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Jeff

wrote:
....

Bonus: 2 points. Which one do you think would
most likely be used in Texas?

I was going to say gunfire, but who would notice?

This reminds me of an incident that happened to me many years ago. I
was anchored overnight in Boston Harbor, and early the next morning
headed in to go to work. I heard 3 short blasts from an old 28 foot
cabin cruiser nearby. I wondered what the meaning of this was, and so
pulled out my handy Chapman's and cogitated on why he would be saying
"I am operating astern propulsion," when I hear a girl's faint "help!"
We powered over and found two older men and a teenage girl
(introduced as a daughter). They had grounded at a nearby island, and
just stayed there overnight. When they floated free in the morning,
the found the boat had been leaking through the shaft seal, and had
run the only battery down. Now they were leaking, couldn't start the
engine, no radio or pump, and were drifting free in the part of the
harbor with the most complex currents. And, from the large number of
empties, they had severe hangovers. I let them use my bag phone so
they could call a friend to come and fetch them.

Back then I assumed that I was the only one out there that didn't
understand the signals and started to educate myself. Now I
understand that the vast majority of boaters are completely clueless.