Maritime laws and signals

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[trains]

can someone maybe tell me the laws and signals of maritime? i want to learn all i can incase i can get a job at age 16 in the ship industry.

[llamalord]

Well,

In to get my Coast Guard Certificate to own and pilot my boat in Massachusetts I attended the US coast Guard Auxillery of Worcester Meritime law and safety coarse.

I don't know if your are in the mood to blow 8 hours on your Saturday afternoon to this though, Also there is a 50 question multi-choice test at the end to get certified.  If you want to know more, You can PM me and I'll give you some more info.

[mvsmith]

Hi Trains,
Here are a few books that would be of use if you decide to run away to sea:
Knight’s Modern Seamanship is probably the best first choice. It has been published in many editions since 1901, so you should be able to find an edition in a used book store. Try to get the sixteenth edition, or later, because that one has the 1977 COLREGS.
It covers everything from damage control on a warship—which, hopefully, you won’t need—to tying a single blackwall hitch. More relevant; it covers the rules of the road in depth, small and large boat handling, hand and flag signals, running lights, and weather.

For a small book on the rules, look for Charlie Wing’s “The One-Minute Guide to the Nautical Rules of the Road”

For navigation, there is Nathaniel Bowditch’s classic “American Practical Navigator”, but if you drop Bowditch on your foot, it hurts. There is a much smaller distillation of his knowledge in “Bowditch for Yachtsmen: Piloting”. It was published in 1976 by David McKay, so you can probably find a copy previously owned by a sufferer from chronic seasickness.
Regards,
Marty

[trains]

thanks Marty. do these books have horn signals as well?

[llamalord]

I have all the "Real" rule books from the coast guard.  Not only does that equal over $100 it's a little bit time consuming to get them all.  I also have a $20 book with all the rules for every thing to do with boating.  For instance; max trailer weights in all 50 states before you are required to have X axles and brakes. Or what horn and flare to use if you are on a pilot vessel assisting to a grounded oil tanker.  Plus just about everything else you can think of.