Hi, Normally I let the VHF queries and answers fly over my head. Oh, I read them, but not with any great intensity. So, discussions from much earlier have been stored away in a mishmash. However I will hit the big 60 this coming weekend and am NOW suggesting to my wife that a VHF might be a good gift idea. This is a big step for me (the VHF step; can't do much about Father Time :-)) for several reasons: 1) I basically distrust all things electrical and electronic in sea conditions even flashlights (which I carry a reduntant amount of, just in case); 2) I see a radio as potentially one more crutch to have along to get me out of a jam that I should not have gotten myself into in the first place. Or reach for a radio when other self solutions would work just as well if not better. So, I am kind of in the market for one right now. I've taken a cursory look and want something the price range and size of the Icom M1. It is now rated at submersible, something that I think is a recent upgrade. I would like to know so I don't get stuck with a discontinued version that is at some lower grade of water impermability. It really has to be small, otherwise, knowing myself, I will soon stop bringing it along. If there are other _small_ models that I should be contemplating, I would like to hear about them. My needs are just basically for daytrips at the moment. I think a VHF marine radio might be useful when paddling in the heavy traffic we have around here. Thusfar, I have managed to do just fine without monitoring or transmitting vis-a-vis ferries and large boats. I've just observe their pattern of movement and adjust my course and location to keep me out of their way. Anyway, I am now in the purchase contemplation stage. I am glad that Rich Mitchell piped up with comments as I have met him when was my guest for a Statue of Liberty trip here about three years ago, and I value his opinion (especially his good sense to be a subscriber to my newsletter :-)). Just one additional question. Several individuals have talked about transmitting from land. I thought that marine radios could not be used on shore or is that something that applied earlier when licenses were required? ralph diaz -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Reminds me of the time I took my dad out for his first sailing trip. We were listing to Ch16 which stated: "There is a storm approaching... with sustained winds of 80 Kn. Switch to Channel 22 for further details. We had no Ch22.... and were amazed... did they say 80? or 8? Why warnings of 8? The storm hit within an hour and lasted for hours... over 6 hours at least. Dad and I thought we were both going to die. We... and the boat survived. Not that the radio helped any... but the next day there was another call.... there is a storm approaching with 70 kn. winds, switch to Ch22 for further detais... We anchored our sailboat and we got in our life raft and headed for shore as fast as we could! Robert >2) I see a radio as potentially one more crutch to have along to get me >out of a jam that I should not have gotten myself into in the first >place. Or reach for a radio when other self solutions would work just >as well if not better. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com wrote: > However I will hit the big 60 this coming weekend and am NOW suggesting > to my wife that a VHF might be a good gift idea. [snip] > 1) I basically distrust all things electrical and electronic in sea > conditions even flashlights (which I carry a reduntant amount of, just > in case); A good attitude, Ralph, especially for an electronic device as subject to splashing as a HH VHF -- when you really need it, conditions are likely to be very rude. > 2) I see a radio as potentially one more crutch to have along to get me > out of a jam that I should not have gotten myself into in the first > place. Or reach for a radio when other self solutions would work just > as well if not better. Valid point, unless you plan to leave it on and monitor transmissions of other, larger craft. Especially in busy, crowded harbors, you *may* find it increases your awareness of the intentions of tugs, ferries, and the odd freighter. It sounds like you do fine, now, so the radio is probably not going to make much difference. Don't know how it is in NYC harbor, but out here, the commercial traffic is very religious about announcing its intentions vis-a-vis operations in/near the shipping channel. > Just one additional question. Several individuals have talked about > transmitting from land. I thought that marine radios could not be used > on shore or is that something that applied earlier when licenses were > required? Technically, it is illegal for us to transmit with a HH VHF from land. (Listening is legal.) However, if the transmissions are clearly related to immediate use of a watercraft (or, to an emergency) and do not lapse over into the CB-babble mode, no one will hassle you. (There are some special marine radio licenses which allow marinas, ship pilot services, etc., to broadcast from land-based stations.) In fact, in some parts of the world (NOT NYC harbor), marine VHF is the de facto party line for place-to-place communication, whether ashore or not -- remote sections of the Charlottes, for example. Illegal, yes. Local usage won out over legal fine print. Let us know what you settle on. With your customary thoroughness and erudition, I suspect the rest of us will learn much from your description of your search! -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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