On board communication

longjohnsilver

longjohnsilver

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Now we've got a slightly bigger boat we find that communicating can be a problem, especially when mooring. To make ourselves heard we have to shout which neither of us want to do. So I'm looking at the type of intercom you see on motorbikes to enable rider and passenger to talk.
Seems like an ideal solution, has anyone else tried this?
 
you can get hand held walkie talkies for about £20, usually with a belt clip.They have a 1-2mile range which should cover helm to front deck! Dont think you really need a constant hands free version, do you?
Battery ones are ok for occasional use.. the recharge ones tend to be flat when you want them!
 
On a more serious note ! I bought some Motorola PMR's with headsets worked well but now find the nippers use them for James Bond games !!!




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These are advertised in the USA at $299 for two sets see here Unlike PMR radios they are duplex so you can speak and listen at the same time.

We have made our own cheapo versions however following an article in PBO and using kids walkie talkie headsets costing around £10/pair, also duplex operation. Because they are designed for kids they need to be modified slightly to fit an adult head. We cut the over the head strap (no wires in it, the sets are mono one earpiece is a dummy) and fitted a ladies plastic headband in taped together with amalgamating tape at the right size. They work very well and any funny looks you get at first are usually followed by what a good idea! We find them useful when hunting for a vacant vistor berth as in say Cherbourg, especially at night when we are trying to be quiet, and better than hand signals when you need more than basic information like is it wide enough, is it near a shorepower point etc. We bought ours last year from Argos but I don't know if they are still listed These are similar to ours but John Deare ones I found on the internet on sale in the USA. See pics here
 
Got the walkie talkies, not used at all, not much use when it effectively leaves Debs one handed with fairly hefty ropes. And out of sight for most of the time. That's why I thought hands free ones could be useful. Not essential but definitely useful.
 
You realise, of course, that if you arrive on a busy pontoon with hands free intercom's, and then cock up the mooring, it's going to be doubly hilarious to everyone standing around watching /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Another tack

How up to date is your VHF.
Ours is new and has a two way (Tanoy style) speaker system.

As skipper you have to talk to them using the VHF handset but you listen through the normal speakers.

It was one od those features that I didnt think would work but I thought I'd give it a try it and it actually works remarkably well - you can hear almost everything that the deck crew are saying about their skipper!!!
 
I'm quite used to that /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Always make sure we arrive to the largest audience /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
We have walkie talkies and also a set of headphones for up to 4 crew but usually find it better to resort to bellowing at each other - much more fun

May
xx
 
We use our handheld VHF to talk to the skip on the main VHF set - on a private channel of course. Quick and easy and saves carrying yet more equipment only used once in a blue moon.

I have the bluetooth comms kit for use on my Mobike, but its unreliable, and the batteries are always flat just as you want to use them. And at £160 + it wasn't cheap.
 
/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif So, for ten years MF has had a one method suits all system. Same ruitine every time.

So today we have to move the boat from where they've dumped it to a place they said was very tight. No idea whether port or starboard is going to be best. But long as it's a little longer than the boat, I've no worries about getting in.

So first, number one MF golden rule is broken, MF's bows are let go. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif So the bow swings away wildly, So then theres a screem and curse. As if I've done some thing. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Next the stern is untied, but I've no crew. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

So I'm now more or less commited to port side mooring, whatever I find at the other end. Luckily, portside is ok.

So It's sort of squeeze through this little gap, but turn at the same time, but mind bashing this and that. course I've got to get the arse end round, which of course throws thw bow out. So the nice man cant catch the dangly rope. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Ang on, some ones grabbed the stern rope, I was thinking backing up was getting difficult. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

So after exhausting plans ABCDE and F. It's now use stern line, to get the bow in. Not something I'm used to. Know the theory, just dont need to.

Bloke said. I'm impressed how you got in there. I thought it was a glorious cock up.

Back to the drawing board. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
We have PMRs with matching mobilephone style earpiece / mics sets, they have a voice activated mode so can just leave it in you ear and when you talk it activaits the transmit.

That said, I actually find it easier to have some standard hand signals for mooring / anchoring etc, it also attracts less of an audiance for when it goes wrong.

Ants
 
firstly, tried and tried to discuss the moving of the boat, where is it to go ?????? thats for me to know & you to run round the whole marina after me & guess.

Now I've got a ripped leg, repairing slowly, & I want that to continue.

So I explain I'm going to undoo the lines and WALK ROUND. Firsly he's trying to take the whole pontoon with him, and I'm frightened of being killed by the ripped off cleet. Communication, the whole marina heard me yell - STOP.

Then helped by kindly by two gents to get the ropes tied on. Now he's tring to mend the bog, AGAIN. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Silent Mooring

Hm. Handheld no good, cos you need a spare hand, so that means getting wired with earspeakers and mikes. BUT you will look a right nob if the mooring then goes t*ts up.

I wd try (well, i do) getting partner/crew to use hand signal - each finger indicates how far in metres you are from dock from the point where that crewperson is standing. The rest is for helm to sort out. If you brief beforehand - and that's a bit unusual for partner/swmbo crew - and tellem what you're gonna do rather than you and she makes it up as it goes along, plus shouting, you should be able to achieve the ultimate goal : Silent Mooring: no shouting whatsoever and no talking either.
 
Comunication at the spur of the moment, dont work. I asked a none boaty mate, to throw the rope over a cleat. So he did, then looked blank at me and jestured. What next. I said. Go and get another bloody rope!! I neglected to say, but keep hold of the ends. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif. No you cant go through chapter and verse at the time, cos everyone puts there own interpretation to it. It has to be, plan one. Maybe you can have plan, A B or C. But every one has to know it in advance. But mainly, there has to be only one captain. Then maybe he can change the rules a bit, to suit the circumstances. The trouble with instant decisions is, ten munites later, some one thinks, ah but what about this and that, by which time theres another cock up brewing.
 
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Prat!

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Tom
 
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