Horn Replacement ?

I have the Ongaro mini compact twin horns which are quite loud when new, but finding even after a couple seasons, they do start to oxidize inside and have to be cleaned and adjusted. Last one I replaced, after pulling it off I decided to take it completely apart and found that the channels were full of some type of fiber material that some insect had built a home/nest in and was in both horns. Cleaned it out and readjusted and they worked again, but doubt would have lasted long due to the multiple times before I had been cleaning and adjusting.
 
I too have a 2024 Freedom (mine's a 275) and I'm sure my horn is working exactly like it's intended to sound - but it's just a rather unimpressive, sort of English sports car "meep meep" sound. There are definitely options out there for 12v electric powered air horns that will get the attention of other boaters near and far. I've installed one particular version of these horns on multiple motorcycles and when the OEM horn failed in my 2017 F-150 I put the same horn in it. I'm posting up here to ask if anyone has upgraded their horn with something like this sound blaster?


Specifically, I'm concerned about the max 20A draw this horn requires and whether the horn breaker can handle that - and if not, if there's an upgrade available for the breaker.
 
Twist said:
I too have a 2024 Freedom (mine's a 275) and I'm sure my horn is working exactly like it's intended to sound - but it's just a rather unimpressive, sort of English sports car "meep meep" sound. There are definitely options out there for 12v electric powered air horns that will get the attention of other boaters near and far. I've installed one particular version of these horns on multiple motorcycles and when the OEM horn failed in my 2017 F-150 I put the same horn in it. I'm posting up here to ask if anyone has upgraded their horn with something like this sound blaster?


Specifically, I'm concerned about the max 20A draw this horn requires and whether the horn breaker can handle that - and if not, if there's an upgrade available for the breaker.
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Two things come to mind immediately: The breaker isn't the real concern. Rather the wire size that is currently used may not be large enough for the new demand. My second thought was about the proposed new horn and whether it is designed for a saly water environment ( I assume you boat in such an environment. If not designed for salt water use, it might undergo rapid corrosion.
 
I meant to also ask if anyone knew the gauge of the wire to the horn.
 
My grady has 12 awg Orange/White to the horn.
Horns suck. see https://www.greatgrady.com/threads/horn.35498/post-254263

I toyed with idea of using an air horn. The one I looked at had the air pump separate from the horn, with tubing to the plastic bugles.
That would allow mounting pump in dry place and horns exposed on hardtop. Never followed thru on that idea. Ended up with another crappy electric horn....
 
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12 gauge should handle 20A if my chart is correct.
 
Twist said:
12 gauge should handle 20A if my chart is correct.
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depends on the round trip distance. You're probably pushing it.

You also have to be careful of where it is fed from.
If the Horn button/breaker on your dash is fed from the same daisy chain of power as the rest of your dash then pressing the new horn might blink any electronics switched from your dash.

To run an air horn you should probably use 10 awg and feed the breaker direct from the +12 bus under the helm.
 
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Honestly I hadn't even located where my current OEM horn was placed on the boat when I posted here that I might want to upgrade it. It's located behind this cover outside forward of the helm station so it's not in a current location that seems suitable for big dual air horns. I guess I could reroute the wiring from the main DC bus under the helm up through the hard top supports to a location up there. More homework required to see if this squeeze is worth the juice.

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