Jonathan and List,

It is a bit easier to remember the horn/whistle signals as follows:  One short blast = I will pass you to MY Port side (Port is a single syllable word).  Two short blasts = I will pass you on MY Starboard side (Starboard is a two syllable word).  The other vessel should sound agreement with the same signal or 5 short blasts to indicate its.disagreement.

Keep in mind that tow boat operators are now in air conditioned bridges, so hearing weak horn signals from pleasure craft is a problem; however they should be heard from other pleasure craft who do not use their VHF radios as they should!

Keep in mind that if You ask a Tow Boat operator which side of HIS rig he would like you to pass on, his response should be taken as if he was the "first vessel" sounding the signal (you asked the tow boat to take charge of the passing procedure of its preference).

The other horn/whistle signals that are easy to remember are:  3 short blasts = my engines are astern - and other vessels are in the vicinity (three words).  One Long blast = Leaving my slip or fairway (one long word leaving). One Long blast followed by one short blast = Please Open - bridge or lock. 5 Short blasts = I disagree with your maneuver OR that is a dangerous maneuver - 5 words.

Interesting enough, on the East Coast ICW, the way to avert a channel 16 call, change to a working channel, etc. is to simply state:  Vessel Name 3 times, this is (your vessel name) wishing to overtake you, and the following:  "Two Toots and No Bells".  Which simply means that I wish to pass you on my Starboard side -- your Port if you slow down and move to the right of the channel -- I will give you a Slow Pass and not ring your bell.  Saves making contact and then switching to a working channel, etc.

John Gill
Two J's V
AGLCA Loopers

---=======

On Sep 19, 2012, at 5:05 PM, jonathan olenick wrote:

oh oh. here we go with the whistle thread again. and I'm not sure we're off
to a good start.
On Sep 19, 2012 3:06 PM, "jonathan olenick" jdolenickmd@yahoo.com wrote:

To Clerify your very important third paragraph; If the tow replys "pass me on the ones" overtake and meeting just the same, he wishes to be passed on his PORT SIDE ( one syllable). Am I correct. Thanx, Jon.

From: John & Judy Gill jjgill@twojscom.com
To: jonathan olenick jdolenickmd@yahoo.com
Cc: great loop great-loop@lists.trawlering.com
Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2012 2:29 PM
Subject: Re: GL: non-radio slow pass

Jonathan and List,

It is a bit easier to remember the horn/whistle signals as follows:  One short blast = I will pass you to MY Port side (Port is a single syllable word).  Two short blasts = I will pass you on MY Starboard side (Starboard is a two syllable word).  The other vessel should sound agreement with the same signal or 5 short blasts to indicate its.disagreement.

Keep in mind that tow boat operators are now in air conditioned bridges, so hearing weak horn signals from pleasure craft is a problem; however they should be heard from other pleasure craft who do not use their VHF radios as they should!

Keep in mind that if You ask a Tow Boat operator which side of HIS rig he would like you to pass on, his response should be taken as if he was the "first vessel" sounding the signal (you asked the tow boat to take charge of the passing procedure of its preference).

The other horn/whistle signals that are easy to remember are:  3 short blasts = my engines are astern - and other vessels are in the vicinity (three words).  One Long blast = Leaving my slip or fairway (one long word leaving). One Long blast followed by one short blast = Please Open - bridge or lock. 5 Short blasts = I disagree with your maneuver OR that is a dangerous maneuver - 5 words.

Interesting enough, on the East Coast ICW, the way to avert a channel 16 call, change to a working channel, etc. is to simply state:  Vessel Name 3 times, this is (your vessel name) wishing to overtake you, and the following:  "Two Toots and No Bells".  Which simply means that I wish to pass you on my Starboard side -- your Port if you slow down and move to the right of the channel -- I will give you a Slow Pass and not ring your bell.  Saves making contact and then switching to a working channel, etc.

