Re: [Paddlewise] VHF

Julio MacWilliams wrote:
> 
> (Answering to the question of whether I leave my VHF on while paddling)
> 
> Not anymore. I used to do that every time, but after several day long
> trips in the San Francisco Bay I decided to turn it off. The VHF
> traffic inside the bay is very heavy, and I would get distracted all
> the time.

I can appreciate that VHF use in a high-traffic area would be different than in an isolated area
like Barkley Sound.  I know how annoying it is to hear the constant yammering of the Neanderthal
segment of the power boat crowd.  We get that here during part of the summer, when the salmon
(remember them?) season is open.

> Most of the VHF traffic inside the SF Bay is irrelevant to kayakers.[snip]

> Personally, I would like to announce on Ch 16, something like
> "group of sea kayakers are about to cross Racoon Straight, please
>  exercise caution" just like the Coast Guard does. However, I have
> been afraid to do so because the Coast Guard might not like it, or
> most boaters would just ignore it.
> 
> What are your opinions on that?  Should I go ahead and announce
> our presence on Ch 16?

Yes.  Do it.  Usually this would be a "Securite'" call, I believe.  Professional mariners such as
tug captains and freighter drivers will appreciate the heads-up, and will normally make a serious
effort to locate you (visually -- we are nothing on radar).  For many waters, we have no protection
aside from avoiding shipping channels.  When you have to cross a shipping channel in traffic, the
call is a good idea.  In some areas, there is a shipping traffic coordinator channel you can contact
to see if anything heavy is headed your way.  YMMV

> Another thing I have noticed is that around here, people do not use
> the VHF protocol that appears in the (at least) European boat licensing
> books. In those books it says that the correct protocol is[snip]
> 
> I guess in the US the VHF protocol is "clear talk"; something like
> "hey you!" "yeah?..."  that gives no clue as to who is using the channel.

Bozo-speak is bozo-speak, no matter the culture or nationality.  Unfortunately, in high-traffic
areas such as yours, Julio, "average" marine VHF courtesy is at the pre-Neanderthal stage.  In other
areas (mine is one), most of transmissions are between professional mariners, who still exercise
correct radio protocol, and gentlemanly politeness, also.  Maybe one of the last refuges of the
civilized!

In my limited experience in remote areas, where the VHF is the ONLY (best?) way villages/fishing
vessels/yakkers/packet freighters/outfitters/etc. can communicate, protocol is informal, but
respectful.  In the Charlottes, for example, locals use channel 6 (yeah, they know they are supposed
to use a different channel) as the "party line," for all sorts of communication.  Makes for a nice
way to keep in touch with those around you, when you need to.  When you want silence, you can have
that, also.  They all monitor 6 and 16.  Almost nobody uses 16 for hailing, freeing it for emergency
traffic.

-- 
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR
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