By the way, has anybody out there been caught and fined for operating a VHF radio without a license in Canada or the U.S.? I'd just as soon be fined than support some inane bureaucracy which was designed for a different class of watercraft. ____________________________________________________________________________________ The fish are biting. Get more visitors on your site using Yahoo! Search Marketing. http://searchmarketing.yahoo.com/arp/sponsoredsearch_v2.php *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Elias Ross wrote: > By the way, has anybody out there been caught and fined for operating a VHF > radio without a license in Canada or the U.S.? I'd just as soon be fined > than support some inane bureaucracy which was designed for a different class > of watercraft. Elias, I'm legal in both Canada and the US, because I got my first VHF unit back in early 1996, just before the FCC removed the licensing requirement for _pleasure_ boaters. An FCC license is required by law for a US boater, in his/her own craft, to broadcast on the marine VHF band in Canada. You do not need a license to use your VHF in the US, any more. However, enforcement and monitoring of licensing requirements is nil or minimal in remote areas of the BC coast. In ten seasons of active paddling there (west coast of Vancouver Island, Gulf Islands, Queen Charlottes), I have never been checked or asked if I had a VHF by anyone. I have chatted with CCG personnel on the water, VHF visible on my PFD, and they never asked about it. I have never heard of any sea kayaker who was checked. And, I used my VHF (from the beach) to contact the CCG to help some other kayakers chase down some overdue companions. This exchange went on for half an hour of transmissions before the lost paddlers were found. They never asked me if I had a license or if I had call numbers, and were simply grateful I had a VHF and knew how to use it. In a busy harbour, you might get checked, but if you do not abuse the marine band (e.g., you only use 16 for hailing, and move your subsequent discussion with others to an approved channel), I do not believe you will have a problem. Please note using the marine VHF band in Canada without a license is illegal, and that I am not advocating any illegal activity. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Elias Ross wrote: > By the way, has anybody out there been caught and fined for operating a VHF > radio without a license in Canada or the U.S.? You don't need a license to operate a marine VHF in the US for recreational boating. > I'd just as soon be fined > than support some inane bureaucracy which was designed for a different class > of watercraft. That inane bureaucracy maintains radio frequencies in Canada that can be used reliably for the safety and security of all watercraft. Without it, the marine VHF frequencies would be no better than CB radio. If you don't like it, just remember that no one is forcing you to get a marine VHF radio. Mike *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Elias, I have carried a VHF Marine radio in my PFD for some ten years now here in the US and in Gulfo de California. I've never been stopped or inspected. A few hand waves from USCG and US Park Service as the "flew" by in their power boats. Never had to use Channel 16/9. Occasionally the CG will come on for a quick communicaiton. The weather channel has been a useful feature. As a group we have used the VHF upper end channels for minimal group communication and to monitor local communication and ship communicaiton so we can stay out of the way of the big boats. I generally paddle bays, esteros and coast waters. I carry the radio as part of my safety gear along with a whistle, strobe, mirror (rafting guide days) and some hand held flares and rockets and my cell phone. Never been stopped - never fined. John Santa Rosa, CA Arluk III Tofino LongHaul MK1 Elias Ross <generic_elias_at_yahoo.com> wrote: By the way, has anybody out there been caught and fined for operating a VHF radio without a license in Canada or the U.S.? I'd just as soon be fined than support some inane bureaucracy which was designed for a different class of watercraft. ____________________________________________________________________________________ The fish are biting. Get more visitors on your site using Yahoo! Search Marketing. http://searchmarketing.yahoo.com/arp/sponsoredsearch_v2.php --------------------------------- It's here! Your new message! Get new email alerts with the free Yahoo! Toolbar. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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