boat use without a vhf license?

Are you actually sure about that or are you just assuming the point?
I know it - quote from Ofcom:

Even if you have a radio which is covered by a valid WT Act licence you are not permitted to use it for general transmissions until you have either passed the relevant examination and are in possession of an operator's certificate and authority to operate, or have someone on board who has. This does not mean that the radio cannot be monitored for safety purposes or used to summon assistance in a distress situation.

This is from RA364 - Ship Radio Licence Information Sheet.

HTH.
 
It surprises me that everyone says oh you must do the training and sit the test. Is it just because we've all done it and spent the money so everyone else should? I wouldn't worry at all about taking the boat out without doing the course and in your circumstances I probably wouldn't worry about ever doing it. I hear people on the radio all the time that have no clue about proper procedures, that probably includes me and I have done the course:D By the time it comes to using it in an emergency you will have forgot all you learned. I would advise buying the book, studying it and keeping it on board. Print out some cards with the aide memoire on emergency procedure. http://www.amazon.co.uk/RYA-VHF-Rad...UTF8&qid=1406569580&sr=1-8&keywords=rya+books
 
I'm almost with Spyro on this. You've covered the legal bit with the Ship's Radio Licence. By all means get the licence in due course, but if you read the book, read your VHF manual (beware it may be Yank-centric) and learn the basics of the Mayday procedure you'll be well on your way. As others have said, you can pick up how to use the radio from listening to others (good & bad habits).

After that, just avoid obvious errors and bad manners. Be brief, esp on Ch 16. Don't deliberately overtalk others. And if you go near a marina (and they aren't connected to the phone system) call them on the channel they advertise (often 80) rather than 16.

I suspect there are lots of boats, esp. in Ireland, that just haven't bothered with the licence.
 
Yup - changed his mind between #1 and #26.. :)


I used the wrong terminology, i meant more certificate to use, not the actual boat license.

Our boat is licensed for vhf

From what i've read i think i am happy enough with the answers given to take her off the mooring in confidence id not be at risk of invalidating insurance etc..
 
I used the wrong terminology, i meant more certificate to use, not the actual boat license.

Our boat is licensed for vhf

From what i've read i think i am happy enough with the answers given to take her off the mooring in confidence id not be at risk of invalidating insurance etc..

hahaha_zpse95e6bdc.gif
get real
 
I'm almost with Spyro on this. You've covered the legal bit with the Ship's Radio Licence. By all means get the licence in due course, but if you read the book, read your VHF manual (beware it may be Yank-centric) and learn the basics of the Mayday procedure you'll be well on your way. As others have said, you can pick up how to use the radio from listening to others (good & bad habits).

After that, just avoid obvious errors and bad manners. Be brief, esp on Ch 16. Don't deliberately overtalk others. And if you go near a marina (and they aren't connected to the phone system) call them on the channel they advertise (often 80) rather than 16.

I suspect there are lots of boats, esp. in Ireland, that just haven't bothered with the licence.

Given that this guy is going to be remote there becomes the distinct possibility he hears a Mayday from another even more remote boat, it gets no response from a MRCC and he needs to act as a relay... Hardly a scenario the Solent boys have to deal with. Mayday relay on DSC to me is an unnatural procedure as you use urgency rather than distress. These are the things the course exists for.. Get it wrong and the SAR asset may go to the wrong location...
 
I don't recall doing a dsc mayday relay on my course (2005). I think most of us would have to look up the procedure in the handbook as we are unlikely to use it often.
Given that this guy is going to be remote there becomes the distinct possibility he hears a Mayday from another even more remote boat, it gets no response from a MRCC and he needs to act as a relay... Hardly a scenario the Solent boys have to deal with. Mayday relay on DSC to me is an unnatural procedure as you use urgency rather than distress. These are the things the course exists for.. Get it wrong and the SAR asset may go to the wrong location...
 
I don't recall doing a dsc mayday relay on my course (2005). I think most of us would have to look up the procedure in the handbook as we are unlikely to use it often.

I'm not sure it would be in the VHF manual, as it's a procedural thing rather than an actual operation on the equipment.

I believe ships' DSC gear has the ability to acknowledge (like a shore station) and to properly relay a DSC mayday. But our Class D kit does not. Instead, if I remember rightly, the procedure is much the same as a voice Mayday Relay, but preceded by a DSC Urgency alert to attract attention.

Pete
 
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