GL: whistle signals - Say What??

[Phil Little]

Sorry!
   
  I'm probably too cavalier in my dismissal of "whistle" vernacular because I always just ask at the first contact: "Towboat Georgia Brown, you want me on your port or your starboard side?" and the TB skipper will come back with that terminology.
   
  Define the radio call in your terms first so they know how to answer you. Then you know exactly what they want you to do.
   
  My travels are limited to the Illinois and the Alabama/Tenn-Tom, both in my own boat and in the pilothouses of towboats. All the skippers I have known really don't want to confuse us amateurs any more than necessary.
   
  Phil Little
   
  
John & Judy Gill <twojscom@quadnet.net> wrote:
  Phil is correct in both regards - Ask the Tow Boat which side of HIS 
RIG he wants you to pass him on. And Yes his answer is referring to 
the TOW BOAT not YOURS. Matching their Light is the same as matching 
Their (Towboat and Barge Rig) Port or Starboard side.

John

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On Mar 1, 2007, at 11:12 PM, Phil Little wrote: (SNIP)
>
> The saltiest (muddiest?) they ever get is to say pass 'em on 
> their "reds" or "greens" always referring to their own boat, and 
> that's the side you use! Match their light!