Run aground at low water? Put your anchor out!

ylop said:
It’s actually quite hard to find a non-emergency number for a UK CG ops room. They seem to have moved away from publishing them.
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They consolidated to the NMOC a while ago so in theory you’ve no reason to call an individual one. They used to publish the mmsi numbers too but to my knowledge they never responded on them when called
 
lustyd said:
They consolidated to the NMOC a while ago so in theory you’ve no reason to call an individual one. They used to publish the mmsi numbers too but to my knowledge they never responded on them when called
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But there isn’t a 101 or 111 equivalent to call the central facility either. I think there are situations afloat or on the shore that don’t really merit 999 but where talking to the coastguard would be sensible, eg let’s say I lose my tender, I don’t want to spark a search and rescue if someone finds it; Or as I return from a tidal island I notice a group heading in the opposite direction who don’t seem to understand tides - they aren’t cut off yet so don’t merit 999, but giving the CG a heads up might save everyone a lot of bother!
 
VHF Marine Radios.......You don't have to produce a license at the point of purchase, there are no marine radio detector vans patrolling the rivers, coast and marina's, I have never heard or read of anyone being prosecuted for not having a license so the powers that be (government) obviously are not bothered and the only people who are, are on this forum. I believe there has been the odd prosecution for wilful misuse but not for no license.
 
shanemax said:
VHF Marine Radios.......You don't have to produce a license at the point of purchase, there are no marine radio detector vans patrolling the rivers, coast and marina's, I have never heard or read of anyone being prosecuted for not having a license so the powers that be (government) obviously are not bothered and the only people who are, are on this forum. I believe there has been the odd prosecution for wilful misuse but not for no license.
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And the idiots continue. Yesterday I heard 3 vessels call Solent CG for radio checks during a Seelonce period whilst they were dealing with a real Mayday off Hengistbury Head.
 
wonkywinch said:
And the idiots continue. Yesterday I heard 3 vessels call Solent CG for radio checks during a Seelonce period whilst they were dealing with a real Mayday off Hengistbury Head.
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On my "At Sea" sailing coarse many years ago, the RYA trainer would call the coast guard to announce our departure, tell them where we were going and give an estimated time of arrival and then called back to say we were safe at our destination. Imagine if every boat did that now.
 
shanemax said:
On my "At Sea" sailing coarse many years ago, the RYA trainer would call the coast guard to announce our departure, tell them where we were going and give an estimated time of arrival and then called back to say we were safe at our destination. Imagine if every boat did that now.
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They wouldn’t act an overdue return in any case, it’s only real benefit was they had more information available if someone reported you as overdue.

Back when the CG66 was operating we occasionally did this when on a longer passage such as across Lyme Bay.

Also ascertained that the radio was indeed working
 
wonkywinch said:
But clearly no brain cells if they did. In aviation, if anyone transmits on 121.500, usually get the "guard police" shouting them down :D

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I think that everyone here is aware of the gist of that, but it can happen that someone turns on their VHF, waits for a minute or so without hearing anything, and then makes a call, not necessarily a radio check. It hasn't happened to me but must occur occasionally. It is one advantage of calling with DSC.
 
Lucky Duck said:
Also ascertained that the radio was indeed working
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Which was very important when a pair of 4X150Ds needed to warm up first. Since the advent of the transistor, I haven't found the need to "phone a friend" to check my telephone prior to making an important call.

Judging by the faux bomber pilot accents I hear, many radio checkers sound like they're requesting a VDF talk down to a foggy Lincolnshire airfield rather than wasting everyone's time testing a modern Icom set.
 
I very rarely use my radio because I anchor most of the time or pick up a spare mooring but will on the odd occasion call a marina or some station that is not very busy to check it is still transmitting. A broken watch is right twice a day, but is still broken.
 
wonkywinch said:
Which was very important when a pair of 4X150Ds needed to warm up first. Since the advent of the transistor, I haven't found the need to "phone a friend" to check my telephone prior to making an important call.

Judging by the faux bomber pilot accents I hear, many radio checkers sound like they're requesting a VDF talk down to a foggy Lincolnshire airfield rather than wasting everyone's time testing a modern Icom set.
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That comment was tongue in cheek, that said at least there was a practical purpose to the call aside from just cluttering up channel 16 with a radio check.

It used to be said one could call up Solent CG directly on channel 67 but I assume that has fallen out of use.
 
Lucky Duck said:
That comment was tongue in cheek, that said at least there was a practical purpose to the call aside from just cluttering up channel 16 with a radio check.

It used to be said one could call up Solent CG directly on channel 67 but I assume that has fallen out of use.
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Still being used, I've heard Solent CG redirect the time wasters radio calls to 67 when they've been busy. It would be far more useful (for checking antenna performance, SWR issues etc) to call a more distant NCI station but not a lotta people know that.
 
shanemax said:
On my "At Sea" sailing coarse many years ago, the RYA trainer would call the coast guard to announce our departure, tell them where we were going and give an estimated time of arrival and then called back to say we were safe at our destination. Imagine if every boat did that now.
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I have occasionally done that (eg small boat going overnight where a concerned citizen might report that I hadn’t returned, or when conditions have been a bit marginal but I needed to get back home) it indirectly provides a radio check.
wonkywinch said:
Still being used, I've heard Solent CG redirect the time wasters radio calls to 67 when they've been busy. It would be far more useful (for checking antenna performance, SWR issues etc) to call a more distant NCI station but not a lotta people know that.
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Worth remembering that NCI isn’t actually National. Of course it does have stations in the areas with the worst offending for ch16 radio checks. It’s interesting that we get few radio check on Ch16 in less dense area - obviously that’s partly just the number of boats but I suspect it’s also because people tend to follow what others do. So they hear someone doing it and think it’s normal (especially if it’s what they learned years ago). You also have more charter boats and it’s perhaps not unreasonable that if it’s not your boat, you want to test the kit.

I’ll hazard a guess that many of those who “tut” are in positions where they could easily get laminated posters put up on the pontoon or dinghy slip saying “if you wish to check your radio - please leave Ch16 free for emergencies and call NCI “Station name” on Ch65 instead”.
 
wonkywinch said:
Still being used, I've heard Solent CG redirect the time wasters radio calls to 67 when they've been busy. It would be far more useful (for checking antenna performance, SWR issues etc) to call a more distant NCI station but not a lotta people know that.
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That sounds like them directing routine traffic to their ‘working’ channel after an initial call on 16 rather than calling directly on 67, maybe people do but as I don’t listen to 67 unless there is a reason I might simply be missing them like if a DSC call was made.
 
An occasional radio check isn't a bad idea. Connections do corrode, and receiving Jobourg from the Solent is no guarantee of being heard if it all hits the fan. Generally, I use my radio often enough arranging marina berths to know it's OK, but at the beginning of the season, I have been known to do a radio check with Gosport NCI on 65. They're happy to do it, and it leaves 16 for stuff that matters.
 
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