Horns on a sailboat. What's everyone using?

[gwp]

Want to install a sounding device on my 31, but it's something that's never discussed on these boards. Some blow a conchshell, some use a "horn in a can". I'm reluctant to mount anything visible, but can't figure out where one of the small 12 volt horns could be mounted out of sight. Any ideas?

[Ram]

hi GWP

You could put the horn in the air intake vent in the engine room, and it would be out of sight?

[Talbot]

The average pure electric horn is a weak and useless thing. You can get an air horn that works very well (especially if you use one with twin trumpets). Feasible to rig the trumpets on the mast just under the baby stay, and run the air tube inside the mast from wherever you fit the compressor.

[gwp]

Always wondered about that. And I don't have an engine room/vent. Perhaps a big cowl vent on the gunnel with hidden horn facing it? Thanks, still thinking......

[Talbot]

A proper air horn is driven by a compressor. Car compressor versions are 12v and sized about 6 inches x 4 " diameter.

Some horns that look like air horns - are not . They are just buzzer type horns like those fitted to the average car, but with a trumpet on them to make the sound a bit more directional.

The size of the compressor will effect the amount of air and thus how loud the signal.. I know a guy that has his boat fitted with a mains driven 3hp air compressor (the sort you normally use for air powered tools) hooked up to a large trumpet - sounds a bit like Queen mary and definitely keeps him happy!

[Alan Wheeler]

To the rediculouse, I have seen a Mini with a large and I mean LARGE truck airhorn fitted. It was so big, the horn was mounted to the roof of the mini on a roof rack. It was close to the entire length of the cars roof.

GWP, some just carry a small portable horn on a can for use in emergencies. The sort of thing you see at football games and the like. Just point and squirt.

[GordMay]

This seems like a good idea - anyone used the Ecoblast ?

“ECOBLAST” Refillable Air Horn # 50074066
http://216.183.161.213/cgi-bin/htmlo...12689500024570
From “ Unified Marine, Inc. “ (SeaSense): www.seasense.com

Unified Marine
1485 Railhead Blvd #30, Naples FL, 34110
Phone: 239-594-7997
Toll Free: 800-282-8725
Fax: 239-594-3080
Email: Unified@seasense.com

[Thermal]

I agree that electric horns are pretty pathetic, and I have tried an automotive style air horns to remedy that on my motorcycle, but have found that they just dont hold up to the elements very well and stop working in a matter of a few months. This would be even shorter on a boat. I've thought of using an airhorn supplied from a scuba tank on my boat, but haven't found a suitable horn yet.

[Alan Wheeler]

Hey Thermal, just don't use the full skuba tank pressure on the horn. Or it won't be just sound hitting an oncoming boat.

[CSY Man]

Canned pressure horn from West with a plastic trumpet.

PLENTY load and easy to use..Also low maintenance, they should last about 4 to 5 years.

Sailing and motoring around Ft, Lauderdale with plenty of ignorant traffic, I have only used the horn about 10 times in 6 years for real (Potential emergensies)

Have blasted away at jet-skies and other arse holes doing full speed around anchorages however....Many a times..Next step is the flare gun, then the request to congress and senate for mandatory abortion with retroactive force on jet-skiers and their children and grand-children...Rotten genes...Blast 'em away, no mercy.

[gwp]

stop beating around the bush and tell us what you really mean. laugh

[Alan Wheeler]

Hey CSY, I suggest a homing torpedo. They wouldn't see it coming and debree would be so small, it wouldn't be a "hazard to shipping" afterwards.

[CSY Man]

Torpedo comes right after the finger...

[Thermal]

Hey Alan Wheeler,
I have a first stage regulator on the scuba tank, gives me about 140 psi, and it's handy for pumping up bike tires, or pneumatic tools when I don't have a compressor around. Of course, without the regulator, mabe it could become a low budget, non-homing torpedo?

[Alan Wheeler]

Knocking the top off of 3500PSI ain't goin to give ya a torpedo. It's going to give ya a cruise missle. Still, either or will do fine.