Captains Bell

Buyajet

Active Member
May 28, 2018
360
Boat Info
2005 420 DA
Engines
Cummins CTA's 480's
Looking for a replacement of the captain's bell. Mine is ultra corroded. Searched Google and Pounder. Suggestions?
 
I went down this path. Bought a new one but the quality just wasn’t there. Ended up having mine rechromed and it looks new but it was 175 bucks.
 
Are you doing it for looks? I believe the requirement of a bell is no longer required.

Federally it might not be, but some states still require one. In Massachusetts, I have to have one for my 340DA. The CGAUX exams check for it in our state during the courtesy exams.
 
Mine was mildly corroded so after reading a tip, I used tin foil and water and with minimal effort the bell was like new. Have done this twice in 5 years.
 
Are you doing it for looks? I believe the requirement of a bell is no longer required.
I'm unsure but we plan to travel to Bahamas, W. Indies, etc. so I'll probably keep it to stay on the right side of this.
 
Mine was mildly corroded so after reading a tip, I used tin foil and water and with minimal effort the bell was like new. Have done this twice in 5 years.
This sounds like a good solution to try. Thanks so much!
 
I have a nice brass bell that I had on my sailboat. It is about the same size as the one on my 460 DA. Let me know if that interests you. I am in RI.
 
I have a nice brass bell that I had on my sailboat. It is about the same size as the one on my 460 DA. Let me know if that interests you. I am in RI.
Thanks. Is it "chromed"?
 
I used Flitz on mine.

I cleaned mine with Flitz, too. Took a couple of times, but it takes it out. I now put Woody's Wax on it and let it sit for several hours and then polish with a micro-fiber.

Jaybeaux
 
Very interesting to hear about the requirement to have a bell. I would have never guessed that.

The survey I had on my 400 this year indicated I needed to have a copy of the "USCG Navigation Rules" on board as well. Anything over 39.X feet they said. I had never heard of such a thing. You learn something every day around this place...
 
Coast Guard rules are federal and not state specific. The ruling was "Boats larger than 39.4 ft. are also required to have a bell" but that was updated. This is per the USCG Auxiliary website. Your 340DA should not fall under this.

-Kevin

It was really surprising to me too, and I went to show him the CG rules, which was of course silly, since he knew them better than me. I never had a bell since the CG regs didn't require it. The local CG Aux examiner, who happens to be their squadron commander, said he knows a bell isn't required for my boat on federal waters, but some states enforce their own rules in their coastal waters. So, they warn folk as a courtesy because although if you have a Coastie board you it's no problem, if its a state agency, and you're in "state waters" (tidal waters out to 3 miles offshore), they may cite the state reg's, which state:
-------------
Federally Controlled Waters

Vessels must observe federal requirements on these waters:



    • Coastal waters
    • The Great Lakes
    • Territorial seas
    • Waters which are two miles wide or wider and are connected directly to one of the above
Massachusetts Coastal Waters
Any Massachusetts waters that are subject to the rise and fall of the tide out to three nautical miles from any Massachusetts land point and including all of Massachusetts Bay, Vineyard Sound, and Nantucket Sound

If on State Waters

Less than 26 feet long (includes PWCs) Mouth-, hand-, or power-operated whistle or horn, or some other means to make an efficient sound signal audible for at least one-half mile required
26 feet long or longer Whistle or horn, and a bell audible for at least one-half mile required
If on Federally Controlled Waters
Less than 65.6 feet long (includes PWCs) Whistle or horn audible for at least one-half mile required
65.6 feet long or longer Whistle or horn and a bell audible for at least one mile required
-------------
https://www.boat-ed.com/massachusetts/handbook/page/36/Sound-Producing-Devices/

In Mass, and maybe other states, those "state agencies" are numerous, Harbormasters, State Police, Environmental Police. It's a nice revenue generator if they are having a bad day. So now we have a bell. It's nice to have at cocktail hour :)
 
Need it or not, the bell looks cool. Especially when it’s shined up. I keep an old tennis ball over the clapper so I don’t hear it banging around, but easily removeable in the very unlikely event that I actually ever need to use the bell.
 
Need it or not, the bell looks cool. Especially when it’s shined up. I keep an old tennis ball over the clapper so I don’t hear it banging around, but easily removeable in the very unlikely event that I actually ever need to use the bell.

Wish I knew where mine was. PO must have removed it and hid it well.
 

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