> Jeffrey Siegel wrote: > Maybe it's different in other places but from Maine through Key > West I'd > estimate that 80% of the recreational boats don't respond to whistle > signals. Heck, 30% of boats don't respond to a VHF hailing (60% of > sailboats in my experience along the ICW don't respond). Learning and > following the rules is great but if no one else is doing it, you > need to > find another way. Getting someone on the VHF and saying, "let's > pass on > one" is just asking for a collision. It's much better to say, > "let's pass > port-to-port." Our experience in the AICW is similar to Jeffrey's. Most sailboats seemed to recognize the whistle signals, as they turned the right way to wave us by; however the one's answering a VHF hail were rare. Most powerboats just thought we were saying 'hello'. Rick Quarles Barric II, Nordic Tug 32-147 New Bern, NC