mattm 91 Posted June 21, 2021 Share Posted June 21, 2021 What are the clubs using as start boat horns? Loud haulers? Chrome horns? Anyone know of a club using something a bit smarter in terms of automatic 5, 4, 1 go signals? Such as the Autohoot, sailbot, Ollie Horn or Regatta Pro Start? I’m trying to find the best option for a new boat being built for the club I belong to. It would be nice to find a locally available option for automated tooting. Shy of importing something from the US or EU, or making a tone generator for a loud hailer myself, it’s hard to see a good option, other than just a pair of horns and a button. If there’s nothing around, would there be much interest from clubs in getting something suitable & cost effective made or imported? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
armchairadmiral 411 Posted June 21, 2021 Share Posted June 21, 2021 Nothing beats the gun ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Deep Purple 482 Posted June 21, 2021 Share Posted June 21, 2021 Couple of airhorns in a box, push button and ciggy socket to the committee boat Just visible top left in this pic Quote Link to post Share on other sites
harrytom 559 Posted June 21, 2021 Share Posted June 21, 2021 real sailors watch the person on the flags,as soon as dropped a bit from top its go ,stuff the gun.Yep won a protest or 2 The gun/sound is only there to draw your attention. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mattm 91 Posted June 21, 2021 Author Share Posted June 21, 2021 Thanks DP. So it’s as simple as the horn toots when the button is pressed? Yes HT, but my task isn’t related to what ‘real sailors’ might do. It’s to find a new horn / horn system for the new boat. Sound signals are quite useful, and I’d like the system used to be both loud, thus clearly audible from a distance, in a breeze, and no more taxing on the committee boat crew than reasonably necessary 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
aardvarkash10 814 Posted June 21, 2021 Share Posted June 21, 2021 this should do it... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Fish 0 Posted June 21, 2021 Share Posted June 21, 2021 My club uses an aerosol can horn, seems to work ok. But here is a variation for a thought. We are required to keep a VHF listening watch while racing, usually 77 I think, both in fully crewed and short handed. This is a safety requirement following a MOB incident last winter that could have easily gone pear shaped (other boats racing near by didn't realise there was a man in the water, just that boat A had done a big broach...) So, you want a horn all can hear, at a distance, and in a breeze? Play it over the VHF. If you have a requirement for a listening watch for safety, this is a very good way to make people listen. No actual horn, just vhf horn. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Deep Purple 482 Posted June 21, 2021 Share Posted June 21, 2021 https://www.repco.co.nz/en/globes-batteries-electrical/electrical-accessories/horns/air-horn-12v-115db-acx5108/p/A1193525 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Y88 5241 11 Posted June 21, 2021 Share Posted June 21, 2021 Hey Matt: i have a 12v horn set up similar to DPs photo which I would be happy to donate to Your club. Had it from when I was doing RO duties a couple years ago. it has a push button as well as 2 handheld remotes to activate the horn. give me a PM if interested 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ex Machina 283 Posted June 21, 2021 Share Posted June 21, 2021 3 hours ago, Y88 5241 said: Hey Matt: i have a 12v horn set up similar to DPs photo which I would be happy to donate to Your club. Had it from when I was doing RO duties a couple years ago. it has a push button as well as 2 handheld remotes to activate the horn. give me a PM if interested Interested in the setup and of “remotes “ did you make it yourself ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Y88 5241 11 Posted June 22, 2021 Share Posted June 22, 2021 3 hours ago, 44forty said: Interested in the setup and of “remotes “ did you make it yourself ? Yes made it myself, I’ll get a photo when I can. Has a remote receiver wired in to activate horn. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SloopJohnB 313 Posted June 22, 2021 Share Posted June 22, 2021 On the good boat "Wakatere" (Wakatere Boating Club) was set up with a foot button for the horn which allowed 2 hands free for the flags, the boat was very well setup for single handed starting sequences. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Deep Purple 482 Posted June 22, 2021 Share Posted June 22, 2021 In our case it needs to be portable as we have a range of members (mine) and club RIB's that perform as start boats. Ciggy sockets or alligator clips as approriate I remember making one up for SSANZ many years ago Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JK 28 Posted June 23, 2021 Share Posted June 23, 2021 Give BBYC a call. They have a self contained box with a battery powered airhorn & a timer which automatically sounds on 5/4/1/0 & then rolls in to the next start. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jagor 3 Posted July 8, 2021 Share Posted July 8, 2021 Here at GHYC we have an automatic horn controlled from the app (starttimerapp.com) on the phone, that also gives voice cues on what actions need to be done and countdown. I also made a battery-powered box for the horn based on the same automatic controller. As for the horn itself - those automotive ones above seem to be a good value. Pure electric ones are not very loud. Disclaimer: I make both the app and the horn controller. P.S. the app is only released for iOS, but the Android version is available in beta. Contact me if you want to give it a go. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
eruptn 73 Posted July 24, 2021 Share Posted July 24, 2021 This is our portable one. Simple press the button...can sit in cockpit, deck etc. Fully self contained. Battery needs a charge every few months. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cameron 52 Posted July 25, 2021 Share Posted July 25, 2021 Amateurs! Now this is a real horn I've recently helped install to a boat... F35A802B-946D-443B-8307-EB944C1037B0_1_201_a.heic 2A1AF883-E8E0-4ED4-A428-80DAE8434725.heic F35A802B-946D-443B-8307-EB944C1037B0_1_201_a.heic Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jagor 3 Posted July 26, 2021 Share Posted July 26, 2021 Point it right across the start line and there will be no OCSs, not during the second race at least. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Deep Purple 482 Posted July 29, 2021 Share Posted July 29, 2021 On 8/07/2021 at 7:21 PM, jagor said: Here at GHYC we have an automatic horn controlled from the app (starttimerapp.com) on the phone, that also gives voice cues on what actions need to be done and countdown. I also made a battery-powered box for the horn based on the same automatic controller. As for the horn itself - those automotive ones above seem to be a good value. Pure electric ones are not very loud. Disclaimer: I make both the app and the horn controller. P.S. the app is only released for iOS, but the Android version is available in beta. Contact me if you want to give it a go. I purchased Jagor's remote horn relay and set it up yesterday. Works so well. I can Bluetooth to the boats stereo so that the countdowns are loud and clear to the race crew and the horn goes all by itself. Magic!!! I haven't set it up with a battery as I only intend to use it in my fizz boat but there is room to do so if I want. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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