Ranger 25 diesel clatter

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onwater4fun

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We fell in love :love with the 25 Tug at first sighting. Unfortunately a demo today revealed that the diesel and my ears are not compatible. Sure wish there was a way they could get rid of that diesel clatter. Has anyone found the noise unbearable and if so was is there a solution. :sad
Tug wanabe
 
onthewater4fun

If you're really in love with the tug, order one without the engine and have an aftermarket gas engine installed by a competent marine power shop. I would think an qualified facility could give you an estimate for the motor, controls, instrumentation, and installation fairly easily.

You might also talk to the C-Ranger factory rep directly and see what they would be willing to do.

I have seen an Alaskan Trader Tug equipped with a gas engine as an option to the regular diesel power.

287321.1993.Murphy.Boat.Works.Alaskan.Trader.jpg


(Lots of these different mini-tugs have a big cutsie factor, no?)

Joe.
 
onwater4fun,

Do you know which engine was on the boat you found objectionable?

Most of the boats have had the larger of the two engine options with the earlier ones having a Series I, 125 hp Yanmar and the later ones having the Series II, 110 hp Yanmar. In my limited experience (two boats), the 110 hp Series II is quieter. The noise level on our boat is less than it was on my previous diesel powered boat. We are not finding it objectionable.

The smaller, 75 hp Series II Yanmar would undoubtably be even quieter.

Your use of the word "clatter" is bothersome but it just may be terminology. Makes me think of an engine that needs serious work.

I think the C-25 could use a little more sound deadening material here and there but it seems acceptable as it was delivered. I will probably add some in a spot or two just to make it better.
 
It's been my experience with diesel engines in trucks that they get louder in time also.
 
Like the sound of a Harley, a radial airplane engine, and a Porsche 911... I enjoy the chug, chug of a diesel motor. If you can't learn to appreciate the sound, it will likely grate on you and leave you dissatisfied. Not sure I'd consider a gas engine in the CR-25, since it would definitely affect the resale value.

The Honda on our CD-25 purrs at low speed, and sounds kinda throaty when opened up... I like that sound, too. One of the reasons we picked the GMC diesel pickup was because it was supposed to be quieter than the other two. I used to dislike the sound of a diesel pickup - now, it's music to my ears.

Could this be an acquired taste... er, sound?

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Jim makes several good points, but if your hearing after the operation is such that you can't tolerate that kind of noise maybe you would want to consider a pair of Noise Cancelling Headphones like these from Bose:LINK Sony also makes a pair.

Jim's right about the gas motor having a lower resale value, but will this be your last boat?

Then again, I think I have bought my last boat three times now, so maybe I'm just slowfly and happily dying of "Recurring Two, Three, Four-Foot-itis" ?

Joe.
 
I agree with Jim, maybe it is an acquired taste.......er, sound. I've had 2 diesel pickups, a diesel eighteen wheeler and now have a diesel farm tractor and diesel boat. The concern about the noise will decrease as the fuel cost savings increase.
Dave
 
I think some of you are unaware of this comment onthewater4fun made in another thread:

"First Mate & I fell in love with the Tug but because I have had operations on both my ears diesel sound and I just don't get along."

Aquired tastes for engine noices aside, the new captain may just not be able to listen to the sound.

Joe.
 
I probably should have mentioned at the outset that because of operations on both my ears I cannot tolerate diesel engines. I guess I was hoping the improvements to the engines would alleviate my problem. I do have a diesel in my Cat backhoe loader and being retired I do not run it for long periods of time. In the Backhoe I can wear ear protection but that is not an option while cruising for weeks at a time in a boat, the first mate says I have selective hearing as it is :lol: The dealer did call the C- factory and they kinda just laughed of the possibility of having a gas engine installed in place of the 110 Yanmar. So we will continue to look for options. Any further tips would be appreciated. :idea
 
Sea Wolf":1fvriw36 said:
I think some of you are unaware of this comment onthewater4fun made in another thread:

"First Mate & I fell in love with the Tug but because I have had operations on both my ears diesel sound and I just don't get along."

Aquired tastes for engine noices aside, the new captain may just not be able to listen to the sound.

Joe.
Click to expand...

I certainly was not aware of that and didn't mean to imply that everyone should "learn" to like the sound of a diesel. I have flown airplanes and ridden motorcycles since I was young (not to mention the years as a rock musician), and find the hearing protection necessary to often be less than comfortable (exception being the Bose aviation headsets)... it would certainly diminish the boating experience.

We all have to make decisions on what boat best fits our needs. I was first attracted to this whole power cruising idea after seeing a Nimble Nomad (25' trawler-ish boat), but it could not cruise in the mid-teens (deal-ender). I, too, think the CR-25 is a great looking boat; but, if one can't tolerate the sound, that would be a deal-ender. Additional sound-deadening material might help (http://www.b-quiet.com/), but if the offending sound is a resonance through the hull, it might be time to look at other boats.

Good luck with the boat search.

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
There have been a number of improvements lately in diesel technology. However most advancements are related to efficiency / power etc. not user friendliness. Ignition timing is a biggy from the noise standpoint but not something to mess with due to loss of those other 2 elements. BUT all is not lost, go to the butt mall (internet) and type "sound deadening insulation" into your search engine. There is some great stuff out there up to and including sheet lead! Then see what will fit and go from there. It may not be as painful as it look right now!
Mike on Huda Thunkit
 
Mike-

Bob Austin once wrote a post on sound deadening that included a very elaborate layering design including a layer of lead sheet.

I'll try to find it later (got to go).

Joe.
 
Sea Wolf":2y8wumqk said:
Mike-

Bob Austin once wrote a post on sound deadening that included a very elaborate layering design including a layer of lead sheet.

I'll try to find it later (got to go).

Joe.
Click to expand...

Here's the quote from the thread on "Are 50 HP Suzuki Outboards Unusually Loud?"

Bob Austin (Thataway) wrote:

"I have found the mylar/foam/vinyl/lead/foam/mylar laminate is better than others- If you can add in a layer of 3/4" plywood--it will really quiet it down.....but the plywood is a problem! :D
_________________
 
Having spent the day with Ralph and Donna yesterday it appears that the problem with his ears is not so much the "Sound" of the diesel or the decible level, but more a matter of "Percussion" and "Frequency". The frequency and percussion of the combustion cycle are being transmitted through the air to his skelatal structure (skull and bones..."AAARGH MATEY!) thereby causing internal discomfort, not external. All the sound-deadening material in the world would not insulate him from this. Great ideas though folks! How 'bout I call Jeff Messmer and ask if they'll build an R-25 with a bracket and an outboard????

Charlie Holtom, Sales and Finance,
Wefing's Marine
 
What is sound made up of? Frequency and percussion. I think I would at least check on available products before I made a statement about it not working.
Working on and being associated with Industrial Engines and Gas Turbines into the Thousands of H.P I can tell you that frequency IS absorbable. You will just have to find a product that will fit your application. Now if the engine compartment is so tightly configured as to make insulating impractical that may be another matter.
I'm not trying to be obstinate here, just trying to help you sell a boat!
Mike on Huda Thunkit
 
Having spent thousands of hours piloting small boats with Yanmar diesels I have found the best antidote to the "clatter" is not to leave them at idle and unloaded for long. Run up the rpm's a little and a lot of that noise becomes much more bearable. Near redline can be pretty bad too but midrange they are usually pretty decent. I kind of like the sound, and don't really object that much to the smell.
 
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