How to warn some other boat?

[rivonia]

Originally Posted by carstenb

A trained yachtsman will interpert the signal to mean some does not understand his intentions. The USCG recommends using it to get someones attention, which it will do, although if there are many boats on the water the trained yachtsman will ignore e signal once he has determined that he is not interfering with anyone.

I have tremendous respect for the USCG and for every other outfit of the same kind around the world. Here, though, they are patchworking something in, because the najority of american boaters have never learned how to sail or the colregs or the signals.

There is another thread regarding the correct pronounciation of PAN (it is not PON, no matter what the USCG says). Intersting reading. Apparently, the rest of the world can say PAN but the US can only pronounce it PON.

The USCG is not infallible. Note that their recomendation says 5 blasts will get someones attention. They do not say the signal means "danger".

The morse signals are actually not outdated nor are they outmoded. Radios have become commonplace, but as I noted earlier, a lot of people use them for errands like ordering a pizza.

Well said +1

[Blue Crab]

Originally Posted by D&D

Spot on...and now for a lighter note in the same corner...

Keep Clear of Me, Floating Impressions

A $50 T shirt has to be nautical.

[Richard_W]

Originally Posted by carstenb

A trained yachtsman will interpert the signal to mean some does not understand his intentions. The USCG recommends using it to get someones attention, which it will do, although if there are many boats on the water the trained yachtsman will ignore e signal once he has determined that he is not interfering with anyone.
...
The USCG is not infallible. Note that their recomendation says 5 blasts will get someones attention. They do not say the signal means "danger".

I get your point and appreciate your skills but don't be surprised if some boat some day zooms by you into the danger before you have time to even unfold the first flag. The life in the fast lane is catching up with all of us.

You are right, USCG does not say "danger", they say "a danger exists" somewhere in the general vicinity.

[rgscpat]

Oh course there are sailors who know their flags.... if I see Zulu, I know to re-start and taking a scoring penalty for being in the triangle during the minute before the start.... grin.

Exotica...no doubt people will respond immediately to these:
NK There is not sufficient depth of water
NT 6 What is your maximum draft?
JJ My maximum draft when I went aground was (number feet or meters)
OS 1 You should keep a lookout for mines
OW There is a minefield ahead of you.
You should stop your vessel and wait for instructions
PQ 1 You should keep further away from the coast
NE You should proceed with great caution .
NE 1 You should proceed with great caution; the coast is dangerous.
NE 5 You should proceed with great caution; hostile vessel sighted (in lat… long…)
RY You should proceed at slow speed when passing me
(or vessels making this signal)
UV 7 Having disregarded our request for compliance with the
conditions of innocent passage through the territorial sea,
you are required to leave the territorial sea immediately
and perhaps my favorite:
SN You should stop immediately. Do not scuttle.
Do not lower boats. Do not use the wireless.
If you disobey I shall open fire on you.

[David_Old_Jersey]

Unless I was somewhere that was clearly a difficult place, and the boat was clearly unsure - and I was confident I knew enough to help!........then I would likely not warn them!, not because I was being mean!, but simply because I would be thinking "he surely isn't going to do that???!" or presume he has local knowledge or would puzzle it out for self (I think it's called giving folks the benefit of the doubt!)......

......for an actual signal, IMO a series of blasts (above the car style honking!) will likely raise awareness of those around to at least ask of themselves, "is something going on that I should be aware of?"....how many blasts?, probably half a dozen (I forget what the col regs say - I suspect most others won't know as well!).....and followed up by some pointing.

[senormechanico]

My opinion in a nutshell:

Airplane Movie Counter Point clip - YouTube

Steve

[carstenb]

Originally Posted by rgscpat

Oh course there are sailors who know their flags.... if I see Zulu, I know to re-start and taking a scoring penalty for being in the triangle during the minute before the start.... grin.
y
and perhaps my favorite:
SN You should stop immediately. Do not scuttle.
Do not lower boats. Do not use the wireless.
If you disobey I shall open fire on you.

yes, I like that one also. Perhaps I need to mount a 50 cal. on the bow.

This is an interesting thread. Almost noone is arguing that boaters should LEARN signals. Most are arguing that it is ok to not understand them.

Boating safety is paramount - unfortunately few actually take the time to learn how to sail (motor or sail - doesn't matter).

[omgitsgela]

You really can't force genious. It's not your responsibility to warn them, but if they get grounded, it is your responsibility to save them, or at least report it.