Radio

[Cotillion]

In a modern world, mobile phones etc. is a vhf radio essential for coastal cruising?

 

[Plum]

In a modern world, mobile phones etc. is a vhf radio essential for coastal cruising?

My opinion: YES, and keep a listening watch on ch16. If you need help quickly it is best to use ch16 and/or DSC. Despite the imminent help from CG the closest help will probably be another boat but only if all the boats near you are listening on ch16 and have not ditched vhf in favour of a mobile phone.

 

[rogerthebodger]

My opinion: YES, and keep a listening watch on ch16. If you need help quickly it is best to use ch16 and/or DSC. Despite the imminent help from CG the closest help will probably be another boat but only if all the boats near you are listening on ch16 and have not ditched vhf in favour of a mobile phone.

Yes a mobile phone is a one to one communication device.

A radio bot VHF and SSB are one to many communication device so if you need help there are most likely that many people will hear your call for help especially when coastal cruising

 

[Daverw]

In a modern world, mobile phones etc. is a vhf radio essential for coastal cruising?

I think the issue is with mobiles during coastal cruising is that phone mast are not normally placed on shore line but inland to provide as great coverage as possible. We only see intermediate coverage whist sailing down coast line, especially where it’s a rural coast line

 

[steveeasy]

Invaluable in that one time you need it. Additionally you provide a valuable resource to all the other boats on the water that could need urgent assistance at any time.
Steveeasy

 

[ash2020]

Also, if you had only a phone there would be no need to say "coastguard, can I have a radio check please"

 

[john_morris_uk]

VHF every day.

VHF coverage is MUCH better than mobile phone coverage in lots of areas around the coast. It also works when your miles out to sea. Even crossing a bit of water like Cardigan Bay you lose mobile coverage quickly whilst VHF gets coverage everywhere in the Irish Sea and St George’s Channel. That plus the very good reasons already mentioned by others above.

Plus Digital distress calling (DSC) where your distress and location are broadcast at the touch of a button.

Plus the Coast Guard can sometimes triangulate your approximate position just from your transmission even if you don’t have DSC.

 

[tillergirl]

And you might be able to hear and provide aid to save a life!

 

[Biggles Wader]

VHF/ Mobile phone? Luxury. We never had either when I were a lad!
But these days given how cheap a VHF is you would be daft not to carry one.

 

[William_H]

Around here carriage of VHF is mandatory as is carriage of EPIRB that is you go go more than 400metres off shore. Now this is not UK and a bit different but must tell you something. ol'will

 

[oldgit]

Always monitor the VTS channels in our area, Ramsgate/Dover or Medway / London VTS.
Make a point of finding out which channels are likely to be worth monitoring when away from home including CH16 and CH 67.

 

[tillergirl]

Good point OG. If one arrives at the Black Deep on a poor vis day, calling up London VTS before crossing could be a good idea. A Panamax could loom out of the murk much quicker than crossing the Black Deep.

 

[onesea]

My answer is yes in the Solent, to call marinas for berthing instructions.
You phone in advanced to book a Berth but expect you to call on VHF on arrival for berthing instructions. Most don’t like it when you phone up for your berth.

However VHF spends most of its time on low volume or off due to persistent radio checks.

 

[Refueler]

I have simple reply to this thread :

I do not understand why this question repeats ? VHF is the main and accepted means of communication maritime - not only for general chit chat - but also emergency's / serious communications.

Mobile phones are one on one and basically only good for calling ahead to a marina or telling Wife you'll be late for dinner ...

I can suggest that even a boat that potters about in large harbours such as Langstone . Chichester .. Falmouth (just to name a few) are well advised to carry at least a handheld VHF or main unit ... you'd be surprised how isolated and in need of help you can have even in such closed waters.

 

[johnalison]

With VHFs much smaller and more affordable these days, there seems little reason for anyone going further than nearby home waters not to have one. Although I generally favour simplicity, having a radio and knowing how to use it is now as much a normal part of our sailing as knowing the collision regs. If the fact that I sailed without a radio from ‘72 to ‘’87 including Channel and North Sea crossings makes me seem hypocritical, that’s too bad, but times have changed somewhat.

 

[Daydream believer]

Also, if you had only a phone there would be no need to say "coastguard, can I have a radio check please"

But you would have to check that you had a phone signal & where I live - on the east coast-it can be a rare thing.
You would be better off wit 2 coke tins & a bit of string stretched between them.

 

[Daydream believer]

With VHFs much smaller and more affordable these days, there seems little reason for anyone going further than nearby home waters not to have one. Although I generally favour simplicity, having a radio and knowing how to use it is now as much a normal part of our sailing as knowing the collision regs. If the fact that I sailed without a radio from ‘72 to ‘’87 including Channel and North Sea crossings makes me seem hypocritical, that’s too bad, but times have changed somewhat.

In 1972 many harbours had a system of cones, diamonds & balls on masts to confuse you. One set to tell you what the weather was not going to do & one set to tell you if it was unsafe to be anywhere near the entrance. But it did not matter because you could not see them beyond 75 yds anyway.

So you could get by without a VHF.

I recollect Ostend had one set at the end of the piers & one set inside the harbour. It seemed that the 2 operators often had different ideas as to when the entrance should/shouldnot be opened & it was not unusual for a small boat to be met with a ferry coming out at 8 kts as they were going in
Much hooter blowing would ensue

 

[Refueler]

John ... I and my Father .. his pals .. we have all sailed without VHF ... in fact I would say it was common in the 60 - 70 and early 80's ... until mass production and China brought costs and compactness down ..

It went further .. remember the Roberts Radio with rotatable antena bar on top to get RDF signals ? If youb had one of those - you were THE MAN ! Seafarer RDF and compass ... with earphones !

I actually had a Decca machine on my boat before VHF ...

 

[Momac]

VHF is necessary, as said , because others will be listening in (except on the stupid duplex channel 80).
As an example . At one port in 2022 there were maybe a dozen boats waiting for a ship to depart before the smaller commercial vessels and lastly the pleasure craft were cleared to enter. That would have been a nightmare for VTS to manage by mobile phone.

So I would say VHF essential and mobile phone relatively useless.

 

[PaulRainbow]

My answer is yes in the Solent, to call marinas for berthing instructions.
You phone in advanced to book a Berth but expect you to call on VHF on arrival for berthing instructions. Most don’t like it when you phone up for your berth.

However VHF spends most of its time on low volume or off due to persistent radio checks.

A boat, very close to you, is in difficulty but you can't hear the calls for help, because you've turned your VHF off. Bet you'd soon turn it on and expect some help if you were in difficulty.