When weighing anchor I usually work the foredeck. I simply use my arm to match the angle of the rode. If the rode is on the port side of dead ahead, I use my left arm. Starboard, I use my right arm. The Admiral drives and can easily see where the rode is by watching my arm. As my arm gets more vertical she shifts to neutral. I can also hold my arm up with a clenched fist for neutral.
When anchoring, I just point to where I want to drop the hook and she drives there. Again, arm vertical with clenched fist is "stop" or neutral. Come ahead is a hand motion with first finger pointing forward. The frequency of movement indicates speed. Slow down is palm down with a "patting" motion. Astern is a hand motion with first finger pointing astern. The frequency of movement indicates speed. Once hooked, I point astern and wiggle my finger rapidly to indicate for her to back down hard to set the anchor. I like to know the depth so I can do the "first hook" on my Fortress. Fortress recommends initially setting their anchor at 2.5 scope. That is what I call "first hook". Once hooked, we let out more rode to desired scope. I ask the Admiral for the depth by repeatedly moving my hands apart palm to palm. This lets her know I want the depth. She either yells it to me or uses her hands to tell me. For instance, 15 feet is one finger followed by five fingers. We've used these signals successfully for years. I have another collection of hand signals for communicating with rednecks and powerboaters (especially party barge drivers) in anchorages. These do not use the first finger, however. Anybody got any better hand signals? For anchoring, that is. -- Dennis C. Touche' 35-1 #83 Mandeville, LA
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