Ship's bell

[Jonas]

I received a lovely brass ship's bell as a gift from my wife for the boat that I'm building (21' pocket cruiser "Penguin"). I'm not quite sure where to place it, nor what use I would put it too, besides calling my crew together for drinks. Any suggestions?

[Dave R]

I'd say that's a pretty good use. I wonder if I'll be able to hear it from here. :D

My father gave me one for my little boat, too. I hope I can find some spot for it. Maybe on the mast as long as it doesn't interfere with anything. I think it might make you crazy if the water is a bit wavy and the thing is ringing all the time. I guess some way to silence the clapper would be in order.

[Donn]

They come in handy in fog, and should be close enough to the helm to easily muffle or un-muffle.

[Frank Wentzel]

Jonas

You are required to have a bell for signaling (not that I've ever heard of someone actually using one). So it should be located near the helmsman. ;)

/// Frank ///

[Donn]

I believe the requirement is for an audible signal; horn, or bell, or even whistle.

[Alan D. Hyde]

Good gift. Somehow it sticks in my mind that you need an 8" or bigger bell to meet CG requirements.

But I could be wrong.

I've been wrong before, you know...

Alan

[Bruce Hooke]

I don't know what the rules are on The Lakes but on the ocean if you are at anchor in the fog I believe the rule reads something to the effect of "vessel less than 100 meters at anchor sounds rapid ringing of bell for 5 seconds at intervals of not to exceed 1 minute." Now I don't know of any cruising sailboats that make a habit of have a crew member sitting out on deck all the time and ringing the bell in the fog but it is a good idea (and required in US waters) to have a fog bell to sound should the need arise. Also, in light of this rule it makes sense to have the bell somewhere handy so that if you do need to use it you can do so without running around up on the foredeck...

I'm not familiar with Penguin but unless the mast is reachable from inside the cockpit and unless there is space on the mast below the level at which the bell could catch any ropes or sails I would not mount the bell on the mast. Is there a cabin bulkhead at the forward end of the cockpit where you could mount it? If the mast is stepped in the cockpit then low down on the mast might work well but otherwise I think it is likely to catch sails and ropes if it is on the mast, especially if this boat has a jib of some sort.

[Donn]

"Equipment Requirements - Sound Producing Devices

The navigation rules require sound signals to be made under certain circumstances. Meeting, crossing and overtaking situations described in the Navigation Rules section are examples of when sound signals are required. Recreational vessels are also required to sound signals during periods of reduced visibility.

Vessels 39.4 feet/12 meters or more in length are required to carry on board a whistle or horn, and a bell.



Any vessel less than 39.4 feet/12 meters in length may carry a whistle or horn, or some other means to make an efficient sound signal to signal your intentions and to signal your position in periods of reduced visibility.

Therefore, any vessel less than 39.4 feet/12 meters in length is required to make an efficient sound signal to signal intentions and to signal your position in periods of reduced visibility.

Vessel Operators are required to carry some type of horn or whistle capable of a 4 second blast audible for 1/2 mile for all boats. (Athletic whistles are not acceptable on boats over 39.4 feet/12 meters.)"

http://www.uscgboating.org/reg/reg_fr_equipReq_soundDevice.asp

[Donn]

Here's a link where you can download a .PDF file that is a summary of the State Boating Regulations, state-by-state.

http://www.uscgboating.org/reg/reg_stateboat.asp

[Alan D. Hyde]

What I was thinking of is that boats over 12 meters (LOA ~40 feet) must have a bell with a mouth of at least 200 mm (~7.87 inches).

Of course, Jonas boat is a 21 footer, so he won't be directly affected by this rule.

I assume that the size of the bell's mouth is related to the decibels of sound it produces.

Alan

[Bill Perkins]

Alan maybe the idea is also to enforce a minimum wavelengh for the bells , a good long low note best penetrating the fog .

[ 04-29-2002, 06:58 PM: Message edited by: Bill Perkins ]

[Andrew J. McGrorty]

donnwest,
a little known new york state regulation is for boats over 26 feet loa to have a bell.
capt andy

[Jonas]

Thanks to all who responded. I think what I'll do is construct an easily removable mount on the bulkhead, so that the bell can be hung and used when needed. Seems that it could get in the way on a small boat boat like the Penguin. On the other hand, boat traffic can be quite heavy at times, and a clanging bell might wake up a few of those weekend sailors who have never bothered to learn the "rules of the road." Cheers!