Boating 101-6

[Drowned Rat]

Try this one.<br /><br />You have been caught out on the water when a fog bank rolls in. Your visibility is less than 20 yards. Your boat is a 32 foot Sea Ray that draws 3 feet of water. Your depth sounder reads 12'. You have a mapping GPS but no radar. You are heading East at clutch speed in a narrow channel that runs East West. Suddenly you hear a 5 second horn blast that seems to be coming from an area ahead of you and it seems fairly close. You try a hail on Ch. 16 but the only reply you get is the Coast Guard station asking if you require assistance, and the local Sea Tow asking what the limit is on you credit card.<br /><br />What made that horn blast? What, if any, navigation aids should you be displaying and what would be your course of action? It is 2:32 PM

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Boating 101-6

Don't know and change your drawers.

 

[snapperbait]

Re: Boating 101-6

5 blasts means the doo-doo's about to hit the fan and your insurance better be up to date! It's another boat signaling danger, possibly a collision will occour if you don't take immediate action and come to a full stop...<br /><br />Fog.. You should have your navigation lights on, and you should also be sounding your horn every minute or so (one blast), with not more that two minutes between blasts while underway...

 

[roscoe]

Re: Boating 101-6

Start praying

 

[18rabbit]

Re: Boating 101-6

Everyone knows a 5-second honk is the noise made by the Lock Ness monster just before he eats a 32-ft Sea Ray. You have inadvertently wandered into the narrow channel that is a secret access to his harem of lady nessie’s…and he’s p!$$ed off! SAVE YOURSELF!!! GET OUT NOW BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE!!!

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Boating 101-6

It's not 5 blasts, it's one 5 second blast.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Boating 101-6

You now hear a 2nd 5 second blast from the same direction, but it's closer. It's 2:34PM

 

[snapperbait]

Re: Boating 101-6

ooopsy... (helps if ya read it snapper, duhhhh )<br /><br />five second blast... sound buoy or another boat making way...

 

[POINTER94]

Re: Boating 101-6

This sound like a simple 4-6 second fog blast from a power driven vessel. You are in the fog and below the 1 mile visability rule so you should be running your navigation lights.

 

[18rabbit]

Re: Boating 101-6

Wait. On second thought, a 5-sec horn is not at all unusual near the S.F. Bay. <br /><br />One prolonged blast is the sound of a power-driven vessel underway in restricted visibility. Since you are also underway piloting a 32-ft Sea Ray in fog, you are required to produce the same prolonged blast at intervals not more than 2-min apart.<br /><br />Appropriate navigation lighting (side, mast, stern) for a 32-ft vessel is required to be displayed at night and at anytime there is limited visibility.<br /><br />Unless you know the other vessel is moving away from you or will safely pass you, sound 5 short blasts to signal to the other vessel there is danger. If you are unsure of a possible collision, you are required to assume collision is imminent (Rule 7a).<br /><br />You are required to stay to the starboard side as far as is safe in the narrow channel (Rule 9a(i)).

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Boating 101-6

18 rabbit, you're amazing. Right on! You even remembered the rule numbers! <br /><br />Are you studying for your Captains License?

 

[POINTER94]

Re: Boating 101-6

Since several of us are all here I would like to state that I think these questions are great!!!! Keep them coming. A daily refresher/teaser is a great way to warm up the mind.....

 

[18rabbit]

Re: Boating 101-6

Btw, the other boat you hear could be a 10-ft inflatable with a 15hp Yamaha and sounding with a horn screwed onto a one of those cans of compressed air. <br /><br />According to Art Bell, the nessie scenario is more realistic.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Boating 101-6