Loud hailer (and foghorn)

[Geoff Johnson]

My insurance company is making comply with the recommendations in my recent C&V survey, one of which is a "loud hailer". I see that you can buy battery powered megaphones on the internet for as little as $30. What are people using (other than the kind built into the radio since I don't want to replace the radio) and are there any with built in foghorn's?

 

[Loren Beach]

In our area this has never even been mentioned. I know that larger and/or more pretentious powerboats have these, but almost no sailboats.
I cannot imagine what sort of practical use it would have.
A horn and/or bell (depending on length of boat) is required, OTOH. (referred to as a "sound producing device")

What ins. company is making this demand?

Best,
Loren in PDX
(insured with Boat US)

 

[Guy Stevens]

What the hell?

Did the sureveyor really say that you should have a loud hailer? What were his/her other recomendations?

A Horn, a Bell both are required, depending on the size of your boat, however a loud hailer is not required.

And those ones that do the loud hailer and fog horn are POWER BOAT radios. Think about why you could never use them in the FOG if you were SAILING.....

Hint, they are not programable for the horn section.

Guy Stevens,
Guy Stevens Surveying
Alameda Ca.

 

[Geoff Johnson]

I cannot imagine what sort of practical use it would have.

What ins. company is making this demand?
(insured with Boat US)

I thought it would come in handy when communicating with my wife.

The insurer is Markel, but it didn't get that far. The surveyor made a bunch of silly recommendations (like tune the rig before the next season and put a zinc on the shaft) because he could not find anything wrong with the boat. The broker (Al Golden's agency out of Maryland) then sent me a form making we swear to do everything on the recommended list on pain of death.

 

[oceandreams89]

I would try to find another insurance company that knows something about boats and the difference between a safety requirement and a safety recomendation. (I use Nationwide and they are great, as is State Farm) No company should force you to install expensive equipment that mis not a state or USCG requirement.

I do have a hailer built in to my Standard Horizon radio and the horn mounted on the mast. It works great, and gets lots of use in the fog as well with the programable foghorn. (although I realize you don't want to replace your VHF)

I would have a serious conversation with your agent though and inform him of what is required and what is a nice to have item.

Best of luck.......

Todd

 

[hcpookie]

Agree with shopping for another insurance company. My survey was about the same - finding small "TLC" items because nothing major could be found (seems like finding big things is my job LOL). We went with State Farm and the process was pretty straight-forward. Sign here, pay this, etc.

On the topic of a "loud hailer" - "loud" is a relative term, so what threshold is the insurance company laying down? Decibell limit? USCG approved-only? Any USCG-approved fog horn from any boat place or sporting goods place is sufficient, according to what I've understood. You simply must have one on-board, right? So a $13 fog horn would do the trick. I think whistles and/or ship bells are also USCG approved... could swear I read that in the Boater's World catalog... these are all "loud hailer" devices so compliance should be a no-brainer. Unless the insurance company is smoking crack and established their own (NOT USCG-compliant) standards... ???

 

[NateHanson]

Yeah, a compressed air horn or a bell all work as a noise-producing device for Maneuvering and Fog signals. (not sure about the whistle) I can't imagine what an PA system would ever be needed for. Seems very lubberly to me. When leaving a crowded slipway, does your insurance company want you to turn on the PA and yell, "HEY Y'ALL! LOOK OUT CAUSE I'M A-COMING OUT!" instead of three blasts on the horn??

 

[Geoff Johnson]

Jeez, I didn't realize this topic would get people so exercised. Sailors used to use "speaking trumpets" in days of yore and even WM sells an (overpriced) megaphone, so it is not an outrageous requirement. BTW, my broker - http://www.imiscorp.net/ - specializes in yacht insurance as does my insurer - http://www.helmsmanyacht.com/

 

[ted_reshetiloff]

A little off topic here but I have been thrilled so far with Boat US for insurance. I pay just under $800 a year and that gets me a free tow along with good coverage. They also will pay 50% of the cost of a hual out if your area goes under hurricane waringings. I haev not had any claims and hope never to so my opinion could be a little one sided...

