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#21
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![]() My suggestion would be to ask you wife what hand signals she wants to use for different anchoring tasks/commands. Then YOU memorize her signals. The signals she comes up with, she will recognize easier because the are more instinctive for her. Mark E. Willliams Good suggestion. We tried to keep signals as few and intuitive as possible: pat head = ahead pat bum = reverse arm vertical = neutral point right, left, forward, etc. = steer that way. when raising anchor, point in direction of anchor rode thumb up/down = more/less throttle, only when setting the anchor - We also took turns anchoring so that we each knew what the other would do in a given situation. - We anchored so often that my wife (who usually was at the helm) would feel the anchor start to bite and swing the bow around and knew to ease off the throttle at that point etc. For weekend cruisers, this wouldn't be applicable. -- Evan Gatehouse you'll have to rewrite my email address to get to me ceilydh AT 3web dot net (fools the spammers) |
#22
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#23
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#24
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I use a very similar set with my 14 year old daughter (for the last 3
years since she was 11). Only changes.... We have twin inboards so the steering wheel is almost never used in anchoring or docking.... 1) Right hand pointing fwd= engage stbd engine fwd (pointing back... reverse) 2) Left hand pointing fwd= engage port engine fwd (pointing back... reverse) 3) same3. clenched fist = neutral (BUT LEFT = PORT ENGINE, RIGHT STBD) 4) Two hands together pointing in a general direction= STEER in that direction. (typically used when we are finished pulling the anchor and I want her to head somewhere else until I get to the bridge) 5) Right index finger circling in the air... fire up the engines (Stolen from aviation hand signals) 6) SAME6. Slash index finger across throat = stop engine Simple part about this system for twins is that I worry about what the engines will do to the boat, not the helmsmen. Takes out the guess work for them. Jack Dale wrote: On Sat, 6 Mar 2004 19:17:56 -0500, "Bruce" wrote: With your back to the driver : Steering signals 1. Arm straight to the right = steer to the right 2. Karat chop forward = steer straight 3. Arm 90 vertical = steer left 4. right index spinning in the air = anchor is up, steer on predetermined course Speed Signals 1. palm up with an upward movement = speed up 2. Palm down with downward movement = slow down 3. clenched fist = neutral 4. thumb up = forward gear idle speed 5. Thumb down = reverse gear idle speed 6. Slash index finger across throat = stop engine Great list. Quite intuitive I would add two. 1) Karate chop aft - steer straight back. Used after the anchor is on the bottom and you are starting lay out the rode. 2) Arm straight up - over the anchor, stop any way. Very useful when the anchor is buried deeply and you have to reverse to get the anchor out of the bottom. You can then cleat off and use the steer straight back signal. Jack __________________________________________________ Jack Dale Swiftsure Sailing Academy Director ISPA and CYA Instructor http://www.swiftsuresailing.com Phone: 1 (877) 470-SAIL (toll free) __________________________________________________ |
#25
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I use a very similar set with my 14 year old daughter (for the last 3
years since she was 11). Only changes.... We have twin inboards so the steering wheel is almost never used in anchoring or docking.... 1) Right hand pointing fwd= engage stbd engine fwd (pointing back... reverse) 2) Left hand pointing fwd= engage port engine fwd (pointing back... reverse) 3) same3. clenched fist = neutral (BUT LEFT = PORT ENGINE, RIGHT STBD) 4) Two hands together pointing in a general direction= STEER in that direction. (typically used when we are finished pulling the anchor and I want her to head somewhere else until I get to the bridge) 5) Right index finger circling in the air... fire up the engines (Stolen from aviation hand signals) 6) SAME6. Slash index finger across throat = stop engine Simple part about this system for twins is that I worry about what the engines will do to the boat, not the helmsmen. Takes out the guess work for them. Jack Dale wrote: On Sat, 6 Mar 2004 19:17:56 -0500, "Bruce" wrote: With your back to the driver : Steering signals 1. Arm straight to the right = steer to the right 2. Karat chop forward = steer straight 3. Arm 90 vertical = steer left 4. right index spinning in the air = anchor is up, steer on predetermined course Speed Signals 1. palm up with an upward movement = speed up 2. Palm down with downward movement = slow down 3. clenched fist = neutral 4. thumb up = forward gear idle speed 5. Thumb down = reverse gear idle speed 6. Slash index finger across throat = stop engine Great list. Quite intuitive I would add two. 1) Karate chop aft - steer straight back. Used after the anchor is on the bottom and you are starting lay out the rode. 2) Arm straight up - over the anchor, stop any way. Very useful when the anchor is buried deeply and you have to reverse to get the anchor out of the bottom. You can then cleat off and use the steer straight back signal. Jack __________________________________________________ Jack Dale Swiftsure Sailing Academy Director ISPA and CYA Instructor http://www.swiftsuresailing.com Phone: 1 (877) 470-SAIL (toll free) __________________________________________________ |
#26
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Believe it or not, hand signals are internationally standardized and
