Strange 'Clicking / Snapping Noises'. . . Crustaceans, Maybe ?

[bchaps]

This is our first trip...traversing the Atlantic waters from Beaufort, NC to the Florida Keys. When the weather was too challenging for sailing novices (us), we headed back inside to the safety of the ICW.

However, while docked at several marinas along the way and even while at Rodriquez Key, loud distinct clicking or snapping noises were heard, much like the sounds one would expect from a shorting wire or the first hail or rainstorm drops to strike the hatches. After a cursory check of all bilge areas for smoke or fiberglass chomping termites, I began to conclude the noise was outside the hull.

Now, I'm moored in Marathon City Marina...no clicking or snapping! Considering the numbers of crab pots that had to be avoided getting here, could these unknown sounds be from crustaceans clicking and snapping their way along the ocean bottom?

Sleeping quietly now,

Bill

[senormechanico]

Search Pistol Shrimp.

[hummingway]

Shrimp. There has been a discussion of this before and there is some kind of shrimp that click down there.

[colemj]

They are polyestermites and are eating through your hull.

Just kidding! Shrimp like everyone else said.

Mark

[Cotemar]

bchaps,

They are worms in the mud bottom. During their mating season they make that noise.
Sounds like something eating or drilling into your hull
I asked the same question at the Library on Block Island RI US.
The librarian said she gets asked that question all season long.
She had a picture and description of it at her desk to show everyone.

Mark

[Bash]

I'm not buying the mating-worms theory. There's some good science behind the pistol shrimp/snapping shrimp explanation. It's actually the entire family, alhpeidae, of which there are more than 600 identified species.

Latest science is that the snapping shrimp creates the sound via a cavitation bubble. This was published in 2000 in the journal Science, about the snapping shrimp Alpheus heterochaelis. Here's a link: How Snapping Shrimp Snap: Through Cavitating Bubbles | Science/AAAS

[Cotemar]

Bash,

Actually, Seahorses make that same kind of sound when mating also.

Mark

[Worldsaway]

Popcorn shrimp, usually start at 830pm pop off around 1100pm
How is Marathon? pricewise?

[bchaps]

Hello Worldsaway...In addition to being a mild climate in the winter (low 70's during the days), the City Marina mooring here at Marathon is also in my opinion mildly priced at under $300 per a month...and that includes a weekly pump-out while on the mooring ball.

And...thank you all for clarifying my "snapping/cracking" issue. I'm just delighted my hull isn't being attacked by polyestermites!

Bill

[Minggat]

Instead of drifting off into weather ect, can we please maintain the current drift into sounds related to mating?

[zeehag]

krill on your hull make that noise and crabs eat the krill as they shut their claws and eat...lol and.... but the most noisey things are the smallest-- krill(brine shrimp). they come from the translucent sacs found on the pilings and on your hull if ye only get cleaned once per 6 months lol

[dana-tenacity]

Originally Posted by Cotemar

Bash,

Actually, Seahorses make that same kind of sound when mating also.

Mark

Pervert!!!!!!

[ozskipper]

The first time I heard a noise like that, it was barnacles on a wharf we were tied to. It scared the hell out of me. I thought we were sinking!

Cheers
Oz

[IdoraKeeper]

The only snapping and clickling in the PNY is followed by the clanking of the galley drawer when replacing the beer opener.

Todd

[zeehag]

or the top on the chocolate....and the spoon in the drawer....