Soundproofing Deck, Floor or Hatch in a Boat or Yacht

Marine soundproofing and insulation for deck, floor and hatch in boats and yachts
If the soundproofing of a deck, floor or hatch is not sufficient enough it is almost certain because of the lack of mass in the used materials, wood or polyester for example. To soundproof these parts of a boat or yacht you need to use a soundproofing such as Isomat TS, mass loaded vinyl, in combination with a sound insulation product. Especially when low frequent engine noise is an issue, mass, Isomat, is needed to get good results. On this page we describe marine solutions to soundproof a deck, wheelhouse floor, engine hatch and cover.

Soundproofing the floor in the wheelhouse or cabin
When building a vessel, ideally the floor in the wheelhouse or cabin would be decoupled from the frame (hull) with vibration insulating products, such as Polypress Strips. With these strips vibrations originating from the engine, machinery or propellers, can be isolated. If the deck or floor is already in place , you can soundproof the floor by adding mass to the floor.

The best way to go about is by applying Isomat KE. The weight of the Isomat soundproofs a light weight structure, such as a wooden deck or floor. The more weight, or mass, you add, the better the soundproofing result. We recommend to use an Isomat type with a weight of 14 kg/m², to be glued with Contact Adhesive. You can choose between the Isomat KE and TS. The latter is mostly used in luxurious yachts because of the composition and CE certification. (You will need to cover both products with a carpet or flooring).

Soundproofing an engine hatch or cover
Some hatch or engine covers are a part of the surrounding deck or floor and therefore cannot be soundproofed on the outside, because the hatch could protrude from the floor. The thing with soundproofing using Isomat (mass) is that it does not matter on which side you apply the Isomat. As long as the weight of a floor or hatch increases it’s fine. In case of soundproofing a hatch, which is part of a deck or floor, you can also apply the product from underneath, or from the inside. The result is the same as on the outside. Soundproofing a hatch can also be done with Isomat KE or TS.

If the engine is directly underneath a hatch or cover, as shown in the picture, the finishing touch would be to apply a sound insulation such as Merfocell PU, also shown in the picture, on top of the Isomat. This will increase the soundproofing of engine noise even more. You can also use Merfocom to soundproof an engine hatch, or cover, or the underneath of a floor. This product is a Two-in-One combination product that soundproofs and absorbs engine noise.

How to wheelhouse acoustics
To improve the acoustic climate inside the wheelhouse you can mount Akotherm SF or Acousticcell VSP to the ceiling, as a headliner. This product reduces the sound pressure in the cabin or wheelhouse by absorbing engine noise.

Tips for a more comfortable and quiet boat ride
On our Tips page you can find more guides to insulate vessels, see our section Boats & Yachts.

Marine solutions and products to soundproofing deck, floor or hatch

Marine solutions: Soundproofing deck, floor or hatch