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Towing Vessel Mate Illustrated: Your Towing License, in Drawings Lights, Rules, Rigging and River Miles, One Topic per Page

Towing lights and day shapes, light arcs, meeting and crossing, sound signals, face wires and barge layouts, river miles and locking through. Every topic gets its own page: the drawing first, then what you need to remember. 65 illustrated pages.

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Every topic, its own pageEvery light, signal and rigging step drawn, with the explanation right beside it
65 illustrated pages9 parts, from the towing license ladder to the wheelhouse watch checklist
Up-to-date sourcesUSCG Navigation Rules (33 CFR Part 83 and COLREGS), 46 CFR Part 11 and 33 CFR Part 207
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Look Inside the Book

Every page has one big drawing and a box with the rule numbers, arcs and distances you need to know:

18, 30 and 48 months: the standard towing ladder per 46 CFR §11.464–11.466
18, 30 and 48 months: the standard towing ladder per 46 CFR §11.464–11.466
Masthead 225°, sidelights 112.5° each, sternlight 135°, all-round 360° (Rule 21).
Masthead 225°, sidelights 112.5° each, sternlight 135°, all-round 360° (Rule 21).
Restricted tow: towing lights + red-white-red all-round, ball-diamond-ball by day (Rule 27(c)).
Restricted tow: towing lights + red-white-red all-round, ball-diamond-ball by day (Rule 27(c)).
NUC: two all-round reds, two balls by day; sidelights and sternlight only when making way (Rule 27(a)).
NUC: two all-round reds, two balls by day; sidelights and sternlight only when making way (Rule 27(a)).
Rule 7: a bearing that doesn't change appreciably means risk of collision exists.
Rule 7: a bearing that doesn't change appreciably means risk of collision exists.
Rule 32: short blast about 1 second, prolonged blast 4 to 6 seconds.
Rule 32: short blast about 1 second, prolonged blast 4 to 6 seconds.
Face wires from the boat's winches to the stern barges, plus stern wires
Face wires from the boat's winches to the stern barges, plus stern wires
Cairo, IL is mile 953.8 AHP on the Lower Mississippi and mile 981.0 on the Ohio.
Cairo, IL is mile 953.8 AHP on the Lower Mississippi and mile 981.0 on the Ohio.

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These are real pages from the book. The table of contents is the full one: 9 parts and 61 topics.

The Problem Isn't You. It's How It Was Explained to You.

You're on night watch and a towboat comes around the bend with two white lights stacked on her mast. Is she towing astern or pushing ahead? The answer is at her stern, and you're not sure what to look for.

The Rules book gives it to you in one long sentence: two masthead lights in a vertical line, sidelights, a sternlight, a towing light in a vertical line above the sternlight. It's all words, and at night words don't help.

Restricted tow: towing lights + red-white-red all-round, ball-diamond-ball by day (Rule 27(c)).

In this book, towing astern is one page. The boat is drawn from ahead, abeam and astern with every light lit: two white masthead lights, red and green sidelights, the white sternlight and the yellow towing light right above it. Rule 24(a) sits in the corner so you can check it.

Every other topic works the same way: pushing ahead on the Western rivers, not under command, the light arcs, short and prolonged blasts, locking through. Each one on its own page.

Next time you see one yellow over a white sternlight, you know there's a hawser and a tow behind her. Two yellows and no white? She's pushing ahead. You call it without going back to the book.

COMPARE FOR YOURSELF

Same Topic, Two Ways to Study It

THIS
  • The Rules book: line after line
  • Light arcs explained only in words
  • You walk into the exam still unsure
Rule 21. A masthead light is a white light placed over the fore-and-aft centerline of the vessel, showing an unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 225 degrees, fixed so as to show from right ahead to 22.5 degrees abaft the beam on either side. Sidelights are a green light on the starboard side and a red light on the port side, each showing an unbroken light over an arc of 112.5 degrees, while the sternlight, placed as nearly as practicable at the stern, shows over an arc of 135 degrees, 67.5 degrees from right aft on each side.
FOR THIS
  • Each light's arc in one drawing
  • The degrees in one box
  • You see it and you get it
Masthead 225°, sidelights 112.5° each, sternlight 135°, all-round 360° (Rule 21).
CONTENTS

Take a Look at the 9 Parts and 61 Topics

Your license and the exam, light basics, towing lights and shapes, other lights you'll meet, steering and sailing rules, sound signals and radio, making up the tow, river charts, aids and locks, and a final review: 65 pages, all illustrated.

