What the heck is this thing? A bell, a light?

Discussion in 'Boat Design' started by oldmanoftheseas, Aug 12, 2019.

  1. oldmanoftheseas
    Joined: Nov 2013
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    oldmanoftheseas Junior Member

    Hey everyone.A friend and I were discussing this and wondering what it is exactly.His thought was that it might be a light,because in close shot you can see what appears to be a wire running up to it..I however thought it was a bell..Ive seen on other boats these crows nest bells were used to alert the fishermen below that something was spotted in the water...So can anyone clear this up and what would be the exact term or name for this?I had heard the term "tuna bell" before,but cannot find any reference to that online at all.
    Much appreciated
     

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  2. Deering
    Joined: Feb 2005
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    Deering Senior Member

    Seems pretty far up there to be a deck light, given the available lighting technology of its day.
     
  3. Tiny Turnip
    Joined: Mar 2008
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    Tiny Turnip Senior Member

    funny shape for a bell- I can't see it ringing well, or any reason for a crow's nest bell not to be bell shaped.
    Does look more light shaped than bell shaped.
     
  4. BlueBell
    Joined: May 2017
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    BlueBell . . . _ _ _ . . . _ _ _

    Beats the hell out of me, I'm going with light.
     
  5. oldmanoftheseas
    Joined: Nov 2013
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    oldmanoftheseas Junior Member

    All good points. Its certainly odd, but then again, the whole boat is odd. Thanks for chiming in, everyone
     
  6. Earl Boebert
    Joined: Dec 2005
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    Earl Boebert Senior Member

    I've seen radar domes of roughly that size and shape.

    Cheers,

    Earl
     
  7. oldmanoftheseas
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    Location: Seattle

    oldmanoftheseas Junior Member

    Ahh..hey you could be on to something. That would explain the placement of it, shape of it and the wire.
     
  8. Squidly-Diddly
    Joined: Sep 2007
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    Location: SF bay

    Squidly-Diddly Senior Member

    its a Flying Saucer. It only looks like its attached to the boat due to chance photo timing.

    Was it there when another pic of boat was taken shortly before or after??? nuff said.
     
  9. JSL
    Joined: Nov 2012
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    Location: Delta BC

    JSL Senior Member

    radar domes usually have the mounts under the unit so the dome can be removed for servicing.
    My guess: it might be a 'gong' which has a distinctly different tone to a bell. Regardless, it is mounted quite high which is a bit unusual.
    So... if I am correct, we'll call this a 'gong show'...!
     
  10. Mr Efficiency
    Joined: Oct 2010
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    Mr Efficiency Senior Member

    Could it be an alarm of some kind activated by a spotter up on the mast, scouting for fish schools or whatever, the cross beam and the climbing rungs suggests as much.
     
  11. fallguy
    Joined: Dec 2016
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    fallguy Senior Member

    Y not a radar reflector?

    Wire part of a grounding system?
     
  12. JSL
    Joined: Nov 2012
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    JSL Senior Member

    I should have picked up on this before but:
    Perhaps it is a container for a 'day shape' to comply with the ColRegs... ie: a pull down cone, square, ball etc. depending on type of fishing which are required to be 600mm ( 24")
     
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  13. W9GFO
    Joined: Dec 2014
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    W9GFO Senior Member

    I think that wire is going to the anemometer. My bet is on light. Here is another picture of it;
    [​IMG]
     
  14. W9GFO
    Joined: Dec 2014
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    Location: Olalla, WA

    W9GFO Senior Member

    A better image, but being a movie prop I would not trust any fine details.

    Bell or light.jpg
     

  15. W9GFO
    Joined: Dec 2014
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    Location: Olalla, WA

    W9GFO Senior Member

    Though if it is a light, the "reflector" portion is awful dark. Note that there are two deck lights on the spreaders and another lower on the mast (out of frame). bell or light 02.png
     
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