Boat Horn

[Sandy Caye]

This is my first Sea Ray, 2006 28' Sundancer. May be a silly question, but the horn. It sounds like the emergency broadcast warning on your TV. Instead of an air horn, it sounds like an electronic , chattering sound. Is this the normal horn/sounding devise? I've heard other Sea Rays with the same horn. I've had other members in my boat club express concern that, as we are required to sound it when entering our marina, some people may not realize it's a boat horn. Thanks, Bob.
PS.Also, there's no depth finder. Was that actually an option? I'll install one, but I can't imagine, especially a Sea Ray where it's not standard equipment.

 

[Bridog]

Yes sadly that's the famous "Duck fart" horn used on many SR's. Lots of funny posts here about it. Most people end up switching them out. I ended up going with AFI dual trumpet air horns on my 300DA. I will say however that the horn serves its purpose of getting someone's attention. It's also perfectly legal as that exclusive flatulance noise is just loud enough and travels for miles on the open water.

 

[Sandy Caye]

Yes sadly that's the famous "Duck fart" horn used on many SR's. Lots of funny posts here about it. Most people end up switching them out. I ended up going with AFI dual trumpet air horns on my 300DA. I will say however that the horn serves its purpose of getting someone's attention. It's also perfectly legal as that exclusive flatulance noise is just loud enough and travels for miles on the open water.

Haaaaaa! Duck fart, that's great. Guy that complained is a pain in the balls anyway. Yes, I checked further and you're correct. It's Coast Guard approved. I may take your suggestion and swap it out for an air horn. If I can find one that's also flush mount and fits in this one's opening. But at least I will have the pleasure of responding to this numb nuts who claimed Sea Ray, my mechanic,and I am wrong and that the horn is broken. Thanks again.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Yeah, like Brian mentioned, that question has come a lot. Both here on the forum and at the store. It definitely sounds quite strange! I remember when Sea Ray transitioned to that "electronic" horn and the first time I blew the horn. I kinda looked around like "What the heck was that?" But apparently the "tone" was designed such that it carries very well across the water. But a true air horn is pretty nice!

Your depthfinder is built into the Smartcraft tach. Cycle through and you'll see it. You might also have sea temp.

 

[Alegria]

If your horn is the one mounted in the bow you can replace it in kind with a better normal sounding one I got mine on Amazon for under $30.

Let me search through my orders and I'll post a link if I find it.

Is it like this?
Seachoice Hidden Horn https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0064MTOXC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_AfMHzb0457R41

 

[Creekwood]

I added a white Ongaro electric dual trumpet set to my arch, and wired them to the existing horn switch using a relay and higher gauge wiring. THe old duck farter is still there. It may me working still, but who knows. It cant be heard above the trumpets at all.

 

[Sandy Caye]

Yeah, like Brian mentioned, that question has come a lot. Both here on the forum and at the store. It definitely sounds quite strange! I remember when Sea Ray transitioned to that "electronic" horn and the first time I blew the horn. I kinda looked around like "What the heck was that?" But apparently the "tone" was designed such that it carries very well across the water. But a true air horn is pretty nice!

Your depthfinder is built into the Smartcraft tach. Cycle through and you'll see it. You might also have sea temp.

Outstanding, I'll check that. Sea temp would be nice also. Hope I have it. Thanks much!

 

[Sandy Caye]

If your horn is the one mounted in the bow you can replace it in kind with a better normal sounding one I got mine on Amazon for under $30.

Let me search through my orders and I'll post a link if I find it.

Is it like this?
Seachoice Hidden Horn https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0064MTOXC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_AfMHzb0457R41

Yes , it's a flush mount mounted in the starboard bow. The Sea Choice hidden horn, is that the more normal one you spoke of, and if so it fit and you simply swapped it out,correct?

 

[Sandy Caye]

I added a white Ongaro electric dual trumpet set to my arch, and wired them to the existing horn switch using a relay and higher gauge wiring. THe old duck farter is still there. It may me working still, but who knows. It cant be heard above the trumpets at all.

Good thought. If I decide to go that way, mounting on the arch is a good idea!

 

[Alegria]

Yes , it's a flush mount mounted in the starboard bow. The Sea Choice hidden horn, is that the more normal one you spoke of, and if so it fit and you simply swapped it out,correct?

Correct easy replacement perfect fit.

 

[b_arrington]

My OEM horn was made by Aqua Signal. It died at the end of last year, and I replaced it this spring with a new Aqua Signal of the same part number. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004GC1HNM/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I'm not a fan of the quacking but it seems to work. I also have a hand-held compressed air horn as a backup. It has a satisfyingly loud blast, but is obnoxiously loud as a friendly hello. And it scares my kids.

If I had an arch on my boat I'd install a compressed air trumpet horn. There are small air horns that could mount in the the same hole used by the OEM, but the current draw was more twice the amp rating on the existing circuit. I would have had to run heavier gauge wires from the helm to the bow; it wasn't worth the effort to me.

 

[Sandy Caye]

Correct easy replacement perfect fit.

Correct easy replacement perfect fit.

My OEM horn was made by Aqua Signal. It died at the end of last year, and I replaced it this spring with a new Aqua Signal of the same part number. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004GC1HNM/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I'm not a fan of the quacking but it seems to work. I also have a hand-held compressed air horn as a backup. It has a satisfyingly loud blast, but is obnoxiously loud as a friendly hello. And it scares my kids.

If I had an arch on my boat I'd install a compressed air trumpet horn. There are small air horns that could mount in the the same hole used by the OEM, but the current draw was more twice the amp rating on the existing circuit. I would have had to run heavier gauge wires from the helm to the bow; it wasn't worth the effort to me.

Yes, my wife and guests HATE the hand held also. Especially when I forget to warn them.

 

[Sandy Caye]

Correct easy replacement perfect fit.

Think that's the way I'll go, thanks! Good job.

 

[OllieC]

Think that's the way I'll go, thanks! Good job.

Let us know if it fits. I've been a little leery because the dimensions are stated differently than the crappy Aqua Signal

 

[Sandy Caye]

Let us know if it fits. I've been a little leery because the dimensions are stated differently than the crappy Aqua Signal

I will. Got the sea choice. My OEM horn is located where yours is. Pulled the original and it has 4 wires that go right into the horn body.Sea Choice has two you connect too. I assume the original duck fart horn is two tone with two wires for each tone? I just want to talk to my mechanic first before I start cutting wires and splicing into a blade connector for the Sea Choice being as Sea Ray didn't leave much slack (extra wire length) to play with. I AM a little pissed at Sea Choice though. The instructions show a thin , felt square on the horn body, which I assume is for holding the horn body tight in place when you snap it into the plastic mount. I corrected it myself with a thin piece of adhesive backed felt. I e-mailed their customer service to inquire about this five weeks ago only to be blown off. My third attempt, even though I corrected it myself won't be as polite. I just don't like being blown off when their web site states they'll get back to you ASAP.