Re: [Paddlewise] Marine Operator

In a message dated 12/16/1998 7:34:44 PM EST, juliom_at_cisco.com writes:

<< Say that you left a float plan at home (and if you did not, please
 do it next time), that says to call the Coast Guard for help if
 you are not back by, say, 9pm.
 
 You are delayed by repair in the kayak hull, and then the
 wind picks up against you. You have your night lights with you and are just
 a few yards from the Golden Gate bridge at 8:50pm. 
 
 You are fine, but your significant other is about to call the
 Coast Guard, or even 911. 
 
 If you have a VHF radio, tune to channel 28, and transmit:
 operator-operator-operator
 An operator will answer, and will connect you with the local
 phone company's marine operator. 
 Tell the operator to place a collect call to your residence
 phone number.
 Now tell your significant other that you are fine, and that you will
 be on your way home as soon as you paddle a few more yards
 and tie your kayak to your car's rack.
 
 The cost of such a call, according to Pacific Bell, is $2.55 for
 the first 3 minutes, and 85 cents per minute after that.
 
 
 It is also possible to call from land to a vessel. Dial 0 to get
 the operator, and tell her/him that you want to make a marine call.
 They need to know (provide as much information as you can):
 
 Vessel's name
 Vessel's ID number
 Captain's name
 Closest port
 
 The charges are the same.  If you are calling from out of the
 area, say from San Jose to a vessel close to the Golden Gate,
 then the usual long distance charges apply in addition to the
 $2.55/3min of the actual marine call.
 
 I think I am going to test this next time.
 
 - Julio >>

Julio,

No need to test it next time (but you should) because you have it exactly
right.  You can call any telephone in the world from your kayak via Marine VHF
FM.

The only thing you forgot is to "take a number and geet in line"  The service
has limited resources and getting less and less as marine interests move more
to cell phone service.

I use it often adn have found that especially in the evening it is crowded
with every homesick mariner calling home in the evenings.  The key thing to
remember is that it is NOT of a timely nature.  As I said "take a number adn
get in line".  Sometimes the line is short, sometimes it is long.

By the way, most Coast Guard stations only accept missing boater reports when
they are more than 24 hours overdue unless there is an indication that life or
property is in danger.  Simply being late comming in does not qualify.

Another point in using teh marine operator is your call is simplex meaning
that the person on the phone must understand that they have to "take turns"
listening and then talking.  This takes some getting used to.  I suggest that
you and the person you will call try a "test" call to work out teh bugs.  It
is a little different. 

Also, unless you like to broadcast a credit card number to the world, make
arrangements with your phone company for marine calls or either always make a
collect call.  I NEVER give out a CC number over the air for obvious reasons.

Other than the above mentioned limitations, it works great.  I have called
home to report the fish are still biting and we will be several hours late
getting in many times and the comfort level at home is really worth it.

As my daughter once told me "effective communications is teh key to family
living".  This is a "payback" statement from her for whenever I don't report
in when running late.  I expect her to!  She expects me to also!

John LeBlanc

John LeBlanc

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