Radio on or off?

[jonas grumby]

A few years ago I was fishing in the lower Chesapeake for flounder. The sky was a beatiful blue most of the day but as afternoon approached clouds were building to the NNW and SSW of my location. I generally keep my radio in the "off" position when fishing as it seems to take away from the serenity. My fishing buddy suggested we turn the radio on and listen to the WX. I did so and listened for a few minutes to normal WX forecasts. As I reached down to turn the radio off, a warning was issued for all small craft in the lower bay to seek immediate shelter. We secured our gear and headed for safer water at flank speed. Within 15 minutes the seas picked up and we pulled into a marina 12 miles short of our destination as we wisely decided not to make a complete run for it. The dockmaster kindly allowed us berth while we had a sandwich in the club and waited out the storms, which were pretty bad but short-lived. Since then, I have decided that during our storm season the radio can stay on the WX and suffering through the mono-tone reports isn't all that bad.

 

[DaleH]

Good lesson to all! I've been thru surprise squalls on other boats before too. Thanks for posting that!

FWIW, newer radios have a weather alert feature that will broadcast/sound/alert automatically over any non-WX channel. I run 2 VHFs, one set older and one newer.

If I want it 'quiet', I set the newer one to a quiet channel (usually a dedicated port channel, since there are no ports near me) so it will go off whenever a WX alert is posted. And if desired, I may put the other one on a limited search of a few fishing channels, depending on what I'm doing .

FYI, radars are AWESOME for identifying thunderheads if/when the skies look threatening! And with the bearing lines, you can tell if they're moving your way :shock: or will intercept your course. I tell you, I'm running a 15-year old vintage Ratheon lowly 1.5 Kw unit and it still 'sees' thunderstorms way out there to 16-miles !

Radar is tied for #1 of the 3 BEST items on my boat, besides Bennett trim tabs and the fuel computer. In fact, I won't run a boat without those 3 items particular anymore (amongst others) after having used them on this 'old' Pahka! I never had them before on my older boats ...

 

[Bryan 2530]

Leave it off, enjoy the day.

You got a Parker, she'll get you home.

 

[B-Faithful]

I am a bay or near shore fisherman but I always keep my VHF on a scan that includes 16. This is for safety or incase I can immediately assist another boater in trouble.

For weather the USCG has warned of dangerous squalls on 16 and i have my blackberry where I can track doplar radar. I also do have radar on my boat now.

 

[Uncle Matt]

As long as my nagging girlfriends not on the boat, everything else is quiet. My perfect day is site casting on the flats of Cape Cod Bay while listening to the Red Sox. My VHF is always on and I normally do not go out if there is even a hint of foul weather around. It's just not worth it to me.

As far as I'm concerned, I could have Metallica cranked up and it's still a piece of serenity comparted to having the old hag onboard. :lol:

 

[HM5]

Yo Matt hope she doesn't read your C/P posts :lol: :lol: :lol: You might be sleeping on your Parker not the dog house :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[DougP]

I keep both radios on while boating, might turn the am/fm/ipod off but the vhf stays on.

I remember Matt stating on another thread he was gettin rid of her and finding anohter :?: :?: :?:

And we asked him to post pics of both :twisted:

sure hope she doesn't find these

stay safe Matt

 

[Uncle Matt]

Ah she's still around. I don't think she can read though.
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On a serious note, my butt was saved once by having my VHF on. I was jigging on Billingsgate on one particular sunny day when I noticed dark clouds quickly approaching from the Buzzards Bay area. MY VHF went off warning of thunderstorms with hail approaching. The place was packed with boats and suddenly most boats pulled their lines and starting taking off. It was like the start of a Cannonball Run race! Boats taking off full speed in every direction. I made it to the ramp but got soaked loading her up.

 

[fphillips]

I was under the impression that it was a coast guard regulation that the radio be on at all times.

 

[DaleH]

I was under the impression that it was a coast guard regulation that the radio be on at all times.

Close, but not quite that demanding ... as per http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/marcomms/boater.htm

Boater Calling Channel (VHF Channel 9)
The Federal Communications Commission established VHF-FM channel 9 as a supplementary calling channel for noncommercial vessels (recreational boaters) at the request of the Coast Guard. A ship or shore unit wishing to call a boater would do so on channel 9, and anyone (boaters included) wishing to call a commercial ship or shore activity would continue to do so on channel 16. Recreational boaters would continue to call the Coast Guard and any commercial facility on channel 16.

The purpose of the FCC regulation was to relieve congestion on VHF channel 16, the distress, safety and calling frequency. FCC regulations require boaters having VHF radios to maintain a watch on either VHF channel 9 or channel 16, whenever the radio is turned on and not communicating with another station.

 

[jeffnick]

I'm a little bit of a rebel I guess...my radio is for talking, not listening. It's off unless I've got something to say, and that isn't very often. Then again we don't fish (or have water toys), so we're usually just poking around in protected waters enjoying the sounds of nature.

 

[gundog]

Thanks Dale.

I was looking at the site you recommended and found this:

Radio Watchkeeping Regulations
In general, any vessel equipped with a VHF marine radiotelephone (whether voluntarily or required to) must maintain a watch on channel 16 (156.800 MHz) whenever the radiotelephone is not being used to communicate.

Sounds like the rub is whether it has to be on or not. If it is off then it is not being used to communicate. Sounds like the CG could interprate either way if they board a boat for inspection?

 

[pelagic2530]

i keep the radio turned either to 16 or a 16/69/72 scan, depending on whether or not im trying to snipe fishing info never know when youre going to hear someone who needs help nearby