Do you switch on your VHF, or dont you bother?

[photodog]

We are on, but no one else seems to be... I can't remember last time anyone except the marina or the cg ever answered a call....

Sorry I lied... Cliveg answered a call from me last year!

 

[BruceDanforth]

The license refers to keeping a listening watch only 'if it is practicable'.

As others have said, I think it is an obligation of the radio licence to keep a listening watch on Ch 16. If not, I feel there is certainly a moral obligation to do so.

We did have a bit of unnecessary prattle between a couple of kayakers this past weekend, but someone fairly quickly stepped in and advised them firmly but not too impolitely to go to another channel.

 

[Seajet]

The license refers to keeping a listening watch only 'if it is practicable'.

Maybe with more modern licences and ' exams ' than when I did mine, but as others have said there's a moral obligation to listen in case someone relatively nearby is in trouble, one day it might be me or you and I'd be a bit miffed if I was sinking or had my nearest and dearest ( A, wallet, B swmbo ) overboard and people just went past listening to their MP3's.

 

[BruceDanforth]

There's also an obligation not to flatten my very limited power sources and turn myself into a casualty as I can generate about an amp max and like to stay out for several days. There is a soddin' great coastguard aerial at Cullercoats.

Maybe with more modern licences and ' exams ' than when I did mine, but as others have said there's a moral obligation to listen in case someone relatively nearby is in trouble, one day it might be me or you and I'd be a bit miffed if I was sinking or had my nearest and dearest ( A, wallet, B swmbo ) overboard and people just went past listening to their MP3's.

 

[agurney]

There's also an obligation not to flatten my very limited power sources and turn myself into a casualty as I can generate about an amp max and like to stay out for several days. There is a soddin' great coastguard aerial at Cullercoats.

Receiving only takes a few microamps, so with no aerial near me, and a wind generator, I'm happy to listen in case of problems (I've responded to a couple of shouts, so not just passive) .. but I'm in an area with few calls; I might have a different view if I was based in, say, the Solent.

 

[BruceDanforth]

There are lifeboats at Sunderland, Tynemouth, Cullercoats, Blyth, Amble, Craster and Boulmer which is about a day of cruising ground for me. They can do 25 kts. I'm only 22ft and can do 4.5 - 5.5 kts max. I will listen out in bad weather

Receiving only takes a few microamps, so with no aerial near me, and a wind generator, I'm happy to listen in case of problems (I've responded to a couple of shouts, so not just passive) .. but I'm in an area with few calls; I might have a different view if I was based in, say, the Solent.

 

[Seatrout]

Dare I say it that most of the radio checks I hear on the Clyde, now increasing, tend to be with southern accents - I suspect they are mostly charter boaters (perhaps importing Solent practice - whether good or bad depending on opinion)

You may have something there. In fact, you definitely have struck on the crux of the matter.

 

[fireball]

Receiving only takes a few microamps, so with no aerial near me, and a wind generator, I'm happy to listen in case of problems (I've responded to a couple of shouts, so not just passive) .. but I'm in an area with few calls; I might have a different view if I was based in, say, the Solent.

There are lifeboats at Sunderland, Tynemouth, Cullercoats, Blyth, Amble, Craster and Boulmer which is about a day of cruising ground for me. They can do 25 kts. I'm only 22ft and can do 4.5 - 5.5 kts max. I will listen out in bad weather

I've missed at least one emergency call - Had the CD player going as we were motoring out of the harbour so missed the chatter on the VHF. Saw some boys in the water waving so ambled over to help ... kicked the ladder down at the stern and picked up 3 lads (mid-late teens)... a minute later the harbour patrol came zooming up with blue lights ablaze - seemed rather miffed that we'd stolen their thunder - it had been reported that some kids were swept off a bank by the tide ...
Anyway, they mellowed a bit when they realised they could take the lads back ashore - and probably give them a roasting for being somewhere they shouldn't!

Another yacht was also preparing to pick the boys up - they had life rings and throw lines being sorted ... a little OTT for calm water and a serviceable swim ladder I thought ... by the time they'd sorted their rings & lines we'd picked them all up.

