Now That You've Taken the Course...

[Pete Collin]

While doing the online boaters' course, I was interested in the section that discussed the horn signals to other boaters of your intentions.  Such as, when you troll towards another boat, bow-to-bow, you give a short horn blast to say you intend to pass on the other guy's starboard (left) side.  The other boat should signal with a short blast to let you know it is understood.  In the past I would do all kinds of pantomimes to communicate this.  The horn blasts are simple and efficient.  Only thing is, you have to trust that the other boat knows this code, and remembers it.  How many of you that have taken the course feel like you'll remember the horn signals on the water?  I want to carry a little cheat sheet with me.

[marinecrafts]

Not only do we deal with our fishermen knowing the whistle (horn) signals, we have boaters from other states and they may have no clue as to what is going on.  I would only consider using the signals during a fog situation where you cannot see what the other boaters are doing.

[Gator]

If pressed, I might be able to come up with an answer, but I never use my horn on the water and am unlikely to in the future. Of course, I generally try to fish where there aren't other boats; the only encounters I've had in the recent past have been the rare case of boats purposely steering towards me to get me to veer lol, quite a move and unavoidable in any case. 

[GAMBLER]

I have seen more hand signals than horn blasts over the years! 

[fisherdude]

You are supposed to sound a short one blast when backing away from a dock also I never see that one . Oh by the way the left side of a boat is called the port side  😂 .. pass port to port side of each other when approaching bow to bow ....

 

Edited February 28 by fisherdude

[Pete Collin]

  On 2/28/2025 at 12:32 PM, fisherdude said:

You are supposed to sound a short one blast when backing away from a dock also I never see that one . Oh by the way the left side of a boat is called the port side  😂 .. pass port to port side of each other when approaching bow to bow ....

 

Expand  

Hence the cheat sheet!

[JJBat150]

  On 2/28/2025 at 12:01 PM, GAMBLER said:

I have seen more hand signals than horn blasts over the years! 

Expand  

 

Hand signals? or the 1 finger salute?

[rolmops]

  On 2/28/2025 at 2:04 PM, JJBat150 said:

 

Hand signals? or the 1 finger salute?

Expand  

Usually coming from two hands

[Shakemsam]

I would have to go back to the ESLO days to ever have to worry about being that close to somebody.

[Gill-T]

How about the boat closest to the Niagara drop has the right to the line/direction of travel. I wish they would add that one. 

[Gator]

A potato gun is an effective deterrent. Clears your path. You can also use a slingshot to launch alewives. Don't ask how I know.

[Legacy]

  On 2/28/2025 at 12:01 PM, GAMBLER said:

I have seen more hand signals than horn blasts over the years! 

Expand  

 

Yeah... I personally prefer hand signals myself

[Henry D]

Which online courses are you guys taking ? It’s next on my to do list 

THXS

[Shakemsam]

  On 3/3/2025 at 8:38 PM, Henry D said:

Which online courses are you guys taking ? It’s next on my to do list 

THXS

Expand  

Boater Safety

[Bad Habit]

This is the course I took. It's free, and you can take it at your own pace. 

 

New York Boating Safety Course: BoatUS Foundation

 

[Sk8man]

I took the live one and it was the whole day but friends also took it too so it went by pretty fast. After 60 years on the water some of it was familiar

[jk1]

Next week I take the one here in Pa for 5 hours.  I am assuming (????) that is ok in NY too.   I do have an old coast guard one from the early "90s......jk

[Big fat pike]

  On 3/10/2025 at 1:48 PM, jk1 said:

Next week I take the one here in Pa for 5 hours.  I am assuming (????) that is ok in NY too.   I do have an old coast guard one from the early "90s......jk

Expand  

When i did the course it said every state except Louisiana accepted other state licenses  

[Shakemsam]

  On 3/10/2025 at 1:48 PM, jk1 said:

Next week I take the one here in Pa for 5 hours.  I am assuming (????) that is ok in NY too.   I do have an old coast guard one from the early "90s......jk

Expand  

I believe NY only requires that NY residents take the course. Also check with PA..if you have the certificate from the CG class, it may satisfy their requirements. In most cases, it would in NY.

[LongLine]

As long as the course was approved by USCG it's good in NYS. (Regardless of your residency) 

[Al-slamminhogs]

The one thing I would say is doing the horn while in fog thankfully I was around smart boaters alerting properly while on Lake Erie when a big fog cloud came rolling in 

[spoonfed-1]

Just remember. Folks have to take much more extensive training and tests to get a drivers license. Hows that working out. LOL

[Big fat pike]

  On 3/15/2025 at 4:23 PM, spoonfed-1 said:

Just remember. Folks have to take much more extensive training and tests to get a drivers license. Hows that working out. LOL

Expand  

Usually you see people with new driver stickers holding up the left lane