Boat horn signals

I APPLAUD Louise Moore and her wish to attract the attention of other craft to the fact that she has a butty in tow, writes Mike Stone.

I suspect her problems are on canals but, as highlighted by Chris Pink, the correct signals are defined and are in regular use on rivers and commercial waterways.

Result in an accident

Those of us travelling on such waterways are aware and used to listening for any indication by the skipper of another craft. To impose one's own signals on the system will, sooner or later, result in an accident or worse.

A single long blast at a bridge hole should be sufficient but, as light signals are not used on narrow canals, I suggest a notice affixed to the fore end of the motor stating 'Warning butty being towed' or similar wording.

For completeness I have given below the signals in current regular use in good visibility. There is a more complex set for use when visibility is poor. Chris has already defined the signal for a craft towing and wishing to pass on the starboard (wrong) side.

The signals

• One short—intending to turn to the starboard.
• Two shorts—intending to turn to the port.
• Three shorts—running engines in reverse, i.e. slowing down or reversing.
• Five or more shorts—'What are your intentions?'
• Two long one short—wishing to overtake to the starboard side in a narrow channel.
• Two longs two shorts—wishing to overtake to the port side in a narrow channel.
• Long, short, long, short—leading vessel agreeing to be overtaken.
• One long—a warning when approaching a blind bend.