We're in need of replacing the horns on SHIBUI.  Previous installation was your standard 12v dual trumpet horn.  We are considering a set of air horns vs another set of 12v ones.

I've trolled the archives and have seen the following consistant messages:

1. use of the small "direct connection" horns (AFI, Signaltone) may result in weak and unsatisfying horn performance
2. use of an accumulator tank is preferred
3. a control solenoid should be placed close to the horns for crisp start/stop performance (ie - avoidance of the wheezing cow sound)

Outside of the cost of a "straight up" Kahlenberg/AirChime/Buell installation, I've got some operational questions:

1. does the system remain pressurized at all times, even when hanging at the dock or on the hook?

2. what is the "bleed down" procedure for the air supply line and/or accumulator?  I'd hope you don't have to lean on the horn to de-pressurize the system

3. what kind of performance CAN be achieved/expected without an accumulator?  (assuming a good compressor was used)

4. when stating things like "the compressor should be installed close to the horns" (if not using an accumulator) - how close is close?

As you might surmise, I'm a bit leary of accumulator tanks and keeping systems pressurized when not in use for long periods.  More maintenance points, steel eventually deteriorates in the salt air environment, etc.  Sometimes it's difficult to find that balance point between adequate and better-cuz-it's-better.

On that note, I'd also like to hear from anyone who DOES have the AFI/Signaltone/??? setups and are you satisfied with it?  From the Fisheries Supply catalog it looks like the Signaltone dual Tornado w/compressor would run about $250, while the Buell Strambos dual horn (with compressor/solenoid/tank) somewhere in the neighborhood of 1BU.

Thanks!

--
Jason Pringle
M/V Shibui - 50' OA Mk I
www.quartermasteryacht.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Robert Hoffman
Jason,  I longed for a set of Kahlenberg horns for many years.

REPLY
Me too!

For all you wannabees;  here is an idea.

Buell, Khalenberg and Nathan all have audio clips on their websites.

What you do, is capture this audio clip into a digital file.
Then replay it and use a big bull horn or loud hailer to sound off.

..... Okay so it won't have the volume,  but it will have the sound.
<Grin>

Arild

I've had 2 sets of the AFI dual electric horns and never was quite satisfied
with the tone or volume.

This time around I installed a Hadley 'Bully' system which includes the dual
horns, compressor, accumulator tank, tubing, etc. I started this project by
buying a 'new old stock' but found it had the vacuum compressor. This
project expanded like a lot of boat projects and ended up spending a small
fortune buying the 12 volt compressor and accessories from a distributor to
finish the project.

Horns are installed on top of the pilot house, choose to use the lanyard
type valve instead of an electric solenoid system. I have a length of line
that you tug on to operate the horns.

Compressor was mounted on a thick rubber mount in the engine room to keep
the noise out of the living space and the accumulator is mounted in a
cabinet in the pilothouse. The tank has a cut-in and cut-out switch that
starts the compressor at 80 lbs and shuts off at 120. A pressure gauge is
installed along with a Schrader valve and an additional shut off valve for
it. A 25' coiled hose is attached to the Schrader valve which can be used
for blowing up toys, fenders, blow gun, blowing out thru-hull strainers,
etc.

The compressor is rated for 7 continuous minutes in a 30 minute period. The
system is very tight and I've seen it hold 90lbs for 2 weeks at a time. The
sound of these horns is great and gets one's attention.

Just thought I'd share my experience.

Jeff on Southern Nights

-----Original Message-----

Outside of the cost of a "straight up" Kahlenberg/AirChime/Buell
installation, I've got some operational questions:

1. does the system remain pressurized at all times, even when hanging at the
   dock or on the hook?

2. what is the "bleed down" procedure for the air supply line and/or
   accumulator?  I'd hope you don't have to lean on the horn to de-pressurize
   the system

3. what kind of performance CAN be achieved/expected without an accumulator?
   (assuming a good compressor was used)

4. when stating things like "the compressor should be installed close to the
   horns" (if not using an accumulator) - how close is close?

As you might surmise, I'm a bit leary of accumulator tanks and keeping
systems pressurized when not in use for long periods.  More maintenance
points, steel eventually deteriorates in the salt air environment, etc.
Sometimes it's difficult to find that balance point between adequate and
better-cuz-it's-better.

On that note, I'd also like to hear from anyone who DOES have the
AFI/Signaltone/??? setups and are you satisfied with it?  From the Fisheries
Supply catalog it looks like the Signaltone dual Tornado w/compressor would
run about $250, while the Buell Strambos dual horn (with
compressor/solenoid/tank) somewhere in the neighborhood of 1BU.

Thanks!

--
Jason Pringle
M/V Shibui - 50' OA Mk I
www.quartermasteryacht.com

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'Lo All,

Since the purpose of having a horn is to warn another boater,
pedestrian or whatever of something, it follows that all types of
warnings should be clear and distinct - and timely. Almost any horn
can give a nice long blast. The test is to give a danger warning
signal of five quick blasts. Most air horns that use a direct
compressor fail that test miserably.

On my old sailboat I had two Fiamm compressors directly connected to
two airhorns located just below the spreaders - about 20 feet away.
They would wake the dead, but only in slow motion. Once, in Hawk
Channel, a power boat came alongside, then sped up and cut across the
bow within about 4 feet as I recall. From what he said (yes, he was
that close alongside), I knew what he intended to do and attempted to
give 5 blasts.... 3 got out before he was long gone. We were sailing
at about 8.5 kts in choppy water. One passenger did give me the finger.....

Bottom line: the horns were very loud, but not satisfactory to give a
warning blast as quickly as I needed to do it.

Take care and be safe.

Wayne
M/V Celestial
Albin43 Sundeck

For intermittant use of air (for horns etc...) one could use one of the 12 volt compressors frequently sold for tire inflation. Before I bought one of the small pancake 120 volt compressors that I currently keep on the boat, I had one of the 12 volt Campbell/Hausfield compressors with a separate accumulator tank. Total cost abt $80 at the big orange box store. Not sure how many cubic feet of 120 psi air (perhaps regulated to a lower psi) a horn takes per blast, but wouldn't imagine it to be too restrictive. The advantage of this setup is two fold...runs off 12 volt and is portable (unless you hard wire / hard plumb it in. I would not recommend one of the cheaper style 12 volt compressors (such as Harbor freight sells) as they won't last more than a season or two. My C/H has its own storage battery too and can be used as a portable 12 volt source if you have that requirement. The C/H is now back in the truck going strong after 3 years. YMMV

Joel Wilkins
St Pete, FL
m/v Jolly Mon