Re: [Paddlewise] VHF radios/Cell phones

In a message dated 12/2/1998 11:37:36 AM EST, dkruger_at_pacifier.com writes:

<< Know the problem.  That's why I went to alkaline power on my radios.  (I
used to fly RC airplanes,
 and learned to distrust/hate Ni-Cads!)  The rechargeable units do not have
enough TX time to be
 useful on an overnight trip, let alone a week, especially if you leave the
radio on in RX mode for
 monitoring.  
 
 I'll score you as a "no."  Thanks for the informative reply.
 
 -- 
 Dave Kruger
 Astoria, OR >>

Folks, this is a good post.  Thank you Dave.  You did good.  There are several
handhelds on teh market today that use AA alkaline batteries.  You can also
rig up a motorcycle type battery for extended use.  They are not that heavy.

Also one drop of water on teh keypad of a cell phone WILL put it out of
commission.  One drop folks.  They can't take even a light rain, much less
salt spray.  I have been there done that with a Motorola Flip.  One drop put
it out until I reied it with a hair dryer.  On the other hand, marine
handhelds are all water resistant adn a lot of them waterproof.

Again it is wise to invest in the pouches made for that purpose.

By the way, you can attach a hand held to a longer antennae adn get a much
longer range.

If I were into coastal paddling alot and I am not, I would rig up a 25 wat
(cost $150.00 with a motorcycle type battery with a  small antennae and a
longer whip below teh decks to use when I needed it.    With such a rig, you
stretch a 6-8 mile range to a 15 to up to 20 mile range.  

The whole idea of VHF-FM marine radios is to limit range and thus limit
interference.  Having grown up on teh intracoastal canal in teh 50's asn 60's
and an ardent fan of listening to teh boats via Hallicrafters receivers, I
remember well teh days of 2180 mHz being teh hailing channel.  I could hear
boats from New Orleans to Brownsville Texas and half way across the Gulf of
Mexico.

These are still used on teh high seas and "talk hundreds of miles" but use
considerable power and cannot be hand held.  VHF was invented to let more
boats have radio communications that did not have any and limit it to close
range.

If I kayaked near the shipping lanes and the river here is a shipping lane
some 65 miles inland, the most important thing about a VHF would be my ability
to say "hey big boy, do you see me?"

Speaking of rescue via the Coast Guard.  I listened to a shrimp boat call a
mayday on my scanner in my truck whild driving to Galveston, Texas one day.
It went something like this --"Coast Guard, Coast Guard, halp me please"
"Halp me Coast Guard, I'm sinking fast"

To make a long story short, I heard this about 40 miles from the ferry
attaching Galveston to the mainland.  The shrimp boat had through it's own
negligence ran into an anchored ship waiting a pilot to come aboard.  The ship
did not even know what happened.  The coast guard dispatched a 40 foot patrol
boat at full throttle which can literally haul ass!

We got to see this from teh ferry as we approached the landing right next to
the Soast Fuard base.  The shrimp boat was an old wooden one adn got busted up
pretty bad.  While teh CG boat was in route, the CG dispatch called teh ship
adn had them loser a boat to assist teh shrimp boat.  Meanwhile teh CG
requested detailed infor as to crew and information so as to cause the skipper
to demand "please stop asking me all these stupid questions adncome quick and
help me"  I got to give it to teh CG dispatcher adn boat operator, they acted
very professional adn calmed him down.  As I said befor, they had the
situation under control all the time.

This occured with about 5-6 foot waves adn when that patrol boat reached the
end of the jettys and hit bigger swells, all you could see was a lot of spray
which engulfed teh boat all together.  I was really impressed with the speed
with which they reacted, the calming effect of teh CG radiomen and their
ability to get help from the ship personnel.

I soon got out of radio range and curiosity later caused me to call Galveston
CG to find out that the shrimp boat was saved from sinking although damaged
pretty badly and no injuries were incurred.

Folks, I got towed in once as a kid on a 65 foot fishing boat some 60miles
offshore after we lost our rudder.  Our only problem was we could only go in
circles.

I promise you the only thing better that the view of the stern of the Point
Hope pulling you in is the sight of the bow of the Point Hope on the horizon
comming your way.

Let me suggest that any coastal paddler in reach of Coast Guard units look up
the U S C G website.  They have all sorts of info on it.  Then call them adn
arange a trip to look teh station over.  It probably won't be big, but talk to
teh men and women there adn you will find out how big their hearts are at
helping those in distress.

You will learn what they can and can't do.

I recently watched a documentary on Discovery or Learning channel on Coast
Guard rescue swimmer training.  I was impressed to say the least.

Growing upcoastal, I have always had a deep respect for CG adn my youngest
brother served in teh CG for 6 years.  The other was in teh Navy.  I am the
only boateradn was in the Army.  Go figure!

John



***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List
Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
Website:         http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/
***************************************************************************