It's the Law: Required Equipment
Sound Producing Devices
On Alabama state waters, the requirements for sound-producing devices are:
 Vessels less than 16 feet long are not required to have a sound-producing
device, but it is strongly recommended that
these vessels carry a horn or whistle on board.- Vessels 16 feet to 26 feet long are required to carry on board
a whistle or horn or some other means to make an efficient sound
signal audible for at least one-half mile.
- Vessels 26 feet to 40 feet long are required to carry on board
a whistle or horn or some other means to make an efficient sound
signal audible for at least one mile.
On federally controlled waters, the requirements for sound-producing devices are:
- Vessels less than 65.6 feet (20 meters) in length, which
includes PWCs, are required to carry on board a whistle or
horn or some other means to make an efficient sound signal
audible for at least one-half mile.
- Vessels that are 65.6 feet (20 meters) or more in length are
required to carry on board a whistle or horn, and a bell that
are audible for at least one mile.
Some sound signals that you should be familiar with are:
- Restricted Visibility
- One prolonged blast at intervals of not more than two minutes is the signal used by power-driven vessels when underway.
- One prolonged blast plus two short blasts at intervals of not more than two minutes is the signal used by sailboats when under sail alone.
- Warning
- One prolonged blast is a warning signal (for example, when coming around a blind bend or exiting a slip).
- Five (or more) short, rapid blasts are used to signal
danger or to signal that you do not understand or that
you disagree with the other boater’s intentions.
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