 

[colvic987]

Dare I say it that most of the radio checks I hear on the Clyde, now increasing, tend to be with southern accents - I suspect they are mostly charter boaters (perhaps importing Solent practice - whether good or bad depending on opinion)

I have the vhf on when leaving mooring/pontoon etc, but we don't seem to have the endless radio checks up this way, obviously the volume of boats on the south coast will have a higher volume of calls, I would have thought that someone in this electronic age could have found a way for a radio check to be sent to a channel selected with an automated system which would relay this back with a reply of signal strength, relay loopback of message etc, and even a backup to the ipad/iphone generation, so they can then get 'geeky' with even more apps.

Untill then, you solenters have to keep putting up with the constant calls, whilst up in the nw, we can go for hours even days without hearing a call, can be bliss at times, as most people will call dsc /dsc with other boats who are out and about....

 

[capnsensible]

Always on.

 

[Seajet]

You may have something there. In fact, you definitely have struck on the crux of the matter.

Just because there are a few VHF transmitting prats - and there is a certain ' sailing school ' / charter operation which happilly panders to / breeds them, please don't think everyone in the Solent or South Coast is a similar berk !

 

[prv]

I would have thought that someone in this electronic age could have found a way for a radio check to be sent to a channel selected with an automated system which would relay this back with a reply of signal strength, relay loopback of message etc

And how would you inform the checkerati that it was available to be used?

They could already do a DSC check which requires no human interaction, albeit it doesn't provide quite as much functionality as your suggestion, but they don't use that as they're no doubt completely oblivious to its existence.

Pete

 

[awol]

Just because there are a few VHF transmitting prats - and there is a certain ' sailing school ' / charter operation which happilly panders to / breeds them, please don't think everyone in the Solent or South Coast is a similar berk !

I had assumed that someone somewhere had performed a risk analysis and had issued a checklist which included things like "undersize red ensign on backstay", "all crew wearing badly adjusted lifejackets", "fenders stacked untidily on sugar scoop", "how to beat other boats into harbours" and, of course "a radio check everytime the radio is switched on". My particular favourite is those who reassure the CG that they too are "loud and clear".

I admit that I have done a radio check this season - just after launching - sorry to those I offended.

 

[Twister_Ken]

I admit that I have done a radio check this season - just after launching - sorry to those I offended.

Me too, but with a marina, on Ch80.

My guess is the radio will transmit on Ch16 as well.

 

[fireball]

Me too, but with a marina, on Ch80.

My guess is the radio will transmit on Ch16 as well.

I did several - some with CG - well, I tried ... got a problem in my joints ...

Still - it means the radio is nice and quiet!

 

[Seatrout]

Just because there are a few VHF transmitting prats - and there is a certain ' sailing school ' / charter operation which happilly panders to / breeds them, please don't think everyone in the Solent or South Coast is a similar berk !

Do not worry, all blanket generalisations are invalid.

Do you think that every station hearing a yacht asking CG for a radio check should then ask THAT yacht for a radio check?
It may reinforce a point.
I suggest we all do this on the 1st Saturday of every month between 1000-1400hrs. Viva la revolution!

 

[Seajet]

I had assumed that someone somewhere had performed a risk analysis and had issued a checklist which included things like "undersize red ensign on backstay", "all crew wearing badly adjusted lifejackets", "fenders stacked untidily on sugar scoop", "how to beat other boats into harbours" and, of course "a radio check everytime the radio is switched on". My particular favourite is those who reassure the CG that they too are "loud and clear".

I admit that I have done a radio check this season - just after launching - sorry to those I offended.

Anyone with fenders ' stowed ' on a sugar scoup then asking for a radio check should be bazooka'd; it's only fair to the gene pool.

 

[Sans Bateau]

The best time to do a radio check on ch16 is late in the evening mid week, the coasties are pleased to have someone to talk to !

 

[Seajet]

Galadriel,

I can understand that.

We and a thousand other yotties may have enjoyed listening in on ' link ' ship to shore calls, I remember one husband chatting to wife to hubbie on a ship in the middle of nowhere, " you've done WHAT to the car ?!

 

[Highland Bear]

+1

It would be terrible to think that someone just a few miles away could be in trouble and just because you are enjoying some radio silence you couldn't hear their cries for help!

Pete

Absolutely right! I wonder if some people stick a sail bag over their heads on a busy summer's day so that all those yachts don't ruin the view!