The Bells.....

[Davydine]

Does anyone here have a ships bell on their boat? What do you use it for?

I have never seen the point and always thought one would just get on my nerves clanging in any sort of swell, or is it just me?

David...

 

[Evadne]

In theory it's for use in fog, or whatever but it's really just a decoration. It's maiun use is to hang the bell rope I made for it on a long and uneventful sea trip many years ago. It only clangs on its own when beating to windward in a lumpy sea, and as it's a Nauticalia special, rather than the Lutine bell, it's not loud enough to be annoying.

 

[r_h]

A bell is only a requirement (as a fog signal, as Evadne says) for vessels of over 12 metres, so you don't need one.

 

[bilbobaggins]

[ QUOTE ]
Does anyone here have a ships bell on their boat? What do you use it for?

[/ QUOTE ]

For a start, in compliance with the ColRegs when at anchor in conditions of restricted visibility.

One of the other functions is for the Senior Steward to announce dinner to the miscellaneous guests on board.....

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Norman_E]

Does that mean that I am required to have a bell in addition to the little plastic foghorn? My yacht is 14 metres.

 

[Davydine]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Does anyone here have a ships bell on their boat? What do you use it for?

[/ QUOTE ]

For a start, in compliance with the ColRegs when at anchor in conditions of restricted visibility.

One of the other functions is for the Senior Steward to announce dinner to the miscellaneous guests on board.....

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]


Yes but could anyone actually hear a small bell mounted on a bulhead below decks from any further away than a few feet? Which of course generates the question who carries a bell that could be used above decks specifically for this purpose?

As for the steward announcing dinner, I prefer mine to use a gong. I don't want the other "luxury" yachts in the anchorage to think it is getting foggy /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Twister_Ken]

In my limited experience of such matters, the Chief Steward doesn't have to announce dinner, he has to fight off guests trying to get to the table.

 

[graham]

You guys have all missed the point. The main purpose for a bell is to measure how well you come alongside a pontoon. If the bell rings on impact you have arrived a bit heavilly.

Removing or wrapping the clapper in a cloth are forms of cheating.
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[peterb]

[ QUOTE ]
A bell is only a requirement (as a fog signal, as Evadne says) for vessels of over 12 metres, so you don't need one.

[/ QUOTE ]

No longer. Changed in 2003, I believe. Bell signals in restricted visibility are now only required for vessels longer than 20m. But smaller vessels must still be able to make "some other efficient sound signal".

 

[claymore]

We have a bell
We use it to get the attention of whoever is on the foredeck (me) to let them know that their presence is required back in the wheelhouse or that the kettle is now boiling and would I please sort it out as there is a lot of steam and anyway you shouldn't put boiling water onto coffee.

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

Cowbell from Austria. Present from generous but ignorant parents. Usually used by small children.

 

[LymingtonPugwash]

I remember racing against Quasimodo in the Sydney Hobart in the 1980's /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
They didn't do too well though.... must have been distracted by the bells, the bells!

 

[Emjaytoo]

I thought a ship's bell was to ring the watch changes.

On a slightly different note is it considered okay to remove the ship's bell when selling said "ship"?

My mother bought us a Nauticalia bell with the boat's name engraved upon it, which we don't want to leave on our outgoing boat. Is it the done thing to put it on the new boat, even though the names are different?

 

[Dyflin]

[ QUOTE ]


As for the steward announcing dinner, I prefer mine to use a gong. I don't want the other "luxury" yachts in the anchorage to think it is getting foggy /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Foiled again so Rule 33 says vessels 12 metres or more in length should carry a whistle and a bell and vessels 100 metres or more in length should carry in addition a gong.

You'll have them scrambling for the foc's'le as your chief steward calls the crew from the bar.

 

[reginaldon]

I thought a ship's bell was to ring the watch changes.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And the time - one bell for each half-hour of the watch - so eight bells the end of the watch except the dog watches, however midnight on 31st December - 16 bells.

 

[Poignard]

I don't like them - "...they made me deaf, you know".

 

[LittleShip]

I use mine as a guide..........if we are out and it's ringing on it's own, we should be somewhere else. Usually the pub! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Tom

 

[ADLS]

I have a bell presented to me by a Dunkirk Veteran mounted on a teak board that came from ADLS ship Sundowner during her refit. Never used it in anger though it does come in handy for rounding up the grand-kids.

Bells, portholes, ADLS plaques, etc are all very usefull for keeping 'her below' busy while in port and away from the shops, Brasso works out a lot cheaper per gallon than Chanel.