Bell on board?

Seaplane Pilot · 09-12-2018, 07:18 PM

NH still requires any boat 26 feet LOA or over to carry a bell on board. However, US Coast Guard regulations changed, and now only require a bell on boats 65 feet or over. I wonder if NH will change their requirements to match USCG requirements? In addition, how many boats 26 feet or over operating on NH waters actually have a bell on board?

codeman671 · 09-12-2018, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seaplane Pilot

NH still requires any boat 26 feet or over to carry a bell on board. However, US Coast Guard regulations changed, and now only require a bell on boats 40 feet or over. I wonder if NH will change their requirements to match USCG requirements? In addition, how many boats 26 feet or over registered in actually have a bell on board?

I carry one of my 34’ on the lake. Not worth the hassle if I get stopped and someone wants to really crawl all over it. I got it years ago when I bought a 32’ Monterey from shepa and have moved it from boat to boat since. They included it in my safety package.

Seaplane Pilot · 09-12-2018, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by codeman671

I carry one of my 34’ on the lake. Not worth the hassle if I get stopped and someone wants to really crawl all over it. I got it years ago when I bought a 32’ Monterey from shepa and have moved it from boat to boat since. They included it in my safety package.

A friend of mine got pinched by MP a couple of weeks ago for not having one on his boat, which is why I posted. I have had one on all of my boats that have been 26’ + since 2002.

Woodsy · 09-12-2018, 08:09 PM

I have on on my 26zx... and all of my friends 26 & over have them too! We jokingly refer to them as "Bell In A Box" as they have never, and most likely will ever be used....

Woodsy

Seaplane Pilot · 09-12-2018, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woodsy

I have on on my 26zx... and all of my friends 26 & over have them too! We jokingly refer to them as "Bell In A Box" as they have never, and most likely will ever be used....

Woodsy

Too funny Woodsy! Mine is the same, it hasn’t seen the light of day in about 15 years! Maybe we could use them to summon the tender to bring us to the Dive!

NHskier · 09-12-2018, 09:01 PM

I carry one on my 26+ Cobalt. As others have mentioned, it's not worth it if stopped. The one and only time I've taken it out of the box was when I got it, just to see what it looked liked.

tis · 09-13-2018, 04:57 AM

Funny how the MP officer knew that rule but they don't understand about no wake, 150'rule, no rafting rules. And we too, do have a bell on the big boat.

Seaplane Pilot · 09-13-2018, 05:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tis

Funny how the MP officer knew that rule but they don't understand about no wake, 150'rule, no rafting rules. And we too, do have a bell on the big boat.

I agree. Perhaps the new protocol should be to start ringing the bell immediately if pulled over by MP. Maybe it would solve the problem!

SIKSUKR · 09-13-2018, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seaplane Pilot

I agree. Perhaps the new protocol should be to start ringing the bell immediately if pulled over by MP. Maybe it would solve the problem!

Haha. Who rang that bell?

Seaplane Pilot · 09-13-2018, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SIKSUKR

Haha. Who rang that bell?

Now that's a horse of a different color....C'mon in!

Descant · 09-13-2018, 03:56 PM

If you're in a NWZ and the bell rings by itself, slow down. I won't hear mine, it's in the box in storage someplace. But I have two horns and a whistle. Call me. I have a ringtone that sounds like a cow bell.

8gv · 09-13-2018, 05:02 PM

I had completely forgotten about this requirement.

My bell will be arriving soon.

It was $20 from Amazon.

Cal Coon · 09-13-2018, 05:59 PM

I was "escorted" back to the boat ramp, and kicked off the lake by MP for not having a whistle on my boat one time many years ago on Pawtuckaway Lake. He didn't appreciate me showing him that I can whistle (very loud) with my fingers... After I whistled with my fingers, he said to me, "how are you gonna do that if you get knocked out of the boat and get knocked unconscious", to which I replied, how am I going to blow a whistle if I'm unconscious?? He then proceeded to show me back to the ramp...

SIKSUKR · 09-14-2018, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cal Coon

I was "escorted" back to the boat ramp, and kicked off the lake by MP for not having a whistle on my boat one time many years ago on Pawtuckaway Lake. He didn't appreciate me showing him that I can whistle (very loud) with my fingers... After I whistled with my fingers, he said to me, "how are you gonna do that if you get knocked out of the boat and get knocked unconscious", to which I replied, how am I going to blow a whistle if I'm unconscious?? He then proceeded to show me back to the ramp...

To which I would have replied,"if I get thrown out of the boat I cant use the whistle thats in the boat but I certainly can use my built in one".

Phantom · 09-14-2018, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cal Coon

I was "escorted" back to the boat ramp, and kicked off the lake by MP for not having a whistle on my boat one time many years ago on Pawtuckaway Lake. He didn't appreciate me showing him that I can whistle (very loud) with my fingers... After I whistled with my fingers, he said to me, "how are you gonna do that if you get knocked out of the boat and get knocked unconscious", to which I replied, how am I going to blow a whistle if I'm unconscious?? He then proceeded to show me back to the ramp...

Finally found someone cut from the same cloth as me !!

Most would say, yes sir/ No sir .....

Love it Cal Coon !!!

Years past I had a boat “Vanity Registration” ( single digit ) at the time it was Registered in MA and I got pulled by MP for not having the 3 leading zero’s. He went on to tell me that it was the law in NH — to which I reminded him the boat is registered in MA ! Dumbfounded he did a complete safety check & left.

