Why use the two-way radio?

J

jattea

New Member
Sep 5, 2008
102
Buffalo, NY
Boat Info
2003 260 Sundancer
Engines
350 Mag / Bravo III
I have been boating for a little over a year, and one thing I notice is that I never use the radio. Most of the time, I don't even turn it on.

Yet when I was learning how to boat, everyone recommended I have a good radio and a good handheld backup radio to supplement it.

What am I missing? If I want to get ahold of someone I know, I just call their cell phone. If there's an emergency, I can just flip the unit on and use it, or just call 911 from my cell phone.

If a nearby boater wants to call me, by the time they got close enough to see the name of my boat, they could just speak to me in a loud voice. But that has never happened...

As far as weather is concerned, I've got far more detailed information bookmarked on my iPhone than I could ever get from the weather channel on my radio...

Am I right? Are these things becoming less relevant to boating?
 
I feel better having it turned on whenever I'm on the boat (even at the dock) and monitoring 16. As a boater, when on the water, one of your obligations is to assist a vessel or person in distress if you are able to. Without your radio on, you'd never hear a mayday, pan-pan, or securite call.

If you need to make an emergency call in the future and are too far away from the CG station to hear you, the only way you'll get help is from other vessels who have their radios turned on. With DSC, other radios can automatically relay your emergency call and coordinates (if you're using DSC with NMEA data hooked up).

You need the radio to contact the Black Rock lock if you're using that waterway.

You've got the radio, you should consider taking a VHF course to learn how to properly use it.

When you're on the water, you should have it on. Always.
 
We contact the marina's on approach to determine where they can put us. We use it for moving through the locks on the Snake River. We use it to hear who is catching fish and where on the lakes around here and over on the coast. We also use it when out of cell range to communicate with companion boats. Other boats often warn us of a stray log or some other item we should either come see or avoid completely. We've heard mayday calls, but haven't been in a position to assist. I sure hope someone has their radio on if I need to make that call!
 
In an emergency on the water it's still a great back up to your cell phone which is susceptible to dead spots, dead battery, failure, or getting dropped in the water.
It's also handy to get updates on conditions, and it's the best way to know if a fellow boater in your area is in distress.
I always monitor channel 16.
We were out fishing sunday morning and heard another boater call in to the CG about a capsized sail boat in the NYC area. They saw it, raced over to look for people in the water, and notified the CG who responded. We were way too far qaway from the incident, but it sounded like other pleasure boats in the area who were monitoring 16 headed over that way to lend a hand before the CG got there.
 
Radio Watchkeeping Regulations

In general, any vessel equipped with a VHF marine radiotelephone (whether voluntarily or required to) must maintain a watch on channel 16 (156.800 MHz) whenever the radiotelephone is not being used to communicate.

Source: FCC 47 CFR §§ 80.148, 80.310, NTIA Manual 8.2.29.6.c(2)(e), ITU RR 31.17, 33.18, AP13 §25.2
In addition, every power-driven vessel of 20 meters or over in length or of 100 tons and upwards carrying one or more passengers for hire, or a towing vessel of 26 feet or over in length, as well, as every dredge and floating plant operating near a channel or fairway, must also maintain a watch on channel 13 (156.650 MHz) --channel 67 (156.375 MHz) if operating on the lower Mississippi River-- ; while navigating on U.S. waters (which include the territorial sea, internal waters that are subject to tidal influence, and, those not subject to tidal influence but that are used or are determined to be capable of being used for substantial interstate or foreign commerce). Sequential monitoring techniques (scanners) alone cannot be used to meet this requirement; two radios (including portable radios, i.e. handhelds) or one radio with two receivers, are required. These vessels must also maintain a watch on the designated Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) frequency, in lieu of maintaining watch on channel 16, while transiting within a VTS area. See 33 CFR §§ 2.36, 26, and 161; 47 CFR §§ 80.148, 80.308-309; NTIA: NTIA Manual Chapter 8.2.29.7.
 
