Replacing electric trumpet horn

MiamiAG

So my electric trumpet horn isn't working. I disassembled the back piece to see if I can clean it but no luck.

I believe West Marine sells the identical one. My questions are:

1. The wire from the horn runs down through the hull into what seems to be the cabinet where the TV is in my cabin. I'm hoping I can open the cabinet and see the cable hanging there just waiting for me to splice it with the new one. Unlikely, but I'm hoping. Anyone done this before and can point me in the right direction?

2. The hole where the wire goes through the hull seems to be sealed with a black caulking that is obviously there to make it water-tight. I'm going to have to remove that when I replace the horn. Anyone have any idea what this is so I can replace it?

Thanks!

Art

Aqua_Aura

There was a post on this before I read. I think you have to access the ceiling in the bathroom to get at those wires. 

Cableguy Greg

It should be above the tv cabinet where the lights are at. The lights are spring loaded and they pull down for access. 

Aqua_Aura

Cableguy Greg said:

It should be above the tv cabinet where the lights are at. The lights are spring loaded and they pull down for access. 

Well that is great news if that's true! I think the post I read was for a 270 possibly. 

LaRea

The caulking ... have you ever used butyl tape?  That stuff is like magic.  Sticks to anything, doesn't shrink, stays pliable forever.  

Example:
https://www.amazon.com/Dicor-BT-1834-1-Butyl-Seal-Tape/dp/B001FCB4JS

Liberty44140

Butyl tape is indeed awesome for deck fittings 

Black_Diamond

Switch to air horns. 😁

davidbrooks

Gotta agree with BD. I tried replacing mine. Still sounded horrible. Put in short double trumpet air horns over the winter and they are awesome. I often have to navigate through boats waiting for the ramp or fuel dock to get to my slip. They are more concerned about losing thier place in line than anything else. Well now i have a very direct way of getting thier attention so i can get through. My new favorite toy.

Aqua_Aura

Any suggestions for which air horn? All the wiring would be inside then the air hose would go into the horn?

Found this for comparison of horns. Nice to hear how they all sound. 

https://youtu.be/El1n-iZQ1xU

davidbrooks

I bought these. https://www.marinco.com/en/10108. I mounted the air compressor which is the size of a beer can near the dash.  I have a subwoofer there so it was easy to remove to have a nice large hole to work in.  Then ran the air hose up the radar arch to the horns.  It is just two wires and easy to hook up but i couldn't use the existing wiring for the horns.  No matter what i tried it didn't supply enough power to the air compressor.  It was simple enough though to find another source.  

Aqua_Aura

Yeah I saw the air horns take 20A or somewhere about that according to the video. The electric horn is less than 4A. 

LaRea

If you go with an air horn, the trumpet has to point down.  Any spray or rain that enters the horn will trickle down into the air pump, and then no workee.  

Also, don't use cheap hose.  Under pressure, the hose expands so much that it makes a delay before the horn blows.  Instead of bapp-bapp it sounds like phhhewwww-phhewwww.  

I gave up on air horns a long time ago.  Couldn't make them last more than a year or two.  

Aqua_Aura

Maybe it's just easier to keep one of those stadium blow horn thingies you always see at soccer games 😁