John Gill
Two J's V
AGLCA Loopers

---=======

On Sep 19, 2012, at 5:05 PM, jonathan olenick wrote:

Here we go ....

Hmmmm, not if he's like other tows I have met.  One as in one whistle.  Pass overtaking on his stb, your port.  Pass meeting on his port, your port.  Very confusing !  Guraranteed to mess up your mind and that is not what you need while encountering these situations.  Things can get messy.

It really doesn't have to do with which side of the vessels are being referenced as much as which direction you are altering course.  One whistle....I am altering my course to starboard, two whistles... I am altering my course to port.

Here's a odd way of remembering the meeting/overtaking whistle signals.  Pretend you are Elmer Fudd.  "One whistle, I go to my 'wight' "...(Elmers' pronounciation of "right").  Works for both overtaking and meeting.  You don't have to remember anything about whose port or starboard side it is.

This works on the water.  Doesn't work so well on the CG's captain's test.  :-)

T

----- Original Message -----
From: "jonathan olenick" jdolenickmd@yahoo.com
To: "John & Judy Gill" jjgill@twojscom.com; "great loop" great-loop@lists.trawlering.com
Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2012 6:26 PM
Subject: Re: GL: non-radio slow pass

To Clerify your very important third paragraph; If the tow replys "pass me on the ones" overtake and meeting just the same, he wishes to be passed on his PORT SIDE ( one syllable). Am I correct. Thanx, Jon.

From: John & Judy Gill jjgill@twojscom.com
To: jonathan olenick jdolenickmd@yahoo.com
Cc: great loop great-loop@lists.trawlering.com
Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2012 2:29 PM
Subject: Re: GL: non-radio slow pass

Jonathan and List,

It is a bit easier to remember the horn/whistle signals as follows: One short blast = I will pass you to MY Port side (Port is a single syllable word). Two short blasts = I will pass you on MY Starboard side (Starboard is a two syllable word). The other vessel should sound agreement with the same signal or 5 short blasts to indicate its.disagreement.

Keep in mind that tow boat operators are now in air conditioned bridges, so hearing weak horn signals from pleasure craft is a problem; however they should be heard from other pleasure craft who do not use their VHF radios as they should!

Keep in mind that if You ask a Tow Boat operator which side of HIS rig he would like you to pass on, his response should be taken as if he was the "first vessel" sounding the signal (you asked the tow boat to take charge of the passing procedure of its preference).

The other horn/whistle signals that are easy to remember are: 3 short blasts = my engines are astern - and other vessels are in the vicinity (three words). One Long blast = Leaving my slip or fairway (one long word leaving). One Long blast followed by one short blast = Please Open - bridge or lock. 5 Short blasts = I disagree with your maneuver OR that is a dangerous maneuver - 5 words.

Interesting enough, on the East Coast ICW, the way to avert a channel 16 call, change to a working channel, etc. is to simply state: Vessel Name 3 times, this is (your vessel name) wishing to overtake you, and the following: "Two Toots and No Bells". Which simply means that I wish to pass you on my Starboard side -- your Port if you slow down and move to the right of the channel -- I will give you a Slow Pass and not ring your bell. Saves making contact and then switching to a working channel, etc.

John Gill
Two J's V
AGLCA Loopers

---=======

On Sep 19, 2012, at 5:05 PM, jonathan olenick wrote:

http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/listinfo/great-loop_lists.trawlering.com

To modify your Great-Loop subscription options (change email address,
unsubscribe, etc.) go to: http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/options/great-loop_lists.trawlering.com

It never ceases to amaze me that there are actually boaters out there on the America's Great Loop Cruise who apparently have never taken even a basic safe boating course???  Such as: <americasboatingcourse.com> by the USPS which offers a home study course with Squadron mentors and proctored exams.  BTW, such a course is necessary to operate in New Jersey, also in Canada if in their country for more than 45 days.

John

---==================

On Sep 19, 2012, at 5:16 PM, Vincent Chianese wrote: