Saltwater Suzi and Cap'n Larry's advice for the cash-starved boater
Signal Lights -  International
Stern
Starboard
Bow
Starboard
Bow
Stern
 
International
Print this chart, laminate it, and keep it at your helm for reference when on International waters.
Rowboat_less_than_7_meters

Rowboat_less_than_7_meters

Rowboat longer than  7  meters

Rowboat longer than 7 meters

Anchored - 7 m to 50m

Anchored - 7 m to 50m

Anchored - 50 m to 100 m

Anchored - 50 m to 100 m

Anchored 100 m or More

Anchored 100 m or More

Sailing Vessel - under  sail

Sailing Vessel - under sail

Sailing  Vessel with Tri-Color - under Sail

Sailing Vessel with Tri-Color - under Sail

Sailing Vessel - Motor Sailing

Sailing Vessel - Motor Sailing

Power Driven - Optional less than 12 m

Power Driven - Optional less than 12 m

Power Driven less than 50 m

Power Driven less than 50 m

Power Driven - more than 50 m

Power Driven - more than 50 m

Fishing Vessel Trawling, Making Way  greater than 50 m

Fishing Vessel Trawling, Making Way greater than 50 m

Fishing Vessel, Trawling, Making Way, less than 50 m

Fishing Vessel, Trawling, Making Way, less than 50 m

Fishing Other than Trawling, Making Way

Fishing Other than Trawling, Making Way

Fishing Other than Trawling, not making way

Fishing Other than Trawling, not making way

Fishing Other than Trawling, Making Way, Gear Out, Greater than 150 m

Fishing Other than Trawling, Making Way, Gear Out, Greater than 150 m

Fishing other than Trawling, Not Making Way, Gear Out  Greater than 150 m

Fishing other than Trawling, Not Making Way, Gear Out Greater than 150 m

Multiple vessels being pushed (International Only)

Multiple vessels being pushed (International Only)

Towing Astern 200 m or less

Towing Astern 200 m or less

Towing alongside or Pushing ahead - not composite

Towing alongside or Pushing ahead - not composite

Composite - treated as single vessel less than 50 m

Composite - treated as single vessel less than 50 m

Composite - treated as single vessel greater than 50 m

Composite - treated as single vessel greater than 50 m

Vessel being towed astern 200 m or less

Vessel being towed astern 200 m or less

Vessel being towed astern - more than 200 m

Vessel being towed astern - more than 200 m

Partly submerged less than 100 m long less than 25 m wide

Partly submerged less than 100 m long less than 25 m wide

Partly Submerged 25 m wide or more, 100 m long or less

Partly Submerged 25 m wide or more, 100 m long or less

Partly Submerged less than 25m wide, greater than 100 m long

Partly Submerged less than 25m wide, greater than 100 m long

Not Under Command - Making Way

Not Under Command - Making Way

Not Under Command - Not Making Way

Not Under Command - Not Making Way

Restricted in Ability to Maneuver - Making Way Less than 50 m

Restricted in Ability to Maneuver - Making Way Less than 50 m

Restricted in Ability to Maneuver - Making Way More than 50 m

Restricted in Ability to Maneuver - Making Way More than 50 m

Restricted in Ability to Maneuver - Not Making Way

Restricted in Ability to Maneuver - Not Making Way

Restricted in Ability to Maneuver - Anchored - less than 50 m

Restricted in Ability to Maneuver - Anchored - less than 50 m

Restricted in Ability to Maneuver Anchored more than 50 m

Restricted in Ability to Maneuver Anchored more than 50 m

Dredging or Underwater Operations - Not Making Way

Dredging or Underwater Operations - Not Making Way

Pilot Vessel on Duty Underway

Pilot Vessel on Duty Underway

Pilot Vessel on Duty - Anchored

Pilot Vessel on Duty - Anchored

Pilot Vessel Off Duty Making Way - less than 50 m

Pilot Vessel Off Duty Making Way - less than 50 m

Seaplane Underway

Seaplane Underway

Submarine (Yellow flashes 3 times then off 3 sec)

Submarine (Yellow flashes 3 times then off 3 sec)

Aground - less than 12 m

Aground - less than 12 m

Aground - More than 12 m less than 50 m

Aground - More than 12 m less than 50 m

Aground - More than 50 m

Aground - More than 50 m

Mine Clearing - Making Way - less than 50 m

Mine Clearing - Making Way - less than 50 m

Mine Clearing Making Way -  more than 50 meters

Mine Clearing Making Way - more than 50 meters