MA has since changed their laws (btw)

Cal Coon · 09-14-2018, 06:39 PM

Yes Sir / No Sir is usually for those trying to hide something... Been there, done that!! I have no problem looking them right in the eye these days!! Vanity registration numbers would be a great way of raising "more" revenue instead of a kayak tax (or some other stupid tax proposal) as mentioned in another post!! Getting "creative" like that is the best way to raise "more" revenue instead of new taxes on everyone, or a "certain group". Maybe they could start a new lottery game just to help fund Fish and Game. Last time I checked, people love to gamble. I know this because I ALWAYS seem to get stuck behind them in line at the gas station!!!

ThePlut · 09-17-2018, 10:09 AM

Yup, I do now. Completely forgot about the rule and a few years back I got pulled over for something else and got a ticket for not having the bell.

I had to go buy a bell, and have the place I bought it fill out a card that said I bought a bell, and send that to the MP.

That bell has never been rung...

The Real BigGuy · 09-19-2018, 10:34 AM

Now that’s history! Great find!

Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

09-12-2018, 07:18 PM	#1
Seaplane Pilot Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 1,177 Thanks: 662 Thanked 943 Times in 368 Posts	Bell on board? NH still requires any boat 26 feet LOA or over to carry a bell on board. However, US Coast Guard regulations changed, and now only require a bell on boats 65 feet or over. I wonder if NH will change their requirements to match USCG requirements? In addition, how many boats 26 feet or over operating on NH waters actually have a bell on board?

09-12-2018, 08:09 PM	#4
Woodsy Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Weirs Beach Posts: 1,949 Thanks: 80 Thanked 969 Times in 432 Posts	Bell In A Box! I have on on my 26zx... and all of my friends 26 & over have them too! We jokingly refer to them as "Bell In A Box" as they have never, and most likely will ever be used.... Woodsy __________________ The only way to eliminate ignorant behavior is through education. You can't fix stupid.

09-12-2018, 09:01 PM	#6
NHskier Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 284 Thanks: 40 Thanked 33 Times in 30 Posts	I carry one on my 26+ Cobalt. As others have mentioned, it's not worth it if stopped. The one and only time I've taken it out of the box was when I got it, just to see what it looked liked. __________________ NHskier

09-14-2018, 06:39 PM	#16
Cal Coon Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Lakes Region Posts: 475 Thanks: 179 Thanked 158 Times in 100 Posts	Yes Sir / No Sir is usually for those trying to hide something... Been there, done that!! I have no problem looking them right in the eye these days!! Vanity registration numbers would be a great way of raising "more" revenue instead of a kayak tax (or some other stupid tax proposal) as mentioned in another post!! Getting "creative" like that is the best way to raise "more" revenue instead of new taxes on everyone, or a "certain group". Maybe they could start a new lottery game just to help fund Fish and Game. Last time I checked, people love to gamble. I know this because I ALWAYS seem to get stuck behind them in line at the gas station!!! Last edited by Cal Coon; 09-15-2018 at 06:07 AM.

09-17-2018, 10:09 AM	#17
ThePlut Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 150 Thanks: 1 Thanked 13 Times in 11 Posts	Yup Yup, I do now. Completely forgot about the rule and a few years back I got pulled over for something else and got a ticket for not having the bell. I had to go buy a bell, and have the place I bought it fill out a card that said I bought a bell, and send that to the MP. That bell has never been rung...

The Following User Says Thank You to codeman671 For This Useful Post:
Seaplane Pilot (09-12-2018)

09-13-2018, 04:57 AM	#7
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,404 Thanks: 719 Thanked 1,379 Times in 955 Posts	Funny how the MP officer knew that rule but they don't understand about no wake, 150'rule, no rafting rules. And we too, do have a bell on the big boat.

The Following User Says Thank You to Seaplane Pilot For This Useful Post:
ApS (09-13-2018)

09-13-2018, 03:56 PM	#11
Descant Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Merrimack and Welch Island Posts: 4,030 Thanks: 1,208 Thanked 1,509 Times in 982 Posts	If you're in a NWZ and the bell rings by itself, slow down. I won't hear mine, it's in the box in storage someplace. But I have two horns and a whistle. Call me. I have a ringtone that sounds like a cow bell.

09-13-2018, 05:02 PM	#12
8gv Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 2,009 Thanks: 61 Thanked 701 Times in 455 Posts	I had completely forgotten about this requirement. My bell will be arriving soon. It was $20 from Amazon.

09-13-2018, 05:59 PM	#13
Cal Coon Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Lakes Region Posts: 475 Thanks: 179 Thanked 158 Times in 100 Posts	I was "escorted" back to the boat ramp, and kicked off the lake by MP for not having a whistle on my boat one time many years ago on Pawtuckaway Lake. He didn't appreciate me showing him that I can whistle (very loud) with my fingers... After I whistled with my fingers, he said to me, "how are you gonna do that if you get knocked out of the boat and get knocked unconscious", to which I replied, how am I going to blow a whistle if I'm unconscious?? He then proceeded to show me back to the ramp...

09-19-2018, 10:34 AM	#18
The Real BigGuy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 1,108 Thanks: 108 Thanked 410 Times in 244 Posts	Now that’s history! Great find! Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app