john_morris_uk
Well-known member
I talk to myself even when not single handed.
Crew to helm walkie talkies suggestions?
- Thread starter john_morris_uk
- Start date
ltcom
Well-known member
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Laysula
Well-known member
I don't need a radio. I can hear my wife from a hundred yards away. 
Zing
Well-known member
You don’t need to talk when you are following the skipper’s commands. Maybe it’s time to be the crew for a while.
I know people have used a Senna motorcycle intercom for this job. I find hand signals work well enough. If it’s blowing a gale you can’t be heard anyway, so a way needs to be found.
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LittleSister
Well-known member
I am disappointed that nobody has reported using semaphore, or whistles and morse code. What's the world coming to?
KINGFISHER 8
Well-known member
Having recommended the above I seem to remember buying them much cheaper from somewhere other than Sabre Leisure ... if I could remember I'd be a happy man! ... ? ... shop around.
john_morris_uk
Well-known member
If you're on the bow and trying to help the helm know which way the anchor rode lies as you ease the boat forward to allow the windlass to lift the chain, two way communication can be by hand signals (which is what we often do) but is sometimes better by voice.
Watching out for coral heads from up the mast is much better done when you can speak to the helm. If you point, does it mean 'go that way' or 'there's one over there' or, 'Wow! have you seen that amazing shark/turtle/ray crusing the reef to our starboard/port side.
If your in the dinghy trying to help manoeuvre the boat and sort out a fouled anchor etc, hand signals don't cut it.
I agree that hand signals can work really well, but if modern technology allows you to quietly talk from crew to skipper and back again, why not use the technology?
mjcoon
Well-known member
Reading this thread I've been reminded of the Victorian (?) code books with brief cryptograms standing for whole paragraphs of improbable relevance. Surely they were just memory tests, not of any utility?
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Sabre leisure has advised me today that they have none in stock nor any on order.
Pump-Out
Active member
Don't be ridiculous.I am disappointed that nobody has reported using semaphore, or whistles and morse code. What's the world coming to?
You send a Midshipman forrad to present your compliments and....
Sybarite
Well-known member
Will you have to get one for each member of your congregation?
Gwylan
Well-known member
Cobra MT975 or current similar.
Have 4, 2 with headset
Set to VOX and great for anchoring coordination.
Also up the mast comes.
Good battery life, recharge when necessary.
Great when the beach party wants to summon the dinghy or whatever.
Have 4, 2 with headset
Set to VOX and great for anchoring coordination.
Also up the mast comes.
Good battery life, recharge when necessary.
Great when the beach party wants to summon the dinghy or whatever.
Northern Star
Active member
Pah radio who needs that as half the fun is shouting at the crew (wife) and watching the scowling face at the pointy end.
A lower cost option is the Baofeng UV-9r and they can be programmed to use PMR or business radio frequencies if you pay Ofcom £75 for a five year licence. They also cover the marine bands for monitoring and can be used simplex or duplex but I tend to just use them for walkie talkies as they are less than £30 and waterproof.
They also have FM radio for listening to entertainment whilst cruising.
Baofeng UV-9R 136-174/400-520MHZ VHF: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics
A lower cost option is the Baofeng UV-9r and they can be programmed to use PMR or business radio frequencies if you pay Ofcom £75 for a five year licence. They also cover the marine bands for monitoring and can be used simplex or duplex but I tend to just use them for walkie talkies as they are less than £30 and waterproof.
They also have FM radio for listening to entertainment whilst cruising.
Baofeng UV-9R 136-174/400-520MHZ VHF: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics
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Surely the big deal is that these devices need to be in headset format and hands free, otherwise might as well use HH VHF.
john_morris_uk
Well-known member
Correct. Hence my OP said ‘with earpiece and boom microphone... and VOX’
I like the idea of full duplex via Bluetooth.
geoid96
Well-known member
I've used Sena Expand Boom headsets at work where they worked really well. They are duplex, water resistant and were fairly comfortable on the ear.
Currently available from Amazon. I wish I had a pair on the boat.
Currently available from Amazon. I wish I had a pair on the boat.
LiftyK
Well-known member
And now for something completely different.
As recommended by a friend. If you have mobile phone coverage:
1) Get bone-conducting headphones for both crew. They are light and unobtrusive. I have Aftershokz, mostly used for navigation while cycling. You wear them like sunglasses, but around the back. You can wear them together with sunglasses. Nothing goes in your ears so you remain aware of your surroundings. The built-in USB rechargeable batteries last for ages.
2) With your mobile phone, call your crew. The headphones allow you to talk hands-free while also hearing everything around you. Both phones, paired with the headphones, can remain in the cockpit and the headphones will be in range.
As nearly all phone calls are free these days, this method has no running costs plus the headphones can be used for listening to podcasts, phone calls, many things. They’re ok for music but lack bass. The good thing is that they don’t sit unused when you are not using them as a boat intercom.
I use hand signals onboard even though I already have suitable headphones, but I might try them in intercom mode next season. Ffngers crossed that we have one.
As recommended by a friend. If you have mobile phone coverage:
1) Get bone-conducting headphones for both crew. They are light and unobtrusive. I have Aftershokz, mostly used for navigation while cycling. You wear them like sunglasses, but around the back. You can wear them together with sunglasses. Nothing goes in your ears so you remain aware of your surroundings. The built-in USB rechargeable batteries last for ages.
2) With your mobile phone, call your crew. The headphones allow you to talk hands-free while also hearing everything around you. Both phones, paired with the headphones, can remain in the cockpit and the headphones will be in range.
As nearly all phone calls are free these days, this method has no running costs plus the headphones can be used for listening to podcasts, phone calls, many things. They’re ok for music but lack bass. The good thing is that they don’t sit unused when you are not using them as a boat intercom.
I use hand signals onboard even though I already have suitable headphones, but I might try them in intercom mode next season. Ffngers crossed that we have one.
emandvee44
Well-known member
A google found other stockists?
M.
Northern Star
Active member
I agree with the above that a simple phone bluetooth connection is by far the cheapest.
It hasn't been promoted here but in the states they use mobiles for all sorts of walkie talkie coms.
It hasn't been promoted here but in the states they use mobiles for all sorts of walkie talkie coms.
john_morris_uk
Well-known member
Presumably using mobile phones relies on you actually having a mobile phone signal and a SIM that’s recognised by the local provider.
It’s not so easy in lots of parts of the world if you’re away blue water cruising and that’s what we’re prepping for.