Ship’s Bell

[Kings Gambit]

I’ve wanted a well-toned ship’s bell of the proper size for my Bavaria 38 for quite a time. Never seemed a practical addition to the boat’s equipment, however. A friend gave me the gift of a small bronze one that “clanged” but did not ring with a sweet tone, so I did not mount it and therefore never used it. Eventually I removed it from the boat.

I was recently in the “Antiques of the Sea” store in Sunset Beach for the first time in 20 yr and happened upon a Foresti & Suardi 7” chromed bronze bell with a lovely tone fading. Specs read it suitable for boats under 20 m LOA. I bought it and found a place to mount it where I can ring it while at the helm, and the bell is removable from the mount itself. I could use it as a fog bell while sitting comfortably in the cockpit. A lot of ringing (5 rapid gongs at one minute intervals) for much fun.

I believe it will be more fun if used for signaling across the waters to our companion boats when anchored. Eight Bells at 1600 will announce “End of Watch”, time for early happy hour. Welcome aboard! G&T’s all around.

Do other folks here have and use a ship’s bell aboard?

 

[Tally Ho]

My boat came with a bell, but it is not mounted. Like @Kings Gambit, mine can be removed from the mount when not needed.

Probably about 5” bell. Sounds OK, but we don’t get much fog around my home sailing grounds.

Greg

 

[Crusty Ol Salt]

I have been looking for one myself. Following

 

[Michael Davis]

We also have one aboard. Only used in foggy conditions however I can see the convenience for announcing Happy Hour.

 

[sailcapt340]

I can appreciate your love of the perfect sounding bell. If your interested in nautical items, especially like a bell you should check out:
Lannan Ship Model Gallery, LLC info@lannangallery.com
They are located in Norwell, MA. and they have the items. I‘ve been going to their auctions both on line and in person as well (in the past). Nice people to speak with, get information and deal with. Get on their emailing list and watch for the auctions.
As far as a bell, I have one on the boat and it does have a nice sound, not the clanging sound.
Bells always work, long after the air horn dies out, thats why its one of the first items the USCG will look for during a vessel inspection. Everyone needs one and should have one. Often a forgotten piece of equipment but always there and ready.
Besides, the perfect bell adds to the look of any boat.

 

[JamesG161]

We have 2. One that is like @Kings Gambit new one.
The other is on battery operation [4 yr life] as part of a Barometric/Clock set wall set.

I like the wall set, since the volume can be adjusted for a night time reminder.
Jim...

 

[capta]

I've finally found a VHF that has all the whistle signals built in. The only thing needed is a "hailer" horn. It is loaded with features like GPS and AIS which are of no interest to me as I run twin Garmin Echo Maps and a chart plotter. If there is any treasure to be found in Narragansett Bay, I'm going to find it! lol.

 

[Terry Cox]

We have a 6" brass bell that has a removable mount. Normally kept in the salon, but also mounts at the helm. Sounds pretty good. It gets the most use when the grand kids are aboard. I use a fog horn that I blow into that works quite well when needed. Grand kids like to use it, too.

 

[Kings Gambit]

I've finally found a VHF that has all the whistle signals built in. The only thing needed is a "hailer" horn. It is loaded with features like GPS and AIS which are of no interest to me as I run twin Garmin Echo Maps and a chart plotter. If there is any treasure to be found in Narragansett Bay, I'm going to find it! lol.

Yeah. I also have a separate 12-v fog hailer with “whistle and bell” sounds built in but not as part of a VHF radio combination. I’ve used the “anchored in fog” program a few times where the thing sounds off a kind of bell sound, a rapid ding-ding-ding-ding-ding, every minute. It’s convenient I suppose. It’s hard to imagine doing that for long every minute by manually ringing an actual bell. However, I may get a chance to try it this summer when we tend to get fog. As I said it will be more fun to ring the eight bells daily at 1600!

