Do you sail with the VHF on ? POLL

[RupertW]

But if you were sinking, on fire, having a heart attack you would not turn it on? instead fishing out your flares?

I would activate the EPIRB but I’m sure I would call on the VHF too. But if it wasn’t for major ports requiring VHF I would simply not carry one at all.

 

[LadyInBed]

I don't sail in the crowded waters of the solent, last time I did was pre-DSC so not sure I am in a position to comment on them. However in quieter waters there's often less than one call an hour. If I sailed for the benefits of peace and solitude I'm not sure I'd head to the Solent though!

If you don't program a DSC VHF with your MMSI it behaves like a pre-DSC set.

 

[greeny]

Is there a point to this survey? Like many others on here I see no stated reason to ask the question.

 

[Elessar]

Is there a point to this survey? Like many others on here I see no stated reason to ask the question.

It started an excellent debate and one poster was big enough to say he was thinking of changing his mind. Properly seaman like to consider the new evidence I’d say. What more do you want?

 

[Capt Popeye]

View attachment 141053

Well yes that makes the POINT of having a radio , very well ; I recall that part of the TITANIC disaster was unconfirmed therefore not acted upon , Distress Calls so being able to pass the Distress call along a line is very much wanted Thank you

 

[greeny]

It started an excellent debate and one poster was big enough to say he was thinking of changing his mind. Properly seaman like to consider the new evidence I’d say. What more do you want?

We can have a debate without a survey. A survey is usually held and issues results in the stats that are generated. These stats may or may not generate recommendations. I'm all for the debate and discussion and if it encourages others to change their bad habits then all the better. That was my point.
For what it's worth, yes I do sail with my radio on at all times except in the height of the holiday season down here in the Algarve when the frequencies are full. No box to tick for that in the survey - sorry.

 

[greeny]

It started an excellent debate and one poster was big enough to say he was thinking of changing his mind. Properly seaman like to consider the new evidence I’d say. What more do you want?

My point is that we can have a debate without a survey. A survey is usually held and issues results in the stats that are generated. These stats may or may not generate recommendations. I'm all for the debate and discussion and if it encourages others to change their bad habits then all the better.
For what it's worth, yes I do sail with my radio on at all times except in the height of the holiday season down here in the Algarve when the frequencies are full of spanish kids playing music and accidentally setting off the distress on DSC. But there's no box in the survey to tick for that one.

 

[Elessar]

We can have a debate without a survey. A survey is usually held and issues results in the stats that are generated. These stats may or may not generate recommendations. I'm all for the debate and discussion and if it encourages others to change their bad habits then all the better. That was my point.
For what it's worth, yes I do sail with my radio on at all times except in the height of the holiday season down here in the Algarve when the frequencies are full. No box to tick for that in the survey - sorry.

The survey generated useful debate.
Your reply is pointless argument for the sake of it.
I know which I prefer.

 

[RupertW]

The survey generated useful debate.
Your reply is pointless argument for the sake of it.
I know which I prefer.

I suspect the survey result was wildly biased towards those who liked the title and felt good about themselves for it - why would you even open the thread if you believed the opposite and wanted to avoid conflict?

But you are right it certainly generated some useful debate which alas will be read almost entirely by those who keep their VHFs on.

 

[greeny]

The survey generated useful debate.
Your reply is pointless argument for the sake of it.
I know which I prefer.

Whatever you say.

 

[capnsensible]

Whatever you say.

Whatever you say, over.

 

[RupertW]

And this survey says 27% of people don’t have their VHF on all the time but 80% do?

 

[RupertW]

Been quietly following this thread...
I find it scary and interesting at the same time, that some say "I only turn on my radio if or when I'm in need of assistance". I have talked to a lot of people here in Norway where I live, who also claims the same. But (luckily) as the poll shows, most of us do use our VHF radios.
Isn't that pretty selfish? It's like saying I could care less about providing assistance to others, but I do expect everyone to help me if I'm in distress.

My radio is always on ch16, the coast radio working channel and VTS whenever I'm underway, and most often (but not always, I could improve here) when at anchor.
During my many boating years I have participated in searches for other vessels, provided mayday relay... Couldn't have done that without the VHF radio.

Who has said, “I only turn my radio on when I’m need of assistance”. I genuinely missed that and I’ve been following this thread.

 

[creeks]

Whatever you say, over.

Whatever you say, OUT.

 

[FWB]

This is like a debate on religion.
Non believers to be Flamed as if it were the Middle Ages.

 

[capnsensible]

Whatever you say, OUT.

I'm still listening......

 

[Daydream believer]

I responded to a nearby pan pan only a couple of weeks ago and took a distressed yacht under tow.

The story of the person in the water by smithy could have had a different outcome.

How many of the (in my opinion, selfish) people who don’t monitor their VHF have their radio fitted in the wrong place - ie down below?. I just don’t understand why some yachts still persist in fitting kit where you can’t use it from the helm.

Might not have occurred to you, but not everyone has a place in the cockpit to fit a vhf. Not that I would want, or need it there anyway

 

[TrondS]

Who has said, “I only turn my radio on when I’m need of assistance”. I genuinely missed that and I’ve been following this thread.

That was my "interpretation" of the poll result combined with the many "excuses" from several people about why not monitor ch 16 or keep their radio turned on, except for when they need it themselves. And as I wrote, many people I have talked to outside this forum, has said exactly what I wrote.
As an example from this thread, one person stated the radio was only in use when he needs to call harbors.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Might not have occurred to you, but not everyone has a place in the cockpit to fit a vhf. Not that I would want, or need it there anyway

Mine’s just a handheld, it hangs from it’s lanyard just inside the hatch. The battery lasts comfortably all day.

 

[Daydream believer]

DSC reaches places other modes do not so you might receive a mayday from over the horizon but then have to sail towards it to establish verbal comms.

I would ignore a mayday over the horizon. By the time I got there others would have responded and being single handed I could offer little assistance any way. most of my. Sailing from the east coast to Brest is fairly close to the shore and. Others would hear the. Mayday.
one day we were sailing towards the southern sunk crossing and 2 yachts had run aground. One had a faulty vhf so the other was relaying his mayday as well as their own. They were 200 yds apart and had run aground in a spot charted as 6 m deep. I heard all this over the radio but my friend following ( with vhf in cockpit) did not. He saw that one boat had his AIS emergency alarm on and set to MOB. He sailed over to help look for the MOB thinking the yacht had anchored in deep water and promptly ran his 28 ft bilge keeper aground. So much so that in the surf it tipped over the bilge keel to 180 degrees. It did a fair amount of damage to his boat which took him the best part of the season to repair.
Clacton lifeboat pulled the other 2yachts off and towed the 45 ft bavaria with damaged keel to safety. The idiot with dodgy vhf and incorrect ais alarm was escorted to Brightlingsea.it was a 45 ft ketch
I was unable to help my friend due to my draft plus I was suffering from sea sickness and was just glad to get away from the scene being unable to help. My own echo sounder recorded 300 mm below keel at one point..
so going to help people does not always pay