Horn

cdory25 · Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 9:30 am Post subject: Horn

My horn sounds like a sick duck. I have read that it can be fixed to sound like new by soaking the diaphragm with spay oil (WD40 or equal). I just don't know exactly where the little bugger is.

TIA
Blues Cruiser

Will-C · Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 10:05 am Post subject: Horn

We have a 23 Venture ours is under the visor/brow above the front windsheilds. A new horn are pretty reasonable. Maybe spring for a new one would be a consideration. Never know when you might really need to be sure the horn will work right?
D.D

cdory25 · Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 10:47 am Post subject:

Thanks!

ghone · Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 2:31 pm Post subject:

Wow it must be weak if you can't find it when you press the switch. Mine sounds like a working towboat's horn. It's under the brow in the middle. May need a swap out. George

hardee · Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2013 11:40 pm Post subject:

I have heard a good dose of WD-40 will fix that, but have not tried it. Look under the brow, and carry a back up. Canned air, a human powered plastic type, (my fater-in-law used to carry a 3ft piece of conduit) or a conch shell.

I replaced my hailer/fog horn speaker before I knew about the WD-40 trick.

Harvey
SleepyC Moon

Robert H. Wilkinson · Posted: Sat Apr 20, 2013 10:53 am Post subject:

When I get out into open water away from other boats I usually give my horn a short test blast every time I go out. This helps keep it from seizing up and comfirms it is working.

Regards, Rob

c-ness · Posted: Sat Apr 20, 2013 11:05 am Post subject:

When we first got our GB, the horn was pathetic. I checked with the GB folks and the told me that most air horns have a fitting to receive oil. Most of the time the fitting is red. I found the fitting, added a couple of drops of 3in1 oil and voila! What a sound.

hardee · Posted: Sat Apr 20, 2013 5:53 pm Post subject:

Sunbeam · Posted: Sat Apr 20, 2013 6:43 pm Post subject:

hardee · Posted: Sat Apr 20, 2013 6:54 pm Post subject:

Sunbeam,

Thank you for the correction. I see this used very infrequently around the marina. At the Ferry dock, yes. I have used it rarely, like when seeing the top of a mast coming down the fairway, and I am waiting at the intersection to enter, and it looks like that mast is starting to come my way, but I know that skipper cannot see me from behind the 40+foot cruiser in the intervening slip.

Harvey
SleepyC Moon

dotnmarty · Posted: Sat Apr 20, 2013 7:00 pm Post subject:

Captains Cat · Posted: Sat Apr 20, 2013 10:11 pm Post subject:

hardee · Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2013 1:39 am Post subject:

Life is rough and then............
There is Reality Shocked

Harvey
SleepyC Moon

cdory25 · Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 10:05 am Post subject:

I guess I'll probably be buying a new horn(s). I did the WD 40 trick and it went from the sound of a sick duck (goose actually) to the sound of a Fiat! I need a foghorn. Anyone recommend a good online source? Thanks!

NewMoon · Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 10:33 am Post subject:

If you want a robust deep sound without spending a lot of money, you might consider the FIAMM Fultone II. We've had two of them, and I haven't heard a small boat horn that comes close. It is a little more complex, and takes more space than the small electric horns, however. Here's a link:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=FIAMM+fultone+II&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3AFIAMM+fultone+II

Our boat was built with one, and it lasted 11-12 years, even mounted improperly - horizontally. Make sure the horns are mounted tilted downward, so that salt spray doesn't get trapped in the horns. Got our second one on eBay for $130.