in tonight and see if it helps! Thanks!

Do you have any of those 5lt bottle of water onboard, a half full one will make noises with changes in temperature

[Gybe Ho]

11 hours ago, Hunter1 said:

 

Hmmm, yeh... Mostly noticing the sound in the morning (dawn) and around 11pm/midnight - so I do wonder if there's something about the water system cooling/warming and causing the sound when the temp is warming up and dropping.

 

 

Do you cut power to the main water pump at night to prevent random activation at night? What size is your main cold water accumulator?

[beerbeerbeerbeerbeer]

I’ve a plastic fender,

Every now and again it’s squeezed between boat and bank,

it lets out a slow ‘phsssh’,

took me awhile to realise what it was,

 

you got any old plastic fenders hanging?

and has one split?

[beerbeerbeerbeerbeer]

I’m bumping this back up because I want to know the answer,

I reckon I’m right you see 😃 and they have a farting fender

[Hunter1]

On 06/11/2024 at 10:06, ditchcrawler said:

Do you have any of those 5lt bottle of water onboard, a half full one will make noises with changes in temperature

 

I actually pulled all bottles of liquid from the suspect area thinking the same thing... No joy! Thank you for the suggestion though.

 

On 06/11/2024 at 11:58, Gybe Ho said:

 

Do you cut power to the main water pump at night to prevent random activation at night? What size is your main cold water accumulator?

 

Hi Gybe - I replaced my pump and accumulator in January (when the pump broke - learning how to plumb was a lovely start to the year 😂), and it almost never goes off now. So, no, I don't switch if off at night. The accumulator is 5L - what are you thinking?

 

On 06/11/2024 at 14:32, beerbeerbeerbeerbeer said:

I’ve a plastic fender,

Every now and again it’s squeezed between boat and bank,

it lets out a slow ‘phsssh’,

took me awhile to realise what it was,

 

you got any old plastic fenders hanging?

and has one split?

On 07/11/2024 at 16:21, beerbeerbeerbeerbeer said:

I’m bumping this back up because I want to know the answer,

I reckon I’m right you see 😃 and they have a farting fender

 

I'm afraid it can't be this as I'm fenderless - they nearly tripped me into the canal too many times! (Well, on the sides anyway.) Sorry Beer!

[Tony Brooks]

Does the pontoon have plastic or rubber fender strip along its edge. I noticed odd noises when moving inside caused the boat to rock and rub up and down on the fender strip, but more a long squeal than a F-rt

[magnetman]

 

 

It could be an inhabitant or uninvited guest aboard the Boat. 

 

Potentially a flatulent rodent.

 

Having said that generally they are not capable of producing particularly loud sounds. 

 

There may be exceptions. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Might there be nackered old tins of beans which have fallen down the back of a cupboard and ended up rusting away in the bilges thus attracting the visitors? 

 

 

[Momac]

Reminds me of a friend who took his car for investigation of a broken suspension . Turned out the rattle was a cassette tape in the glove box.

Also reminds me of someone who had a Mink on board . All sorts of means were tried to get rid of it but all failed. Eventually the Mink got  bored and moved on.  

 

 

 

 

[Hunter1]

2 hours ago, Tony Brooks said:

Does the pontoon have plastic or rubber fender strip along its edge. I noticed odd noises when moving inside caused the boat to rock and rub up and down on the fender strip, but more a long squeal than a F-rt

 

I'm a cc-er - so whatever the sound is, I'm taking it round with me

 

2 hours ago, magnetman said:

It could be an inhabitant or uninvited guest aboard the Boat. 

 

Potentially a flatulent rodent.

 

Having said that generally they are not capable of producing particularly loud sounds. 

 

There may be exceptions. 

 

Might there be nackered old tins of beans which have fallen down the back of a cupboard and ended up rusting away in the bilges thus attracting the visitors? 

 

The sound does not appear to produce any particular smell, though perhaps rat farts are neutral in odour.

 

21 minutes ago, Momac said:

Reminds me of a friend who took his car for investigation of a broken suspension . Turned out the rattle was a cassette tape in the glove box.

Also reminds me of someone who had a Mink on board . All sorts of means were tried to get rid of it but all failed. Eventually the Mink got  bored and moved on.  

 

 

 

 

Cute. I hope it's a mink. A farting mink, looking for a lost cassette tape. 

[ditchcrawler]

Just now, Hunter1 said:

Cute. I hope it's a mink. A farting mink, looking for a lost cassette tape. 

They do stink