At 05:37 PM 02/29/2000 -0800, Dave Kruger wrote: >BaysideBob wrote: >> >> Fear of spouse will certainly make me take stupid risks so she won't "worry" >> about me. >If your paddling is in a metro area (Bay area, yes, Bob?), a cell phone is >probably quicker and more direct for reaching your wife.... I doubt there is >anyplace near the SF Bay metro area from which a cell phone will not work. Actually there are a number of dead spots for cell phones on the Bay and coastal waters. You would be amazed at where they won't work. I had to paddle 1-1/4 miles to find a spot where the thing would work a few weeks ago. Further, they are pretty much worthless on the lakes around here. I carry both the cell phone and VHF. One distinct advantage of VHF is that most of the decent models are water resistant. The cell phone is not. Another advantage of the VHF -- no monthly fees. (My cell phone costs only $11.99 per month.) There isn't a whole lot to learn about VHF -- you just buy it, charge the battery, and keep it safe until you need it. No license required for a kayak. To make a telephone call on your VHF, you set the channel to (around SF Bay) 25, 26, 84 or 87 (I think this is location specific) and ask 3 times for "Marine Operator". Some say collect calls are OK ... I've never done it. jerry. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Wed Mar 01 2000 - 12:07:21 PST
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