 

[Geoff Johnson]

Loud hailer, now insurance coverage

The hidden problem with many boat policies is how the company treats depreciation. My surveyor, who does a lot of work for Boat US, told me that with a 20 year old boat you could end up getting as little as 10 cents on the dollar for a partial loss, which makes the insurance almost illusory. I pay an additional $300 per year to avoid any reduction in payout due to depreciation.

This is from the BoatUS website regarding its depreciation policy:

Repairs for Partial Losses
The reasonable cost of repairs is paid with depreciation applied to the following items: paint and finishes, protective covers, fabric or sails. Depreciation also applies to outdrive units, outboard motors and gel coat beginning with the sixth year from the year of manufacture, and to internal machinery beginning with the eleventh year from the year of manufacture. However, if used or remanufactured parts are available and you agree to accept them, depreciation will not apply. In the event of damage to plywood, plastic, fiberglass, metal, cement, or other molded material, the carrier is obligated to pay only the reasonable cost of repairing the damaged area. The carrier has the option to make, or reimburse you for, repairs or replacements, or to pay you directly, based on an agreed estimate of loss. Repairs and replacements will be made with like kind and quality.

https://www.boatus.com/insurance/policy.htm

 

[Lawdog]

foghorn, loudhailer

When I purchased my new dsc VHF from Standard, it came with a 30 watt loudhailer, listen-back, and foghorn/alarm built in. It cost an extra $50 or so for the option, but is well worth it, as you can hear noises from great distances away, which is great at night and in fog. I also purcahsed a speaker from West and installed it below the radar on the mast. The foghorn works automatically, which is a nice feature, and although I have never used the loudhailer except to tell my crew ashore that it was cocktail time, I',m sure a loudahiler will come in handy some day.
Neal

 

[Morgan Stinemetz]

I had a loud hailer on my boat one time, too. Its installation had been required by my insurance company. The loud hailer cost me $119.95 and the installation by my boat yard came to another $158.87.

After a race, my crew and I were anchored off a yacht club in Sarasota, FL. My wife was part of the crew. Anchored next to us was a cruising boat with a couple of gorgeous women on it. Married though I was, I couldn't keep my eyes off them. When my crew (and wife) decided to take the dinghy into the yacht club for the pre-awards drinking, I said that I would stay behind for a bit to rest. I'd call them on the loud hailer, I said, when I was ready to come in to the party. They all took off willingly.

The girls on the cruising boat could see that I was alone on my boat, so they decided to do some topless sunbathing. I got our the binoculars. They were the best looking women I had ever seen. And they knew I was watching because they sort of posed for me. It was breathtaking.

Just as it began to get dark--and the party was heated up ashore--the two women put their tops back on and slipped into the water and swam over to my boat and came aboard. I took them down below to dry off, and they took off their suits to wring them out. I mean, these ladies were hot! From shore, I could hear my crew calling for me to join the party. I got on the loud hailer and said that I was just getting ready for the party. They could come out and get me in 30 minutes, I said.

Then I got "involved" with both women at the same time, Their was an entanglement of six arms, six legs, three mouths, some Wesson oil, ropes and carabiners and a whole bunch of libido in the out-of-sight areas of my boat. This had been going on for 20 minutes when I felt someone come aboard my Ericson. It was my wife. The microphone switch on the loud hailer had stuck on the "on" position. The festivities below and all the heated conversation that went with it had been "broadcast" to the anchored fleet and also to the people who were at the party at the yacht club.

I am not married anymore. My yacht was sold as part of the divorce settlement. I am doing 25 to life for shooting my insurance agent. Personally, I can't recommend loud hailers.

 

[Tom Metzger]

Morgan - I am sending you $140 by e-mail to cover half of your cost for the loud hailer. Your former insurance agent's wife is worth it.

 

[bigtyme805]

What a story Morgan, my wife kept calling me and I couldn't stop reading what you wrote, she asked what I was reading that I couldn't answer her? A desperate husband's story.