[C320-list] A High Pitched Whine Noise

[Annie Bennett]

Could it be the pss seal needing burping?  Assume not or someone else  
would have suggested it.

Annie Bennett
Topcat 1073


On 11/09/2010, at 2:04 AM, "Karl Mielenhausen _/)"  
<C320 at suddenlink.net> wrote:

> I had anti-fouling applied to the prop (fixed, 3-blade) and shaft at  
> the last haulout. Immediately observed the same sort of high pitched  
> whine between 1100-1900 rpm. Good news is no barnacles after one year.
>
> Karl Mielenhausen
>
>
> On Fri, 10 Sep 2010 12:57:29 -0400, Utility Email <kswanson123 at comcast.net 
> > wrote:
>
>> We after trucking out C320 all the way from San Diego to Seattle,  
>> spending a week in the Seattle boatyard repainting the bottom,  
>> waxing the hull, and inspection restepping the rig, our beautiful  
>> boat is back in the cool waters of Puget Sound.
>>
>> However, we also have a new sound...
>>
>> When motoring between, say 1800 and 2200 RPM, there is a high  
>> pitched whining sound coming from the shaft area.  The noise is  
>> more like a high pitched whistling or whining sound. The sound is  
>> very high pitched and sharp in tone.
>>
>> After doing a list-server search, I read somewhere that it could  
>> possibly be a high pitched harmonic with our stock 3-bladed  
>> propellor and a "fix" could be to "dull" the leading edges of the  
>> blades. I'm not sure that I buy this explanation/fix without other  
>> input, but I am at a loss for another rational explanation.  Hence,  
>> this is why I am inquiring through our C320 list server.
>>
>> We never heard this sound before in our C320 after operating the  
>> boat for the last year, or any other boat we have had.  Has anyone  
>> else experienced this type of noise coming from the drive train area?
>>
>> A couple of other facts about some basic changes to the boat from  
>> San Diego to Seattle:
>>
>> 1. We cleaned the prop and applied 3 coats of Petit (barnacle  
>> buster) zinc paint to the brightly cleaned bronze 3-bladed prop  
>> during our recommissioning in Seattle. The prop was cleaned with  
>> vinegar and a wire brush to a bright metal finish, no filing or  
>> edges of the prop were sharpened in the cleaning process.
>>
>> 2.  I cleaned out the stock flax shaft packing and installed 2  
>> rings of new 1/4" Gore Tex GFO packing. I adjusted the drip rate to  
>> about 3 drips per minute under power, and we still get high pitched  
>> sound.
>>
>> 3.  I have not checked the engine and shaft alignment yet. I am  
>> thinking of hiring a mechanic to check and realign the shaft to the  
>> engine since the boat was transported from SAN to SEA by truck.  Do  
>> others agree that the engine and shaft should be aligned after  
>> overland trucking of the boat?
>>
>> 4.  New zincs are installed on the propellor shaft and strut. I  
>> doubt this has any affect.
>>
>> 5.  Yesterday we motored for about 5 hours to transit the boat from  
>> the Seattle-based boatyard to our home marina. The high pitched  
>> sound was present when we started and also when we arrived at our  
>> marina.
>>
>> 6.  The engine has about 100 hours on it and it has been well taken  
>> care or and services regularly.
>>
>> If the sound doesn't indicate that there is nothing mechanically  
>> wrong with the boat or drivetrain, then it is just an annoying  
>> sound that I will avoid while operating the engine.  If not, then I  
>> would like to learn about what I should do to fix it.
>>
>> Any and all comments, advice, and/or a fix would be appreciated.   
>> Please weigh in with your experience.
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> Dave Swanson
>> S/V Emily Ann
>> 2007 C320 MK II, No. 1107
>> Mukilteo, WA
>>
>
>
> -- 
> Karl Mielenhausen
> Catalina 320 Hull 690