Marine Boat Radio
Sep/100
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I got a marine radio for Christmas, now what the heck can I do with it?
Ok, I have no idea why I need a marine radio. I fish a freshwater lake and never get more than a mile from the boat ramp. Also, I have a cell phone with computer access to weatherbug so I don't think I need weather stuff. The extra walkie talkie for my wife to get in touch me would be nice back in 1980, but now she just calls me on the cell. Am I right by thinking that a marine radio has no use to me? I am thinking it's more like going out 40 or 50 miles off the coast or something like for those NFL players who got caught in a storm or something.
On a freshwater lake, if there are no other boats around (or if none of those that do use it carry VHF) there may well be little point in carrying it. VHF is no use IF (and only if) no-one else is using it, so there is no-one else to hear you call.
But if you ever take your boat to the coast, or an estuary, it becomes a very important safety feature, and a mobile phone then is no substitute.
Use it (on the coast or estuary) to liaise as necessary with the Coastguard (including obtaining navigational and weather warnings), and to liaise with any other boats in company with you.
Use it (occasionally) also for collision avoidance; if another vessel is bearing down on you and you are unable to get out of her way (e.g. you are broken down) alert her to the situation; if on collision course with another vessel where she should give way but appears not to be doing so you can call her up to ask her intentions; etc., etc.
Above all, use it for distress and rescue situations, whether your own distress (i.e. Mayday calls) or to assist in someone else's distress (Mayday Relay), or on-scene co-ordination until help arrives.
Three primary differences between marine radio and mobile phones are that mobile phone networks are NOT designed to provide coverage at sea, whereas marine radio of course does (within the limitations of its range); marine radio broadcasts the call, so in an emergency situation you can of course alert every vessel within range - which you cannot possibly do by mobile phone; and with marine radio the Coastguard and lifeboats can often get an RDF bearing on you to help locate you - which again is not possible with mobile phones.
If you go coastal, even if only occasionally, don't assume that you don't need VHF so long as you stay close inshore; you do! Over the last three years or so I have needed my set several times when within less than half a mile from the shore: most recently to liaise with the Coastguard when I was unable to recover a fouled anchor, but more importantly in August this year I stood by another sailing dinghy (we were sailing in company) which had capsized and inverted when our cruising fleet were caught out in a completely unforecast force 7-8 with wind against tide off a major headland, and the VHF was vital first in putting out a Mayday Relay and then acting as on-scene co-ordinator with the rescue authorities.
About three years ago, despite decades of experience, I had the unenviable distinction of sinking my sailing club's rescue RIB, immediately off the club, in a 6-knot tide, when we fouled the propeller round the warp of a buoy that we were trying to recover. That was the one time in my life when I have put out a Mayday call.
Previously, over a longer time-span, on at least two occasions the Coastguard have called me up, either to investigate a yacht reported as in difficulties or to ask whether I had also seen flares which had been reported to them. On the first of those occasions we were able to rendezvous with the yacht, endeavour to assist her directly, establish that it would be a lifeboat job, and stand by until the lifeboat arrived.
None of the above would have been possible had we had only a mobile phone, but all were routine with marine radio.
And, finally, if making a passage on your own it can be quite a good idea to call up the Coastguard when you set out, and give them the details (boat, no. of persons on board, destination, ETA), and then call them back on reaching your destination to report safe arrival. Or, as I have once had to do, call them before reaching your destination to advise engine failure and seriously delayed, proceeding very slowly under sail (little wind and foul tide), but "we do not repeat not require assistance".
But, returning to my first point, none of that is relevant if you use your boat ONLY on a freshwater lake, and if either there are no other boats using it, or if although other boats use it they none of them carry VHF. Sure as eggs are eggs, if you are on a freshwater lake well inland the Coastguard will not be within range, and indeed if you are not at sea (or on navigable waters connected with the sea) it would probably actually be illegal to use marine frequencies.
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