 

[jviss]

I like bells. I searched for a long time for a genuine bronze bell, chrome plated. They are incredibly expensive! The only one I identified that was real bronze, chrome plated, and 6" is made by Perko. . These go for the bargain price of about $600! I searched and searched and finally got a deal on eBay for about $375. I bought an extra bracket from a Boston supplier for $50. Yikes!

The idea is to have one bracket below and one at the helm. Of course, I haven't installed this yet.

 

[sailcapt340]

The most important part is having the bell. The mounting, well that will come.
Bells don’t run out of batteries or compressed air.

 

[jviss]

The most important part is having the bell. The mounting, well that will come.
Bells don’t run out of batteries or compressed air.

Yes, but they can run out of arm power!

I always thought it would be cool to build an automatic ringer for a real bell, for fog, etc. I know it's been done before, but not for the recreational yacht market, that I'm aware of.

 

[Apex]

just polished the perko 6" that came with my boat, throwback to times with BRASSO. It was not chromed or shellacked, just plain polished brass. two mounts: salon bulkhead and companionway. Seems a little weak in the clang. But at 30ft, not much room for anything bigger or richer in sound.
My main signalling device is an air horn that has schrader valve and a bicycle pump....a few pumps and it is refilled.

 

[Kings Gambit]

I like bells. I searched for a long time for a genuine bronze bell, chrome plated. They are incredibly expensive! The only one I identified that was real bronze, chrome plated, and 6" is made by Perko. . These go for the bargain price of about $600! I searched and searched and finally got a deal on eBay for about $375. I bought an extra bracket from a Boston supplier for $50. Yikes!

The idea is to have one bracket below and one at the helm. Of course, I haven't installed this yet.

I got this one, very nice, at a nautical antiques store that is evidently shutting down its business, so $126. Only one bracket, however. Mounted outside. They had some others; I think three more. One larger, one the same size, and the other smaller.

 

[jviss]

9

I got this one, very nice, at a nautical antiques store that shutting down its business, so $126. Only one bracket, however. Mounted outside.

Wow, if it's really the same one I have that's the deal of the century. Note that they made a brass version, too. Are you sure yours is bronze?

 

[Kings Gambit]

Wow, if it's really the same one I have that's the deal of the century. Note that they made a brass version, too. Are you sure yours is bronze?

I doubt anyone would wish to chrome a brass bell. But yeah, it’s bronze. However, it’s not Perko so not the same as yours. Italian made, Foresti & Suardi; they have a website; subindex Nautical Accessories. Don’t see prices. Evidently, they make a lot of different stuff.

 

[jviss]

I doubt anyone would wish to chrome a brass bell. But yeah, it’s bronze. However, it’s not Perko so not the same as yours. Italian made, Foresti & Suardi; they have a website; subindex Nautical Accessories. Don’t see prices. Evidently, they make a lot of different stuff.

Very nice!

 

[JamesG161]

As I said it will be more fun to ring the eight bells daily at 1600!

That means Supper time!
or
time.

Wiki had this picture of the Ships bell from the Titanic.



Jim...

 

[jviss]

Here's mine:

 

[Kings Gambit]

That means Supper time!
or
time.

Wiki had this picture of the Ships bell from the Titanic.

View attachment 216116

Jim...

Typically happy hour aboard our boat “begins” at two bells, 1700, in what would be the first dog watch according to the bells, but it’s been moving to earlier. Seems last summer at Santa Cruz Island we were gathering aboard starting at 1600. Personally, I wish to have happy hour, then dinner, after dinner socializing, clean up and secure by evening twilight near 2000 PDT when anchored in the Channel Islands during summer. It seems most of the “issues” I’ve experienced anchoring up there occur or develop when trying to get back aboard after dark after visiting. Starting HH at or near 1600 PDT leaves time for all of that above. Of course, in winter it’s nearly twilight by 1600 PST. Mess aboard US ships usually begins at 1700 if I remember correctly. I know there are variations, however.