Horns - Hoot Hoot

A somewhat crucial element of fitting a horn, depends on two factors. The boat's LOA (>12m) and whether the horn is approved. The manufacturer must be able to provide a Certificate of Conformance from an independent Class Society or Flag State Authority such as ABS or Lloyds. This is an important difference from a manufacturer supplying their own certificate stating the horn complies with the IMO specifications. If push came to shove, an insurance company may request this in case of an unfortunate accident.

I believe the current IMO specs are (By Length of Vessel, Db readings in a 1/3 Octave Band @ 1 Meter), although I could be out of date!

200 Meters (656 ft.) or more: 70-200 Hz, 143 dB
75 to 200 Meters (246 to 656 ft.): 130-350 Hz, 138 dB
20 to 75 Meters (65 to 246 ft.): 250-700 Hz, 130 dB
12 to 20 Meters (40 to 65 ft.): 180-450 Hz, 120 dB

Piers
 
A somewhat crucial element of fitting a horn, depends on two factors. The boat's LOA (>12m) and whether the horn is approved. The manufacturer must be able to provide a Certificate of Conformance from an independent Class Society or Flag State Authority such as ABS or Lloyds. This is an important difference from a manufacturer supplying their own certificate stating the horn complies with the IMO specifications. If push came to shove, an insurance company may request this in case of an unfortunate accident.

I believe the current IMO specs are (By Length of Vessel, Db readings in a 1/3 Octave Band @ 1 Meter), although I could be out of date!

200 Meters (656 ft.) or more: 70-200 Hz, 143 dB
75 to 200 Meters (246 to 656 ft.): 130-350 Hz, 138 dB
20 to 75 Meters (65 to 246 ft.): 250-700 Hz, 130 dB
12 to 20 Meters (40 to 65 ft.): 180-450 Hz, 120 dB

Piers
Strewth, that suddenly got complicated. So we're looking at a minimum of 120db for a vessel of 12-20 metres?
 
At the time of scouting the market I realized that the Osculati horn of course wasn't their own design.
There are several out there looking the same (ish) but no specifics prove if they are.

After receiving the parcel it became clear that it is made in Taiwan and has number hyf-305lt.

Might be helpful in your search...
 
At the time of scouting the market I realized that the Osculati horn of course wasn't their own design.
There are several out there looking the same (ish) but no specifics prove if they are.

After receiving the parcel it became clear that it is made in Taiwan and has number hyf-305lt.

Might be helpful in your search...
Sorry a little late replying here but thanks a lot for the info. That's helpful.. I'll do a bit more research..
 
Well I 've ordered a FIAMM TA Dual Tone horn so i'll report back when it's fitted to see if it hoots loud enough or not. Hoot Hoot! :cool:
 
Or you could try this

12v 150db Car Air Horn Blast Compact Twin Tone Loud Horn Truck Lorry Suv Boat UK | eBay

£10.29 delivered. The compressor is metal cased and behold thing looks robust.

12v relay included, I'll be fitting this to my rib console. It will be located inside but I suspect it will be sufficiently loud nevertheless!
But there is a slight and unnerving pause between the press of the button and the compressor winding up to last the horn. I prefer the direct electric.
 
If you want to avoid the delay with an air horn, the compressed air must be ready in a tank close to the horn (like e.g. trucks).

12 Volt Replacement Horns And Specialty Air Horn Installation

A lot, compared to the electric horn - and the compressor will run independently of the use to keep the tank pressurized.

TBH i found the Fiamm TA Dual and the Osculati (#19) to be equally good. Time will show if the latter works for 9 years like the FIAMM did.
 
Just out of ignorance, but what do you need the horn for (other than the Queens Jubilee hoot and very occasional fog)?
Never heard of a private sailing yacht having an installed horn.

My father's boat had a horn fitted to the mizzen. Wonderful discordant sound like an American locomotive.
 
I bought a pair of Kahlenberg's from Piers years ago, for my old F43 - I must say if my current horns fade, I will do so again, they were expensive but excellent! When you sounded them everyone looked around for a bigger boat :)

You certainly don't want people to look for a moped out there when you sound the horn


 
Top