Mounting Bell on Mizzenmast

[Loquat]

I am trying to mount a bell which has a flat plate on the mizzenmast. Of course the mast, it's round. Any ideas?

[MarkJ]

Thats a good idea. It will ding in 10 knots. Ring in 20 knots. And in a storm you'll think the Fire Brigade has arrived.

[TeddyDiver]

A shaped hardwood block btw the plate and mast..

[Bash]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Thats a good idea. It will ding in 10 knots. Ring in 20 knots. And in a storm you'll think the Fire Brigade has arrived.

When we slam into a big one, Wonderblond calls it a "bellringer." But only if it was big enough to ring our bell.

But yes, it's nice to be able to take it down at times.

[Loquat]

ok wise guys, very funny. The mount would be on the mizzenmist but the bell can be attached when needed, in fog, etc. So a wood or stainless piece to fit and tapped into the mast? Like a mast winch base? Could be as simple as a piece of angle. This is a CG regulation so I am trying to comply.

[cabo_sailor]

What you are looking for is a winch pad. The link is for a Z-spar mast but others are available. It's the pad that is screwed or riveted to the mast to mount a winch.

Z-Spar Winch Pads

Hope this helps,

Rich

[markpierce]

Originally Posted by Loquat

... This is a CG regulation so I am trying to comply.

Fussing with bells is just one reason for having a boat under 12 meters in length.

[hellosailor]

If you don't want to carve a piece of teak or delrin into a fitting--just like a winch pad--you can also take a stick of "plumbers epoxy putty" and mold it up. Grease the mast and the bell or apply a layer of plastic wrap, so you don't wind up epoxying the bell to the mast. Then just glom the stuff in, smooth it out to the right shape, give it ten miinutes to set up and you've molded the part right in place. About $5 for the putty stick.

[Bash]

Originally Posted by Loquat

This is a CG regulation so I am trying to comply.

They never required the bell to be mounted.

[cabo_sailor]

Originally Posted by Bash

They never required the bell to be mounted.

I keep mine in a locker. I doubt if it has seen daylight in years.

Rich

[Bash]

I just checked the online USCG federal regulations manual. Federal Requirements (see page 26)

The Colregs no longer require bells on vessels under 20 meters. The inland water requirements still require a bell over 12 meters, but they are apparently in the process of changing this so that the inland and international requirement line up.

According to the on-line manual, the USCG is exercising its discretion not to enforce the bell requirement under 20 meters until the inland regulations are changed.

[boasun]

Dang, Dang, Dang, I just bought a bell to comply with the regs.

[Bash]

Originally Posted by boasun

Dang, Dang, Dang, I just bought a bell to comply with the regs.

no worries. now you just have to purchase a boat 20' longer to go with your new bell.

[Geoduck]

about 20 years ago the coast guard said that our 6" bells werent big enough so we had to go out and buy 8" bells - I just hung up my cast iron dutch oven with a ballpean hammer on a string the next time they boarded me - it worked! cracked up the boarding party so much they gave up the inspection and went on thier merry way!!

[rcmpegasus]

I have a bell mounted below in the galley. Only use we have for it is when going into a heavy sea. When you hit the big waves it will ring, real big ones cause two rings from the impact. The crew now terms waves as one or two dongers. A double donger really rings all our bells.