used for things like crane operations, where there's commonly somebody (the signaler) at the point where the load is going and somebody else (the crane driver) who runs the crane in response to the hand signals. The driver is frequently working 'blind', i.e., he can't see the load at all -- so the signals must be pretty good! Here are dome of the more salient ones: Arm extended -- go that way (i.e., extended to right, go right; extended toward the stern, reverse) Arm bent at elbow -- go other way (i.e., if using right arm, go left) Palm down, patting motion -- slow down Palm up, patting motion -- speed up Twirling index finger in any direction -- go this way, SLOWLY Opening and closing fingers against thumb, with arm signalling direction -- move a small amount in indicated direction, then stop Closed fist -- STOP To these, we've added 2 more, specifically related to anchoring: Motion of hand vertically, from highest extent down to knees: Anchor rode is "up and down"; hold position if possible Sweeping arm horizontally -- anchor's aweigh; carry on at slow speed And one, for safety when a line is under or near the hull: Hand slash across throat -- STOP PROPELLOR (neutral or engine stop) In the case of the crane operators (and also on our boat) the signals refer to the _outcome_, not to the action taken by the operator. For example, in our case the closed fist means "Stop the boat" NOT "Put the engine in neutral." The driver generally puts the engine in revers, and, monitoring a point on the shore or looking at the water alongside, puts the engine in neutral when the boat has stopped. With a less experienced driver, it might be better to think of the signals as rudder and engine commands, so the closed fist would mean "Put the engine in neutral". This requires the signaller to send LOTS more signals, as "Reverse" (arm toward stern) becomes "Neutral" when the boat comes to a stop, etc.) This, it seems to me, could cause problems when the signaller gets tied up in other things, such as a jammed windlass, and can't easily give the next comand at the right time. In any case, you should decide upon (and stick to) which convention you are using -- do the signals communicate boat actions, or rudder commands? One unsolicited comment: In a breeze, as soon as the anchor comes up the bow tends to fall off downwind. The easiest way for an inexperienced helmsperson to stay out of trouble while the bow person secures the anchor is to simply let the bow fall off, and, keeping the boat headed downwind, motor slowly in revers to maintain station. After all, the boat was anchored right there shortly before, so there must be room for her. The alternative, motoring to windward as soon as the anchor is aweigh, can end up with your boat moving rapidly through a crouwded anchorage, narrowly missing the other boats -- who cannot be expected to invite you for drinks when they see you at the next anchorage. wrote in message . .. Does anybody have a good system of hand signals for anchoring, i.e. a means for the person on the bow handling the anchor to communicate speed and direction to the helmsman without having to yell it out? This would be for my wife and I where she is typically at the helm while I am on the bow. She's not real experienced at the helm so a clear set of signals would be helpful, especially when retrieving the anchor with the wind up, crowded anchorage, etc. Thanks. |
#27
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Believe it or not, hand signals are internationally standardized and
used for things like crane operations, where there's commonly somebody (the signaler) at the point where the load is going and somebody else (the crane driver) who runs the crane in response to the hand signals. The driver is frequently working 'blind', i.e., he can't see the load at all -- so the signals must be pretty good! Here are dome of the more salient ones: Arm extended -- go that way (i.e., extended to right, go right; extended toward the stern, reverse) Arm bent at elbow -- go other way (i.e., if using right arm, go left) Palm down, patting motion -- slow down Palm up, patting motion -- speed up Twirling index finger in any direction -- go this way, SLOWLY Opening and closing fingers against thumb, with arm signalling direction -- move a small amount in indicated direction, then stop Closed fist -- STOP To these, we've added 2 more, specifically related to anchoring: Motion of hand vertically, from highest extent down to knees: Anchor rode is "up and down"; hold position if possible Sweeping arm horizontally -- anchor's aweigh; carry on at slow speed And one, for safety when a line is under or near the hull: Hand slash across throat -- STOP PROPELLOR (neutral or engine stop) In the case of the crane operators (and also on our boat) the signals refer to the _outcome_, not to the action taken by the operator. For example, in our case the closed fist means "Stop the boat" NOT "Put the engine in neutral." The driver generally puts the engine in revers, and, monitoring a point on the shore or looking at the water alongside, puts the engine in neutral when the boat has stopped. With a less experienced driver, it might be better to think of the signals as rudder and engine commands, so the closed fist would mean "Put the engine in neutral". This requires the signaller to send LOTS more signals, as "Reverse" (arm toward stern) becomes "Neutral" when the boat comes to a stop, etc.) This, it seems to me, could cause problems when the signaller gets tied up in other things, such as a jammed windlass, and can't easily give the next comand at the right time. In any case, you should decide upon (and stick to) which convention you are using -- do the signals communicate boat actions, or rudder commands? One unsolicited comment: In a breeze, as soon as the anchor comes up the bow tends to fall off downwind. The easiest way for an inexperienced helmsperson to stay out of trouble while the bow person secures the anchor is to simply let the bow fall off, and, keeping the boat headed downwind, motor slowly in revers to maintain station. After all, the boat was anchored right there shortly before, so there must be room for her. The alternative, motoring to windward as soon as the anchor is aweigh, can end up with your boat moving rapidly through a crouwded anchorage, narrowly missing the other boats -- who cannot be expected to invite you for drinks when they see you at the next anchorage. wrote in message . .. Does anybody have a good system of hand signals for anchoring, i.e. a means for the person on the bow handling the anchor to communicate speed and direction to the helmsman without having to yell it out? This would be for my wife and I where she is typically at the helm while I am on the bow. She's not real experienced at the helm so a clear set of signals would be helpful, especially when retrieving the anchor with the wind up, crowded anchorage, etc. Thanks. |
#28
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#29
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#30
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![]() wrote in message ... Does anybody have a good system of hand signals for anchoring, i.e. I use a very simple set. The person on the bow points in the direction that the anchor line is heading, allowing the helmsman to steer in that direction. The angle that the bow person is pointing can indicate the angle of the rode, providing some indication of the distance to the anchor. If the angle points back it indicates that the bow has overrun the anchor spot and that some reverse might be in order. A hand up in the classic "STOP" position means just that. Rod |
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