Clicking Sounds on your hull

[By Invitation]

I remember a post describing what this is or better yet who it is but I forget. Here in New England in certain harbors at night you hear a clicking sound on your hull. Sometimes it's very loud and I remember that it is some kind of fish which causes this. I ran into some folks while cruising and they asked me if I knew what the sound was and for the life of me I cannot remember. Anyone know the answer?

Thanks

[FrankZ]

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...eas-14709.html

I think this is the thread you are looking for.

[By Invitation]

Bingo!

Thanks FrankZ

[fcsob]

We had the same noise under our bout in Florida, it was barnacles popping.

[cabo_sailor]

Popcorn shrimp??

Here in Tarpon Springs I usually think of that noise as being due to all the bloody barnacles on the pilings (hopefully not my hull).

[AnchorageGuy]

Shrimp. We get it all over the place.

[wolfenzee]

clicking sound on my boat turned out to be my prop turning if it was left out of gear. Not sure if it was worse for the transmission to let it turn than the drag...a 1/4 knot isn't as important to me as possibly, maybe someday haveing a chance of transmission problems, so I leave it in gear.

[btrayfors]

Popcorn shrimp if you're in southern waters. Here in the Chesapeake region and north it's carp. They slap your hull with their tails and catch what comes off.

Right now, they're VERY noisy in the upper Potomac.

Bill

[At First Sight]

I love the idea of the sounds being shrimp, but we are way up river on the Potomac and the sound it not so much a "crackling" as a loud slow, loud clicking. The noise also seems to come from not only the hull but on the deck as well. Very strange! We heard it for over an hour this morning, but nothing right now-- but it will be back!

[At First Sight]

Thanks everyone for the replies! We are new to living aboard and the cruisers forum and appreciate the community spirit and willingness to share information and advice! We look forward to learning even more from experienced cruisers as we continue on this exciting adventure.

[Cheechako]

on the west coast it's shrimp....

[ryon]

Pop! Pop! "What was that?"

I hear it too!" You could almost feel the sound, coming up thru the wooden deck of our 70 year-old brig Pilgrim. We only get to sail her a couple of weeks a year, and any unusual noise like this could mean real trouble.

Pop! "It seems to be coming from about here" one said, as I ran below to find one of our crew putting up a roll of waterproofing plastic over his bunk with a staple gun.



Well, I thought it was funny!

[zboss]

Its the Kracken! Coming for you!

[gordwedman]

Originally Posted by By Invitation

I remember a post describing what this is or better yet who it is but I forget. Here in New England in certain harbors at night you hear a clicking sound on your hull. Sometimes it's very loud and I remember that it is some kind of fish which causes this. I ran into some folks while cruising and they asked me if I knew what the sound was and for the life of me I cannot remember. Anyone know the answer?

Thanks

Here in San Diego you hear clicking all the time, day and night. Quite noticeable. I have been told it is shrimp and that they hang around the pilings.
Never heard such noises in the PNW.

[SkiprJohn]

Originally Posted by By Invitation

I remember a post describing what this is or better yet who it is but I forget. Here in New England in certain harbors at night you hear a clicking sound on your hull. Sometimes it's very loud and I remember that it is some kind of fish which causes this. I ran into some folks while cruising and they asked me if I knew what the sound was and for the life of me I cannot remember. Anyone know the answer?

Thanks

Do a search for "pistol shrimp." That's your answer unless of course you have a riveted hull and the rivets are coming undone.