Sorry, I disagree. Having an operational radio, having it on, and knowing how to use it properly are all part of being a responsible boater.

Planning to use your cell phone in an emergency on the water is not smart planning. First responders are normally always the boaters around you.
 
X3 What everyone else has already said.. BTW if you ever do get in trouble my hand held two way floats.. will not die in the water and has an automatic select to channel 16 ...nuff said
 
VHF is line of sight only. The frequency is too high to get atmospheric bounce. Max range under optimum conditions is about 20 to 25 miles.
 
Last year, I heard the CG and a lock master talking about a boat stalled above lock 5 on the Mississippi. I was able to break in and get their direction to the boat. We sped up, got there in time and threw a line to a very exhausted and distressed man and his son. I feel obligated, as I am, to monitor the radio.

Dennis
 
Agree with Nacho. It is your responsibility as a boater to act like one!
 
Lemme chime in from a rescuers point of view....I've spent years flying search missions, and part of it involved lost or distressed boaters. Having the marine frequencies in the helicopter enabled us to immediately interface with boaters in the water and significantly reduced our search time. Also, for the CG or your local Fire-Rescue or Police boat that may be coming to your aid, they'll be listening to Ch 16.

A lot is dependent on where you are and what resources are around you. So, regardless of your access to air rescue, police boats or CG, there are usually other pleasure boaters around willing to lend a hand. The time to flip on your radio and try to figure it out is NOT when you're in serious danger.

I strongly suggest you turn on the radio, become familiar with its operations; become familiar with the "way" people speak on it. Why limit yourself to one form of communication which only talks to one person at a time during an emergency. A radio talks to EVERYONE on the channel and can bring the world your way, with one simple call for help....

stepping off of soapbox. Enjoy your summer and by all means, be safe...

RJ
 
jattea said:
Am I right? Are these things becoming less relevant to boating?
Click to expand...
Because the Coast Guard monitors VHF 24/7.
Because information and warnings are broadcast on VHF
Because your cell phones will not work out at sea
Because you can hail another vessel and vise versa
Because the sock staff carry VHF. The phone is in the office.
 
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The VHF is great, I chat with many people, hear about dangers reported on the water, find out where the fish are... Once you learn how to use it, it's a fantastic boating tool.

the first year of boating I never used it, I didn't know anything about it. Now I use it all of the time. Before you head out, you can ask how the seas are. listen to the weather. find friends on the water. get prices for fuel. Once you learn what channels to talk on, how to talk, and what to ask, you'll hardly pick up your cell phone on the water.

As an emergency tool, just listen on 16 and see what's going on. A mayday call on 16 will get a ton of responses from the CG to local authorities to boats near by. I won't leave port without it.
 
Its interesting to read this thread...I have always been interested in "learning" the how to's etc but I havent found any good resources other than the one posted above.
I have also looked at Chapman's.
I guess it's one of those things that you learn over time.

My question though....if you are supposed to monitor 16 at all times, how does one hail another vessel? Do you hail on 16 and go to another?
Doesn't everyone in the area use 9 around here?
Sorry to sound like a Newb but I really am when it comes to a VHF and I have been wanting to learn
 
If the boat is in sight, I switch to the lower power 1watt and hail them on 16. once they respond, I ask that they go to a ship to ship channel like 68 or 69. depending on the area, channel 9 or 13 is used for bridges.
 
typical, in my area, call on 16. This is the vessel Gitana, this is the vessel Gitana, this is the vessel Gitana calling buttplug, come in buttplug. This is buttplug Gitana. Switch to channel 68 buttplug. Buttplug switching to channel 68. This is Gitana calling buttplug. Hello Gitana, this is buttplug. Hello buttplug, where are you at you POS? I'm at the place you told me about you scumbag. Coolio, I'll be ther in 30 min.
 
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