Additional sound signals for electric boats?

[Myrtonos]

Do electric boaters need additional sound signals given how quiet electric boats often are? One who is operating a powered vessel may need to signal operating astern propulsion such as by three short blasts of the horn, so might it be useful for those operating electric boats to also signal operating propulsion in the other direction, such as by sounding a bell?

 

[dingbat]

Use the same sound signal you use to signal non-powered boats.

 

[Myrtonos]

What sound signal signals non-powered boats and what does that mean?

 

[dingbat]

Navigation Sounds : BoatUS Foundation

The BoatUS Foundation provides this study guide to not only help with passing our free online boating safety course, but to provide a knowledge base for anyone wanting to learn about boating.

www.boatus.org

 

[roffey]

when I am under power the only vessel I can hear when it passes me is a jet ski? I would think the same rules of the water would apply to any boat out on the water.

 

[GA_Boater]

An electric boat is a power boat.

 

[Myrtonos]

Think of it this way:
If an internal combustion engine is powering the vessel, the engine sound indicates whether propulsion is operated or not, one can tell by ear.
Sometimes when operating astern propulsion, an additional sound signal is needed to make it clear to other skippers and to sailors the direction of the propulsion.
With an electric boat, it might not be so easy or even always possible, to tell by ear that propulsion is being operated because of how quiet electric motors can be, so there may be a good idea to also signal forward propulsion is being operated.

 

[GA_Boater]

This is all covered in Coast Guard regulations and safety courses. IC or electric powered boats are both powered boats.

While you figure it out, yell FORE when moving into forward. Maybe REV when shifting into reverse.

A little help;

Navigation Sounds : BoatUS Foundation

The BoatUS Foundation provides this study guide to not only help with passing our free online boating safety course, but to provide a knowledge base for anyone wanting to learn about boating.

www.boatus.org

 

[Myrtonos]

I know about the regulations but I was thinking of additional sound signals that are only permitted, not required might be a good idea for electric vessels.
I.C or electrically powered road vehicles used to both simply be powered vehicles, this was when electric ones were less common and no electric car model was commercially available.
Now, newer regulations treat electric road vehicles a little differently, so how about New Coast Guard regulations that treat electric vessels a little differently from other powered vessels?

At the moment, most powered vessels have internal combustion engines, and maybe nearly all did until recently, similar to road vehicles. And as noted before, one can tell by ear that propulsion is being operated. This would be why the regulations don't (currently) require someone operating a powered vessel to signal they are operating fore propulsion.
It seems that being able to tell by ear if propulsion is being operated could be useful. Say you are sailing and a powered vessel is coming up behind you. If it is altering course, a horn signal is given, but what if it isn't altering course?
Or what if a powered vessel is coming around a blind corner, isn't it useful to hear it's engine?
And maybe the engine sound indicating that forward propulsion is being operated may even be of use if the other vessel can be seen. Just because it is moving forward doesn't mean that propulsion is being operated in that direction, especially given the dynamic properties of water.
When out at sea, it may be hard to judge the ground speed of a vessel.

Electric boats may well be quiet enough that others might not be able to tell (without a sound signal) if propulsion is being operated. So maybe a bell sounded when operating propulsion in the other direction might be useful.

 

[GA_Boater]

Do you know all operators are responsible for being aware of their surroundings?

How bored are you?

 

[Scott Danforth]

I know about the regulations but I was thinking of additional sound signals that are only permitted, not required might be a good idea for electric vessels.
I.C or electrically powered road vehicles used to both simply be powered vehicles, this was when electric ones were less common and no electric car model was commercially available.
Now, newer regulations treat electric road vehicles a little differently, so how about New Coast Guard regulations that treat electric vessels a little differently from other powered vessels?

At the moment, most powered vessels have internal combustion engines, and maybe nearly all did until recently, similar to road vehicles. And as noted before, one can tell by ear that propulsion is being operated. This would be why the regulations don't (currently) require someone operating a powered vessel to signal they are operating fore propulsion.
It seems that being able to tell by ear if propulsion is being operated could be useful. Say you are sailing and a powered vessel is coming up behind you. If it is altering course, a horn signal is given, but what if it isn't altering course?
Or what if a powered vessel is coming around a blind corner, isn't it useful to hear it's engine?
And maybe the engine sound indicating that forward propulsion is being operated may even be of use if the other vessel can be seen. Just because it is moving forward doesn't mean that propulsion is being operated in that direction, especially given the dynamic properties of water.
When out at sea, it may be hard to judge the ground speed of a vessel.

Electric boats may well be quiet enough that others might not be able to tell (without a sound signal) if propulsion is being operated. So maybe a bell sounded when operating propulsion in the other direction might be useful.

sail boats are significantly quieter than electric boats

you are over-thinking it

 

[Myrtonos]

Do you know all operators are responsible for being aware of their surroundings?

Yes but apparently there are often responsible for being aware of vessels that are out of their sight. Isn't that why alternation of course and astern propulsion are signaled by horns or radio, not by exterior lights?

sail boats are significantly quieter than electric boats

I have seen a few videos of electric boats, with sound, and those electric boats in those videos are indeed very quiet. Electric motors are very quiet, especially these days.

 

[roscoe]

Sailboats do emit a sound when traveling to aft.
It sounds like.... HELPPPPPP !
followed by.....
OH SHOOT.

 

[Myrtonos]

My understanding is that sailboats don't even have horns, or at least aren't required to have operational ones.

 

[Scott Danforth]

My understanding is that sailboats don't even have horns, or at least aren't required to have operational ones.

false

 

[Myrtonos]

What? Sailing vessels have horns? I thought only powered vessels had to have operational horns.

 

[mr 88]

As noted you are over reaching or just looking to argue with people. Sail boats have the same rules and regulations as power boats. Including all noise emitting devices. Sail boaters need horns and noise makers so they can sail through a bunch of boat trolling for fish holding course even though the fishing boat were on course first and no have to scramble to keep there gear from being run over by a bunch of PB & J eating tight wads . Or so if they are in a " Regatta " they can protest every 10 seconds another sail boat luffing at the wrong time. Screw electric boats and sailboats. Give me a big ol gas guzzling 454 / 502 and I will race you to the gas dock , horns a blazing , hahaha.

 

[Myrtonos]

I'm not particularly looking to argue and sailing vessels have different rules because of the directions they can go. For example, priority to the leeward over windward if both have the same tack and priority to starboard tack over port tack.

There are different blasts combinations for various movements on the water that may use both short and prolonged blasts. When power-driven vessels are in sight of one another and meeting or crossing at a distance within half a mile of each other, each vessel underway, when maneuvering as authorized or required by the Inland rules must use the following sound signals. [emphasis added]

So skippers whose vessels are power driven sound the horn signals mentioned when overtaking and approaching head-on. It doesn't say that sailors must use these signals.

Surely these regulations change over time and one change that might be a good idea would be to include new rules for electric vessels just as new regulations have been introduced for electric road vehicles or at least electric passenger cars.

 

[mr 88]

Like sailors ever overtake any vessel while under sail power. So electric cars have warning horns because people can only see them and not hear them , hahaha. Moving on from your argumentative post as your not going to be satisfied with any logical answer.

 

[GA_Boater]

What? Sailing vessels have horns? I thought only powered vessels had to have operational horns.

Do you have a boat?