IYour License and the Exam · pp. 5-9
  1. The Towing Ladder: Apprentice Mate, Mate, Master
  2. What the TOAR Is and How to Fill It Out
  3. The Exam Modules at a Glance
  4. Inland, International, Western Rivers: Where Each Applies
  5. How to Use This Book: The Rule Number on Every Page
IILight Basics · pp. 10-15
  1. The Arcs: 225°, 112.5°, 135°, 360°
  2. The Yellow Lights: Towing Light and Special Flashing Light
  3. How Far Each Light Must Be Seen
  4. Reading a Vessel's Aspect from Its Lights
  5. Power-Driven Vessel Underway: The Base Picture
  6. Day Shapes: Ball, Diamond, Cone, Cylinder
IIITowing Lights and Shapes · pp. 16-24
  1. Towing Astern: Two Masthead Lights
  2. Tow Longer Than 200 m (656 ft): Three Lights and a Diamond
  3. Pushing Ahead or Alongside: Inland Rules
  4. Pushing Ahead on the Western Rivers: No Masthead Lights
  5. The Barges Pushed Ahead: Sidelights and the Flashing Light
  6. Barge Towed Alongside and Barge Towed Astern
  7. Composite Unit: Lighted Like One Vessel
  8. Towing That Restricts Your Maneuvering
  9. Hard-to-See Objects Being Towed
IVOther Lights You Will Meet · pp. 25-30
  1. Not Under Command: Two Reds
  2. Restricted in Ability to Maneuver: Red-White-Red
  3. Dredges and Underwater Work: Which Side to Pass
  4. At Anchor and Aground
  5. Barges Moored at the Bank
  6. Fishing, Sailing and Small Craft at Night
VSteering and Sailing Rules · pp. 31-38
  1. Lookout, Safe Speed, Risk of Collision
  2. Action to Avoid Collision: Early and Obvious
  3. Narrow Channels: Keep to Starboard
  4. Downbound With the Current Has the Right of Way
  5. Head-On Meeting
  6. Crossing: Who Gives Way
  7. Overtaking: 22.5° Abaft the Beam
  8. Stand-On Vessel and the Pecking Order
VISound Signals and Radio · pp. 39-45
  1. Short and Prolonged: The Length of a Blast
  2. Inland Signals Are Intent, International Are Action
  3. Overtaking Signals Side by Side
  4. Danger, Bend and Leaving the Dock
  5. Fog Signals: One Prolonged, Two Short
  6. Restricted Visibility and Radar
  7. Bridge-to-Bridge Radio: Channel 13
VIIMaking Up the Tow · pp. 46-52
  1. Barge Sizes and Tow Configurations
  2. The Deck Hardware: Kevels, Timberheads, Ratchets
  3. Face Wires: Tying the Boat to the Tow
  4. Fore-and-Aft and Breast Wires Between Barges
  5. Jockeying Wires and Rigging for a Bend
  6. Snap-Back Zones and Line Handling Safety
  7. Breaking Up a Tow for a Short Lock
VIIIRiver Charts, Aids and Locks · pp. 53-60
  1. River Mile Systems: AHP, Above the Ohio, From Pittsburgh
  2. Right and Left Descending Bank
  3. Western Rivers Daymarks: Passing and Crossing
  4. Buoys on the River
  5. Reading a River Chart Page
  6. Approaching a Lock: Signals and Lights
  7. Locking Through Step by Step
  8. Bridges, Current and the Set of the Tow
IXReview: Mix-Ups and Checklist · pp. 61-65
  1. Inland vs. International: The 8 Differences on One Page
  2. Towing Astern vs. Pushing Ahead at Night
  3. The Numbers to Know Cold
  4. Before the Exam: Your Last Review
  5. Before You Step Into the Wheelhouse: Watch Checklist

One Page, One Topic, All Clear

Think of it this way:

You're steering upbound at night and a set of lights shows up above the bend. You've got a few seconds to read them and decide how you'll meet her.

