Why use the two-way radio?

[Four Suns]

Bad day at the office?

 

[Stray Cat]

If you really want to talk to someone on a VHF, just turn it on channel 16 and say,

Breaker 1-6 any buddy got yer ears on? Or just key the mike and hold it for awhile, and my favorite, this is my favorite song and I want everyone to hear it. That's usually enough to start a conversation....unless you're boating on a pond.

 

[jattea]

Okay, thanks for the feedback. I just was realizing that in 50+ hours of boating, I have never once used the radio, either to send or receive. But you guys make a good point about being responsible for fellow boaters. Thanks.

 

[skibum]

One afternoon last year, we were at our marina getting ready to head out for a quick run to Fells Point for lunch. We were still tied up, but I had the engine running and the radio on monitoring channel 16. We heard a boater reporting a large floating object under the Key Bridge to the CG. About 35 minutes later we found ourselves approaching the bridge. We spotted 3 small CG boats searching the area. We were at no wake speed, so we could tell that they still hadn't found what they were looking for. 30 seconds later, one of them announces on the radio that they had found it - a large metal container floating 6" under the water. Apparently it fell of of a ship on its way in or out of Baltimore. Whatever cargo was in it was bouyant enough to make the whole thing float, but not enough to get any part of it above the surface. We went around them, but I noticed that they were right smack where I would have driven if I had followed my old GPS cookies.

A couple of weeks later in the same area, someone reported a floating refrigerator.

 

[Gunn]

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.

You know how it sometimes takes something catchy in order to remember something forever? Like a funny acronym or catchy tune. Well....I will never again fail to remember how to correctly hail another vessel! I just hope I remember to substitute the word 'buttplug'. :grin:

 

[87cc]

Spend some time on this site: http://www.boatus.com/foundation/dsc/player.html

Thanks , I learned alot there !

 

[Big Pete]

Tell me is channel 16 used in Europe ? or just USA waters

 

[kg4vgh]

Jattea.....you are not "required" to have a radio for your size boat....however.....IF you have a radio it MUST by law, be tuned to Ch 16 (see TBC post).....normal practice around here, CG will fly overhead, and call you by name on the radio....evidenced by the antenna on your boat.....if you do not answer.....they will board and cite you.....
We boaters need all the help we can get on the water....radio is just another life line....personally, I use it all the time....Nick is 100% correct...radio's on the water a good insurance

Big Pete.....what we are talking about is US flagged vessels in the US territorial waters....I would imagine that Europe has it's own requirements.....they may or may not be the same

 

[SCORPIO]

If you are a new boater, and even if you're not, may I suggest taking the Power Squadron safe boating course and possibly taking their seamanship course. These will teach things like proper radio procedure, knots, boat handling, requirements for different type vessels etc. Knowledge is llike money, its hard to have too much of either.
Chris
USPS Advanced Pilot

 

[Big Pete]

Jattea.....you are not "required" to have a radio for your size boat....however.....IF you have a radio it MUST by law, be tuned to Ch 16 (see TBC post).....normal practice around here, CG will fly overhead, and call you by name on the radio....evidenced by the antenna on your boat.....if you do not answer.....they will board and cite you.....
We boaters need all the help we can get on the water....radio is just another life line....personally, I use it all the time....Nick is 100% correct...radio's on the water a good insurance

Big Pete.....what we are talking about is US flagged vessels in the US territorial waters....I would imagine that Europe has it's own requirements.....they may or may not be the same

Does anyone know what Europe uses ? I have VHF on my new boat so need to know ..

 

[Big Pete]

Does anyone know what Europe uses ? I have VHF on my new boat so need to know ..

well anyone know ?