When and where should I ring my bell?

P

PhillM

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 Nov 2010
Messages
4,008
Location
Solent
Visit site
Today, for my birthday, I was presented with a small ships bell. It’s from Force4 so it’s got to have some use on board.

It’s a nice brass object and fits in with the overall style of my boat.

But what do I use it for?

And where does it go (inside or outside?).

I seem to recall that somewhere in collregs there is something about using a bell in fog, but I didn’t think that applied to small boats (25loa).

If the panel could please enlighten me I would be most grateful

Thanks,
Phill
 
Last edited:
You should mount it near the bell and ring it for five seconds approximately every two minutes when anchored in fog.

Either that, or mount it in the galley and ring it to announce dinner.
 
You could look in the collregs and find out ;)

A bell is used for vessels below 100m at anchor. Morse R on whistle or horn is also acceptable and is what yachts without bells use if needed.
 
IIRC Dr Pye had a little bell that could be activated by a--------string.The helmsman .alone in the cockpit with the cabin shut up with the washboards. Itwas the best means of calling for help or change of watch if the helm could not be left.
 
Flashy said:
You could look in the collregs and find out ;)

A bell is used for vessels below 100m at anchor. Morse R on whistle or horn is also acceptable and is what yachts without bells use if needed.
Click to expand...

Yes it is true that I should have looked it up, but I'm still at work and I wanted to be able to tell the kid that gave the gift how useful it will be, was when I get home tonight.

I appreciate your telling me, it’s very helpful. Thanks.
 
The bell should be mounted on the foredeck, and rung a number of times to indicate how many shackles of chain you have out while you're in the process of anchoring.

If you're a ship, anyway :D

Not really sure what the purpose of it is - whether it's meant to inform those nearby as to the likely size of your swinging circle, or a relic of days before onboard walkie-talkies to let the captain on the bridge know how much chain the crew on the fo'c'sle had let out. But on Stavros the bell is on the fo'c'sle near the windlass and someone is detailed to ring it as the chain goes out.

Not sure I'd want a bell on a yacht - won't it ring as you go over waves?

Pete
 
It is a MCA coding requirement for +12m, and I believe possibly for all categories here in Portugal.
We have a F4 one, just received, very nice and we bought an excellent bell rope on eBay. Haven't a clue where we will fix it, as I don't think the interior of our boat is ' nautical ' enough, what with the pot plants, tablecloth, cushions - it would look out of place.
I had thought of some kind of portable arrangement in the cockpit, perhaps on the radar mast. Back to the drawing board!

Cheers,

Michael.
 
A ship's bell was used to mark the passage of time on board. One bell half an hour after the start of a watch, two bells after one hour and so on until eight bells marked the end of the watch. You and your crew will find this very useful, especially during night passages when you might otherwise need a light to see the time by your wristwatch.......
 
Grumpybear said:
A ship's bell was used to mark the passage of time on board. One bell half an hour after the start of a watch, two bells after one hour and so on until eight bells marked the end of the watch. You and your crew will find this very useful, especially during night passages when you might otherwise need a light to see the time by your wristwatch.......
Click to expand...

You'd need a half hour glass as well though...
 
I have one as a door bell on the house. It's great to tell the kids to give it a good whack & watch their faces. Because it is right by the ringer's ear it actually hurts. You can hardly hear it in the house tho. :D

I must put a small sign on it to encourage visitors to ring it HARD, that should keep the JW's & Hawkers away. :cool: Friends & relatives only do it once.

If mounting it outside, I suspect the brass finish will suffer very quickly, will it be possible to mount it so it can be removed & stored below when not foggy? Mine is a cast iron one.
 
I got given a bell for christmas one year. Took 2 years to actually put it on the boat. The clapper was removed exactly 15 mins after it was installed. A year later the boat was sold. I still have the bell........minus the clapper. Kids.......!!
 
Searush said:
If mounting it outside, I suspect the brass finish will suffer very quickly, will it be possible to mount it so it can be removed & stored below when not foggy? Mine is a cast iron one.
Click to expand...
Tsk, you get your deckhand to polish it every morning before breakfast. He can do the winch tops whilst he's about it.
 
Searush said:
If mounting it outside, I suspect the brass finish will suffer very quickly, will it be possible to mount it so it can be removed & stored below when not foggy? Mine is a cast iron one.
Click to expand...

I'll be all right then-I've got a bronze one. It does have an iron clapper though. It must be at least 80 years old. It was over the shop door in at least three shops that I know of going back to 1929. I have wondered about taking it to the boat and fitting it somewhere handy. Think I'll make the clapper removable so it wont go off in a blow. I like it nice and quiet when I'm sleeping.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top