Common Solutions As mentioned earlier, effective sound signaling devices include, but are not limited to, a handheld air horn, an athletic whistle, an installed electrical horn, etc. I currently own two boats, a 2006 EdgeWater 228 center console and a 1999 EdgeWater 185 center console. I approached the challenge of producing the requisite signals for each of these boats using different solutions. The larger 22½-footer sits in a marina from April to November, and fea- tures an onboard electric horn with a dedicated on/off button mounted conveniently at the helm. I installed this myself, so if there is a hiccup, I can usually back-track the problem and come up with a quick solution, but more on that later. Some onboard accessory electric panels have a dedicated momentary on/off switch (typically indicated by a high visibility orange/yellow/red rocker switch) for horn operation. If yours doesn’t feature this conven- ient fingertip control, you will be compelled to go the route that I took by installing a dedi- cated chrome-plated metal push button switch.
As mentioned earlier, effective sound signaling devices include, but are not limited to, a handheld air horn, an athletic whistle, an installed electrical horn, etc. I currently own two boats, a 2006 EdgeWater 228 center console and a 1999 EdgeWater 185 center console. I approached the challenge of producing the requisite signals for each of these boats using different solutions. The larger 22½-footer sits in a marina from April to November, and features an onboard electric horn with a dedicated on/off button mounted conveniently at the helm. I installed this myself, so if there is a hiccup, I can usually back-track the problem and come up with a quick solution, but more on that later. Some onboard accessory electric panels have a dedicated momentary on/off switch (typically indicated by a high visibility orange/yellow/red rocker switch) for horn operation. If yours doesn’t feature this convenient fingertip control, you will be compelled to go the route that I took by installing a dedicated chrome-plated metal push button switch.
Horn Hiccups Since I typically install and wire all my boating electronics, my local knowledge was challenged when I went through the usual spring launch checklist before splashing the 228 EdgeWater CC earlier this season. When it came time to energize the horn button, a press of the momentary switch yielded a shrill dying honk and that was it…no mas. The electric horn had given me seven years of reliable service and when I removed the frame and dissected it, I discovered that saltwater spray and inevitable corrosion had ultimately rusted out the internal components and had sealed its fate. So it was off to the local marine store to get a replacement.
As fate would have it, when I attempted to remount it, the holes of the new horn didn’t line up with the original’s. Somehow the“I can do that in 15- minutes”project was going on four-hours and after the final wiring connec- tion was made, I pressed the button and…crickets. After back-tracking the E-panel’s circuit breaker, all the connections up and downstream and remov- ing a half-dozen tie wraps that kept the horn wires secure in the primary loom, I discovered that the horn’s positive wire had a (blown) 4-amp inline glass fuse. This was replaced and full functionality returned to my new elec- tric horn. Bottom line, whatever signaling device you prefer or that is required for your vessel, check it periodically to ensure that it works and know how and when to use it. Your life might depend on it!
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