Fog Horns - any point?

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BlueSkyNick

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I am sure we all carry our hand held hooter with spare canister, or the pump up version.

I also bought a loud hailer speaker from a boat jumble for all of one pound, which can be wired up to the VHF to produce fog signals automatically. Haven't fitted it yet - I am thinking about just having a simple connector to plug it in when needed.

But then I thought, why bother ?

If one is unlucky enough for the fog to descend when approaching or in shipping lanes, I hardly imagine any sound signals being heard on a supertanker doing 20kts whose bridge is 100ft up and fully enclosed - it's all down to radar and keeping out of the way.

Local/coastal sailing it might be worth sounding signals to warn other boats, but would they all respond? take any notice? be able to work out where you are?

Does anybody sound the correct signals in fog?
 
We carry the usual selection of empty and rusty refill cans and a red plastic horn, never used in anger! In fog and short handed we are too busy keeping visual and radar watch, only useful as occupational therapy for surplus crew and honking at people who make to much wash!
 
It's only a foghorn when used in fog, the rest of the time it's a sound signal.

... and of course you don't need it, just like you don't need a cone, an anchor ball, navigation lights and that hot topic of the moment, flares.

Captain Calamity armed with nought but his AA book comes to mind!
 
I carry one that you blow! .. and that's all!! Havent had to use it in anger yet, but I would if the fog came down.

Agree about the big ships - the chances of them hearing are slim to nil - the days of them slowing down and posting someone on the bow to look out and listen seem to be long gone, (unless someone knows different). However, they will almost certainly see you on the radar in the calm seas that are usual when it's foggy.

My Standard Horizon VHF has a facility to automate a foghorn, (I guess that's what's prompted your question as you seem to be working on it at the moment).

I might live to regret my words, but I dont think so.
 
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Local/coastal sailing it might be worth sounding signals to warn other boats, but would they all respond? take any notice? be able to work out where you are?



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Yes, yes and yes.

Of course ships won't hear. But if you are in an area with other small boats about then sound signals are important.

I recently did a seven hour passage in thick fog in just such an area. I was exchanging signals most of the way with other small boats, including other yachts and also fishing boats, one of which had fixed nets laid and was warning approaching craft with white flares when necessary. The sound signals were essential aids to work out my position in relation to other boats. I assume they were using mine for the same purpose.

Of course, your insurers might also take an interest if you suffer collision damage in fog and are shown to have ignored the collision regulations......
 
Just about as useless as flares! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Nick, have you noticed someone has highjacked your avatar and put a 'orrible picture on it?
 
No you won't. We have one, used it once, took days for my hearing to recover!
Find a shallow bit and drop the hook and get the kettle on
We are still obliged to lug all that crap around with us, but we do not have to use it unless we cannot possibly avoid it.
 
Somewhat useful when creeping along at the edge of the shipping lane, in the knowledge that other fishing boats and yachts will be doing the same.

Also gives you something to do with an otherwise feeling of helplessness.

If you have radar it is presumably rather easier.
 
umm. I once made sound signals in portsmouth harbour, to indicate i was overtaking, and on which side. Without exception, the overtakee went mental as thpo i was "hooting" them car-style. Nope, not much point in sound signals - boats have to be right on top of you to hear. Radar or a force-field or a hyperspace button much better
 
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Just about as useless as flares!



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Having sailed (in company with another boat with radar) from the Needles to Weymouth in a solid blanket of fog, I was pleased to have a foghorn, which was used, available. It helped alert the fishing boats, plus other yachts etc. Incidentally I also carry flares, which I do know how to use having set flares off in demos.

I just hope that in poor visibility I don't come across you when you're out, as you don't seem to carry any basic safety devices.
 
Got fed up with the canister ones not working, so I bought a Plastimo Trump.
Now there is a LOUD noise. Very good, and no source of power needed other than your lungs

Something quite reassuring in fog you get a signal back. Dont know why though.
 
The only time I've used mine has been in an anchorage, to warn other boats (at least twice) that their anchors were dragging. They had been down below with VHF off, but the foghorn fairly woke them up!
 
The only problem I've found with the trump is that you deafen yourself, making it harder to hear the horns of others!!
 
I have a 136dB motorbike horn at the hounds, cunningly disguised as a chock for the steaming light.

Why?

To give all those surfers- wind, kite and board and PWCs five short blasts as they clutter the Exe Fairway on an ebb tide. 10 tons of boat takes a bit of stopping and if someone falls off their plank in front of me, I have no room to maneuver. But at least I'll be doing well below the 10 knot speed limit, unlike some...

I also have a gizmo, yet to be fitted, called a Fogmate, which automatically sounds the horn every 2 minutes in fog. You never know, I may use it one day.



/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

As a back up, I have a couple of Pot Noodle "horns" which are very loud, if you remember the ads. Best kept away from the kids though.
 
Like 'Seagreen', I have a horn (powerful) on the mast: its operation is by hand-held push-button on a cable to the helm. It has been used to advantage countless times w.r.t. fishing boats, yachts, crew ashore by dinghy, echo-location near cliffs and anchored ships, and other uses.
I would not be happy without it, and 'downthecreek' is right about the insurance implications.
I'm with 'malc', I hope to stay well clear of all those of you with a casual deprecating attitude towards basic safety equipment and practices.
At least in fog you should be able to keep clear of me!
 
I use my brass, lung-powered hooter every time I go out & return. I need it to open the footbridge across the harbour by blowing morse "B".

Waste of space blowing at Irish Sea Ferries with their double glazing, loud engines & all sitting hundreds of feet up in the sky.
 
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No you won't. We have one, used it once, took days for my hearing to recover!
Find a shallow bit and drop the hook and get the kettle on ...

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So what do you use to make your

...efficient sound signal at intervals of not more that 2 minutes., or do you carry a bell?

/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Andy
 
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Not until I wire up a simple connector for the loud hailer that I have in the bottom of a locker somewhere to my VHF.... sound familiar?

[/ QUOTE ]Very familiar! I only dug mine out because I was re-fitting the VHF and thought I would give it a go. I think I bought it in '06, for a pound as I said. Works very well though, the Std Horizon definitely does the biz.
 
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