I'm trying to work out a system of hand signals the person at the bow can use to communicate with the helm during anchoring. What do you use?
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Everyone has their own variations, but
Rousmanerie's book, The Annapolis Book of Seamanship, describes hand signals which are commonly used. One of the five-part videos has a section devoted to docking, anchoring, and mooring which shows use of hand signals. Most libraries carry the videos or are willing to get them either through inter-library loan or purchase for their own shelves. Hope this helps Tom Ehmke
Rousmanerie's book, The Annapolis Book of Seamanship, describes hand signals which are commonly used. One of the five-part videos has a section devoted to docking, anchoring, and mooring which shows use of hand signals. Most libraries carry the videos or are willing to get them either through inter-library loan or purchase for their own shelves. Hope this helps Tom Ehmke
three basic signals
My wife and I use three basic signals. On our H33, when the lever is up the boat is in foward, horizontal is neutral and down is reverse. We use the same principals with hand signals. I do the grunt work while she drives the boat. When my arm is upwards the boat should be in foward, straight out she is to put her into neutral and in a downward position the boat should be in reverse. It is generally understood by us that RPM's will be low, idle or slightly above that so we really don't have a need for any other signals. When I give her the thumbs up once the anchor is down and set she gives me her hand signal, you know the one, a cold beer being opened. I have considered using those personal short distance radios for deck/cockpit communications, they are on my list of crap to buy/fix.
My wife and I use three basic signals. On our H33, when the lever is up the boat is in foward, horizontal is neutral and down is reverse. We use the same principals with hand signals. I do the grunt work while she drives the boat. When my arm is upwards the boat should be in foward, straight out she is to put her into neutral and in a downward position the boat should be in reverse. It is generally understood by us that RPM's will be low, idle or slightly above that so we really don't have a need for any other signals. When I give her the thumbs up once the anchor is down and set she gives me her hand signal, you know the one, a cold beer being opened. I have considered using those personal short distance radios for deck/cockpit communications, they are on my list of crap to buy/fix.
short distance radios - FSR
I have been wondering about using the FSR radios for a while to communicate during anchoring. Does anyone use them and if so what radio and features seem to work. Thanks Dave s/v DAMWEGAS
I have been wondering about using the FSR radios for a while to communicate during anchoring. Does anyone use them and if so what radio and features seem to work. Thanks Dave s/v DAMWEGAS
I changed to hand signals
I now use hand signals and it works much better than voiced directives as my tone of voice rises inversely proportional to the efficiency of the crew: particularly my wife who generally objects to my tone of voice, on or off the boat I will add ! Jean Hrab
I now use hand signals and it works much better than voiced directives as my tone of voice rises inversely proportional to the efficiency of the crew: particularly my wife who generally objects to my tone of voice, on or off the boat I will add ! Jean Hrab
Radios For Anchoring Exercises..
.. years ago, we watched club members who were in the entertainment industry use VOX radios aboard. We purchased a Radio Shack pair a dozen years ago. They have a headset and belt clip and are voice-activated. We use them for complex situations on the boat, and they are great. For just picking up a mooring, we use hand signals. Rick D.
.. years ago, we watched club members who were in the entertainment industry use VOX radios aboard. We purchased a Radio Shack pair a dozen years ago. They have a headset and belt clip and are voice-activated. We use them for complex situations on the boat, and they are great. For just picking up a mooring, we use hand signals. Rick D.
We Take a Different Tack
When raising the anchor my wife, for various reasons rides the bow, holding on to the furled genoa for support. I man the wheel, engine controls and haul the anchor up using the starboard sheet winch. (I gave myself a set of self tailing Andesens this winter to free the tailing hand for steering.) Believe me guys, this is better than having my wife at the helm while trying to bring the anchor up. Besides, where we sail there's almost always too much wind for voices to carry thirty plus feet without screaming. My wife's job is to signal, using one arm, the direction in which the anchor rode lies ahead of the boat. The angle of her free arm is supposed to approximate the angle of the rode so I know where to steer. As the rode comes vertical she is to wave her hand side to side. When the anchor gets up to the platform she is to hold her hand up in a closed fist. (Universal stop signal.) Notice there are no finger signals involved! This system has actually worked a couple of times! At least with my wife out of the cockpit there's lots of room for me to move around. This winter I purchased a pair of Motorola VOX enabled FRS radios and VOX head-sets. This in itself should reduce the need for raised vioces. The boat is of coures set up for this. The rode is run around the stanchions, each of which has a Schaefer outside lead furling line block through which the rode runs to reduce friction and keep it off the side decks. This system is far superior to screaming face to face!
When raising the anchor my wife, for various reasons rides the bow, holding on to the furled genoa for support. I man the wheel, engine controls and haul the anchor up using the starboard sheet winch. (I gave myself a set of self tailing Andesens this winter to free the tailing hand for steering.) Believe me guys, this is better than having my wife at the helm while trying to bring the anchor up. Besides, where we sail there's almost always too much wind for voices to carry thirty plus feet without screaming. My wife's job is to signal, using one arm, the direction in which the anchor rode lies ahead of the boat. The angle of her free arm is supposed to approximate the angle of the rode so I know where to steer. As the rode comes vertical she is to wave her hand side to side. When the anchor gets up to the platform she is to hold her hand up in a closed fist. (Universal stop signal.) Notice there are no finger signals involved! This system has actually worked a couple of times! At least with my wife out of the cockpit there's lots of room for me to move around. This winter I purchased a pair of Motorola VOX enabled FRS radios and VOX head-sets. This in itself should reduce the need for raised vioces. The boat is of coures set up for this. The rode is run around the stanchions, each of which has a Schaefer outside lead furling line block through which the rode runs to reduce friction and keep it off the side decks. This system is far superior to screaming face to face!
Cheap Radios
My wife and I could never get the hand signal thing down. She found an inexpensive pair of handsfree VOX radios with headsets at an outlet mall toy store for $10/pr. Great little investment. Our anchoring and docking is now smooth, calm and civilized. No more shouting, confusion or chaos.
My wife and I could never get the hand signal thing down. She found an inexpensive pair of handsfree VOX radios with headsets at an outlet mall toy store for $10/pr. Great little investment. Our anchoring and docking is now smooth, calm and civilized. No more shouting, confusion or chaos.
Novel approach Sam!
Sam: That is a novel approach. You can't hear each other and no FINGER signal (maybe a little tough getting your fustration "heard") <g>
Sam: That is a novel approach. You can't hear each other and no FINGER signal (maybe a little tough getting your fustration "heard") <g>
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