Safe at Sea: A federal requirement: Sound-signal device
America’s Boating Club of Sanibel-Captiva offers (FREE) all boat owners a Vessel Safety Check. This 20+ minute inspection determines whether the boat has all the required safety equipment in place and that the safety equipment is fully functional.
Time and again, a boat owner’s vessel will fail the inspection for one of two reasons: 1) The vessel is not equipped with a portable sound-signal device, or 2) the boat is not equipped with a throwable life-saving device (topic of a future article).
The following are the legal Requirements for sound-signaling equipment:
– Vessels less than 12 meters (39.4 ft.) must have an efficient sound-producing device such as an air horn or whistle.
– Vessels greater than 12 meters must, in addition to an airhorn/whistle, be equipped with a bell.
– Unpowered boat operators (kayaks, for example) are required to carry a device capable of sounding a prolonged blast that can be heard by another boat operator in time to avoid a collision.
– It is unlawful to use a sound-producing device on the water under any circumstance except a situation in which assistance is needed because of immediate or potential danger to the person(s) onboard or it is necessary to attract the attention of another boat.
Why would such regulations be in place? Quite simply, using a sound signal is one of the simplest ways to alert fellow boaters and first responders to a problem on the water. The choice of which signal to outfit the boat with is up to the captain; however; possessing a portable sound-signaling device is not.
Three popular choices are the Signal Air Horn, the “Tried-and-True” Whistle, or an eEectronic Handheld Horn. There are Pro’s and Con’s to each:
Airhorn:
– Sound carries a mile over water; half a mile over land.
– At maximun capacity, it operates at 112 db.
– It’s small, so a child can operate it (which may not be an advantage!?!).
– It’s life span is finite: dependent on the aerosal gas.
Whistle:
– Plastic never rusts.
– It works as long as you can inhale/exhale.
– Though inexpensive, it can operate up to 122 db.
Electronic Horn:
– It can be used for boat-to-boat hailing.
– It can produce a 4-second blast at 112 db.
– Runs on a 9-volt battery, which will need replacing and means it’s not submersible.
FYI: A short blast is one second; a prolonged blast is 4 seconds.
The next time you are onboard, double check your safety equipment and make sure your portable sound signal is operational.
Pat Schmidt is a member of America’s Boating Club of Sanibel-Captiva. For more about the chapter and its courses, visit www.sancapboating.club or contact Commander@SanibelCaptivaSPS.org or 239-985-9472.