Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

New to pontooning (not to boating).

Bought a new 2086 Sweetwater in May. Great boat but the horn is junk. Don't want to go the warranty route because it will be the same horn they replace.

Being its mounted under the deck/bow, it is a tough application because its always wet. Has anyone replaced their horn with a higher quality one that works? Can I have a recommendation?

I would "go the warranty route" - have them stand by a poor design. Then take your new horn and remount it on the helm. If you do, suggest coming up with a cover/bag to keep it out of the rain when trailering, assuming you do. My horn had too much rain shoved down it's throat and eventually failed. Replaced it with an "Aooga" horn. To keep it dry (inside) I plug it with a 2" PVC cap when traveling.

Our new 2015 Berkshire has a "tinny", really sick sounding puny horn. I supplemented it with a hand held, portable AIR horn that is extremely loud and will catch anyone's attention. I figure that if I really need to get someone's attention who may be not paying attention I've got the horn to do so. It's sitting in a portable cup holder that suction cup next to the helm seat.

Are you sure its the horn? If you haven't tested it, I'll bet its the switch. My sweetwater is on its 4th switch and its a 2013.

Well, some good suggestions. Never thought about the hand held option. Even if i do replace it, i should have a back-up anyway.

I'll check the switch too.

I'd love to put aduel trumpet horn on but there is no real place to mount it.

Thanks guys.

Strake wrote:Our new 2015 Berkshire has a "tinny", really sick sounding puny horn. I supplemented it with a hand held, portable AIR horn that is extremely loud and will catch anyone's attention. I figure that if I really need to get someone's attention who may be not paying attention I've got the horn to do so. It's sitting in a portable cup holder that suction cup next to the helm seat.

That was my solution as well - also added an air horn runing off a compresssor on the upper sundeck. Lots of ship and tug traffic around on the river.

Strake wrote:Our new 2015 Berkshire has a "tinny", really sick sounding puny horn. I supplemented it with a hand held, portable AIR horn that is extremely loud and will catch anyone's attention. I figure that if I really need to get someone's attention who may be not paying attention I've got the horn to do so. It's sitting in a portable cup holder that suction cup next to the helm seat.

Ours is ridiculous too. It is fairly loud but I doubt anyone would identify the noise as a boat horn. Why they put such a goofy sounding 'horn' on these Berkshires I'll never understand.

While some prefer to take the classic "Put the cow horns back on the cadillac" approach, more affluent customers often prefer to go the african exotic route, such as kudu horns. Personally, I subscribe to the futuristic space explorer style, with 60" polished stainless steel horns with a full curl, and simulated wave-runner blood on the tips.

Does anyone here boat where you use the horn for overtaking/communicating with other boats?

I consider myself a pretty safe boater, but I have to admit I do not use the horn for overtaking another boat. One blast means overtaking on one side, while two blasts means overtaking on the other side, I think, correct? 5 short blasts means "danger" or "no -- do not do what you are signalling you are about to do" or something like that, right? I forget.

This thread got me thinking...... I don't even know where my horn is on my dash, or if it works. I have never once tried to use it or felt like I needed it. Then I got to thinking about the rules and it just never has occurred to me to use the horn as intended. I have also never heard a boat horn being used as intended on our lakes. It just does not happen where we boat.

Is it common practice where some of you boat?

woolznaz wrote:Does anyone here boat where you use the horn for overtaking/communicating with other boats?

I consider myself a pretty safe boater, but I have to admit I do not use the horn for overtaking another boat. One blast means overtaking on one side, while two blasts means overtaking on the other side, I think, correct? 5 short blasts means "danger" or "no -- do not do what you are signalling you are about to do" or something like that, right? I forget.

This thread got me thinking...... I don't even know where my horn is on my dash, or if it works. I have never once tried to use it or felt like I needed it. Then I got to thinking about the rules and it just never has occurred to me to use the horn as intended. I have also never heard a boat horn being used as intended on our lakes. It just does not happen where we boat.

Is it common practice where some of you boat?

You are correct! You also can blast one time for port to port meeting and 2 for stbd to stbd . However 99% of the folks you are going to encounter on the water these days wont have a damned clue what you are doing and it may cause an incident.

We call those meetings and over takings 1 whistle side and 2 whistle side. These Are ususally performed over Marine vhf radios on commercial vessels both offshore and inshore these days due mostly to AC pilot houses and bridges.

I use a portable air horn on my boat because if I need it I want a real loud one!

woolznaz wrote:Does anyone here boat where you use the horn for overtaking/communicating with other boats?

If you motor on the Mississippi, I'm guessing you should know all that, but in the "high state" of Colorado, I'm guessing that there are only three of us who are remotely familiar with the concept. That said, my horn is brutally loud. If I ever use it, I warn all passengers to cover their ears first.

I have a 2014 Tahoe. The horn lasted less than a year, does not work at all now. Dealer is almost 2 hrs away so to me it is not worth making the trip to have it replaced. Maybe one day I will get energetic enough to replace it myself. LOL

Our factory horn squeeks and is of little benefit.

We use one of these. Its super loud:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000A ... ge_o00_s02

rhorne wrote:I have a 2014 Tahoe. The horn lasted less than a year, does not work at all now. Dealer is almost 2 hrs away so to me it is not worth making the trip to have it replaced. Maybe one day I will get energetic enough to replace it myself. LOL

You have a TAHOE!!!

Call them! (800) 334-2913
They'll send you a new one!

The horn on my 2014 Sweetwater just went out too. And the boat is only 7 months old. I think it was one big salt water wave that we slammed through that did it in last weekend...