In the book you open the towing lights pages and every combination is drawn the way you'd see it from the wheelhouse: towing astern, pushing ahead, towing alongside, Inland right next to the Western rivers.

Rule 7: a bearing that doesn't change appreciably means risk of collision exists.

Same with the whistle signals, meeting and crossing, face wires and fore-and-aft wires, the river mile systems and locking through: each one has its own page.

Towing Vessel Mate Illustrated is 65 illustrated pages in 9 parts, every topic drawn, and it ends with the common mix-ups, the numbers to know cold and a watch checklist.

What you see drawn, you don't have to memorize.

What's Inside Towing Vessel Mate Illustrated:

Ipp. 5-9

Your License and the Exam

Know exactly which license you're going for and what the exam asks: the ladder from apprentice mate to master, what the TOAR covers and who signs it off, the exam modules, and where Inland, International and Western rivers rules apply.

IIpp. 10-15

Light Basics

The light arcs, the yellow towing and special flashing lights, visibility ranges, reading a vessel's aspect from her lights, and the four day shapes.

IIIpp. 16-24

Towing Lights and Shapes

Towing astern, tows longer than 200 m, pushing ahead or alongside under Inland and Western rivers rules, lighting the barges, composite units and hard-to-see tows.

IVpp. 25-30

Other Lights You Will Meet

Not under command, restricted in ability to maneuver, dredges and underwater work, anchored and aground, barges moored at the bank, fishing and small craft.

Vpp. 31-38

Steering and Sailing Rules

Lookout, safe speed and risk of collision, narrow channels, downbound right of way, head-on, crossing, overtaking and the pecking order.

VIpp. 39-45

Sound Signals and Radio

Short and prolonged blasts, Inland intent vs. International action, overtaking signals, danger and bend signals, fog signals, radar and Channel 13.

VIIpp. 46-52

Making Up the Tow

Make up a tow and know why each wire goes where: barge sizes and layouts, kevels, timberheads and ratchets, face, fore-and-aft, breast and jockeying wires, snap-back zones, and breaking up a tow for a short lock.

VIIIpp. 53-60

River Charts, Aids and Locks

River mile systems, right and left descending bank, Western rivers daymarks, buoys, reading a chart page, approaching a lock, locking through and bridges with current.

IXpp. 61-65

Review: Mix-Ups and Checklist

The 8 Inland vs. International differences on one page, towing astern vs. pushing ahead at night, the numbers to know cold, a last exam review and a watch checklist.

At the end of the book: A final review with the 8 Inland vs. International differences, the numbers to know cold and a wheelhouse watch checklist.

SHOW ME WHAT'S INSIDE

Plus: 2 Free Books

Towing Exam Practice Book: Rules of the Road & Deck Questions

BONUS 1: «Towing Exam Practice Book: Rules of the Road & Deck Questions»

Value on its own: US$ 17.90

Exam-style questions on lights, sound signals, meeting and crossing, rigging and safety, each answer pointing you back to the page with the drawing, so you know exactly what to review.

BONUS 2Common Mix-Ups Cards: Lights, Shapes & Whistle Signals

BONUS 2: «Common Mix-Ups Cards: Lights, Shapes & Whistle Signals»

Value on its own: US$ 14.90

The mix-ups made most often, side by side on one card each (towing astern vs. pushing ahead, inland vs. international, one short blast vs. two), ready to print and keep in the wheelhouse.

