Chrysler Sailors Forum

Safety Tip

Fenders can do more than save the gel coat on your boat!! They can save a life! Did you know that if someone accidently slipped into the water while boarding your boat that the fenders could save them? They provide a safety cushion between the hull and the dock! The fenders could prevent the boat from accidently crushing a person who has fallen in! Keep your fenders properly inflated!!


Question for today

Lets assume you are ghosting along in dense fog and you hear one prolonged blast and 3 short blasts of a horn. What does this mean?

I will take a shot at this...

1 blast : altering my coarse to starboard
3 blast: backing down , engines going astern

I'll give it a shot...
I suspect a vessel under tow, meaning there is somthing out there in the fog I havn't heard as of yet, either ahead or astern of where I think I heard a long and three shorts. I think I would probably give myself a bit of eye strain about then and be sure to make some noise of my own.

ANSWER:

On prolonged blast and three short indicate a vessel under tow!!

OK,

Where can we find the interpretations of these horn blasts?

It has been years since I've dealt with this? I would like to refresh my memory

A good start is

http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/mwv/mwv_file ... vrules.pdf

Section D covers sound & light signals

THe final answer is the CFRs or Code of Federal Regulations mostly in chapter 33.

Amazon usually has books on these. Be sure to get the correct book. I can check mine tonight if anyone is interested in actually buying the book however CFR's are now available online. If you captain a boat for money you must carry the CFR's with you along with your license and current charts plus updates. I also carry a Coast Pilot for the waters I frequent.


Here is an excellent sight on sound and light signals:
Click here!


Read and enjoy!!

Scott

Never mind on my book, Jeff just posted a link to it before I responded!!

Scott