Towing Vessel Mate Illustrated with 2 Free Books

  • Towing Vessel Mate Illustrated: 65 illustrated pagesUS$ 63
  • BONUS 1: Towing Exam Practice Book: Rules of the Road & Deck QuestionsUS$ 17.90
  • BONUS 2: Common Mix-Ups Cards: Lights, Shapes & Whistle SignalsUS$ 14.90
  • High-resolution PDF to printIncluded
Total value US$ 95.80
YOUR PRICE:
US$ 27
You save US$ 68.80
YES, I WANT TOWING VESSEL MATE ILLUSTRATED FOR US$ 27

📄 This is a digital PDF book sent to your email: nothing is printed or shipped.

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PDF by email: We email you Towing Vessel Mate Illustrated as a PDF, together with the two free books. It's a single payment: no installments, no extra charges.

Who This Book Is For

You're working toward steersman

You're working toward steersman

You study between watches with one topic per page, so ten minutes in the galley is enough to review a full set of lights or a rigging step.

Your exam date is coming

Your exam date is coming

The final review puts the mix-ups and the numbers side by side, and the practice book points each answer back to the page with the drawing.

You're already in the wheelhouse

You're already in the wheelhouse

You print the pages you need and keep them at the console: lights, whistle signals and lock approaches, ready to check on watch.

Everything You Get Today

US$ 95.80US$ 27
YES, I WANT TOWING VESSEL MATE ILLUSTRATED FOR US$ 27

📄 This is a digital PDF book sent to your email: nothing is printed or shipped.

30DAYS
GUARANTEE

30-Day Guarantee

Try Towing Vessel Mate Illustrated for 30 days, bonus books included.

We refund everything if the file won't open, if the book isn't what you see here, if you were charged twice or if the email doesn't arrive. Just email us.

You pay once. No subscriptions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this for me if I've worked deck for years but haven't taken a written exam in decades?

Yes. It's written for working deckhands going for apprentice mate (steersman), mate or master of towing vessels, not for recreational boating: towing lights, Western rivers rules, making up a tow and locking through. Short sentences, one drawing per topic, and Inland, International and Western rivers compared on the same page.

Where does the content come from?

From the USCG Navigation Rules and Regulations Handbook (Inland Rules, 33 CFR Part 83, and the International Rules/COLREGS), checked against the rules in force, plus 33 CFR Part 26 (bridge-to-bridge radio), 33 CFR Part 207 (locks), 46 CFR Part 11 (credentials) and the USCG Light List. Every page shows its rule number so you can check it against your own copy of the Rules.

Is this official material?

No. It's independent study material, not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard or the National Maritime Center.

Does it replace my training or my TOAR?

No. It helps you review and understand what you're learning. It doesn't give you a certificate and doesn't count as training or sea time. Approved courses, your TOAR, sea time and the official Navigation Rules are still required.

I already have a question app and the Rules book. What does this add?

The app tells you when you got it wrong. The Rules book gives you the full text. This book shows you each light, shape and signal drawn the way you'd see it from the wheelhouse, with Inland, International and Western rivers side by side. The practice questions in the bonus book are written for this book in exam style. They are not the real exam questions, and each answer sends you back to the page with the drawing.

How do I get it?

The book and the 2 bonus books come as PDFs by email, sent to the address you enter at checkout.

Do I have to pay every month?

No. It's a one-time payment.

Can I have it on paper?

Yes. The PDFs are made to print, so you can take the pages you need on the boat.

How does the refund work?

You have 30 days. We refund everything if the file won't open, if the book isn't what you see on this page, if you were charged twice or if the email doesn't arrive: just email us.

Before You Close This Page

No more rereading the Rules book with nothing sticking.

Towing lights? You see them drawn, and it clicks.

You walk into the exam knowing where everything is.

Drawings make studying faster.

The book is right below.

One-time payment: US$ 27 · Guarantee: 30 days · PDF by email

YES, I WANT TOWING VESSEL MATE ILLUSTRATED FOR US$ 27

📄 This is a digital PDF book sent to your email: nothing is printed or shipped.