Silly (or stupid) to put a VHF radio on a 13 foot boat?

[waterinthefuel]

I've installed a VHF radio and 3 foot whip antenna on my little boat which comes in super handy for on-the-water checking of weather, and a little bit of security knowing my voice is no longer the limit of my communications range. I've had more than one person laugh at me, ask me who I want to talk to bad enough to have an antenna sticking up higher than my running lights, one even wanted to know if my 28hp engine could keep up with the current drain of the radio on high power. They said it's a waste of money and outdated technology since the invention of the cell phone, but cell reception on Toledo Bend is spotty at best. Was it a waste of money?

 

[ricksrster]

Re: Silly (or stupid) to put a VHF radio on a 13 foot boat?

Adding another safety feature is not a waste of money if you can afford it. Cell phones can be good to have, but now you have both. You might need a longer antenna to reach out a little farther. The highrer your antenna the farther your range.

 

[JB]

Re: Silly (or stupid) to put a VHF radio on a 13 foot boat?

On Toledo bend I think it is a good idea, WIF. Nothing silly about it.

 

[MRS]

Re: Silly (or stupid) to put a VHF radio on a 13 foot boat?

If you are on the water in a bath tub and in trouble the more stuff you have the better. Cells do not work on some of the lakes I am on so do not worry about what other people say just do what you are doing.

 

[waterone1@aol.com]

Re: Silly (or stupid) to put a VHF radio on a 13 foot boat?

You did the right thing. Besides the weather forcasts, think of this : If you should need help there may be a fellow boater 2 minutes away that could save your life. You do not have to depend on a 911 operator to understand where you are and what you need, and then call the coast guard, you can call them directly. Let everyone else laugh.....you are watching out for you and your friends/family.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Silly (or stupid) to put a VHF radio on a 13 foot boat?

Next time someone says the cell phone has outdated the VHF ask him the number for the Coast Guard then ask for the number of the boat you see out on the water. Ask him for the number of the boat 1/4 mile upstream that you can not see. If everyone had a VHF radio and used it correctly the waterways would be a safer place. Nothing wrong with a cell phone and a list of numbers but a VHF in areas where many boat have VHF will bring help from a boat that can help much faster. Out here at least 911 on a cell phone goes to the California HWY Patrol who are not setup to take you position and send a boat.

 

[burp]

Re: Silly (or stupid) to put a VHF radio on a 13 foot boat?

Let those that want to laugh, laugh....and when they are out on the water in trouble or with problems, they will quickly realize the benefit of having a VHF. <br /><br />There is another problem using a cell phone and "911" when out on the water. As a close friend of mine "found" out 2 years ago while out on the Chesapeake Bay. <br /><br />He and his wife were anchored near shore when another boat went past and then looped back a second time. My friend sensing something wasn't right pulled up anchor and idled over towards the other boat. The other boat was in need of assistance as there was an older, larger gentlemen that had blacked out and had fallen overboard. He was now in the water face down. My friend dived off his boat and swam over towards the other boat as his wife noted the GPS coordinates and the name of the creek/cove that they were in. Since they were only a short distance from shore, she used the cell phone and called "911" thinking that the emergency response would be faster than if she called the Coast Guard, located in Annapolis on the VHF radio.<br /><br />Because of the cell phone tower coverage, the 911 call center that picked up her call was on the eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay and not on the western shore where they were physically located. Add to this, the 911 center could NOT use the GPS coordinates or cove/creek name to dispatch an emergency crew to the location. They needed a street address to dispatch the emergency crew! The 911 call center transferred her call to another 911 call center on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay, but the same was true, they needed a street address.<br /><br />During this time a lady at her house saw what was going on and yelled out if they needed help. To which the response was "Call 911"! The lady was sucessful in doing so because she knew the street address.<br /><br />My friend was able to get the gentleman rolled over, face out of the water and finally aboard the other boat. There, he started CPR and had the gentleman breathing. They were docked at the lady's dock when the first aid crew arrived.<br /><br />The moral of the story: Out on the water you are pretty much out on your own. Be prepared! because the life that you save could be your own!!!<br /><br />and yes the gentleman survived to enjoy another day out on the water.

 

[jch7450]

Re: Silly (or stupid) to put a VHF radio on a 13 foot boat?

Burp, Great story,, I'd never leave the dock without a VHF, A many of times i'v been in spots on the Chesapeake Bay and the cell phone dropped the call.

 

[jch7450]

Re: Silly (or stupid) to put a VHF radio on a 13 foot boat?

 

[jurgenscraft]

Re: Silly (or stupid) to put a VHF radio on a 13 foot boat?

I do not think that any thing that contributes to making boating safer could be a waste of time and money,I think that is is a very good idea to add vhf radio comunications, no matter what the size of the boat is.My boat has the standard vhf frequencies as well as what we call ski boat (as in fishing boat) frequencies(29 Mhz dedicated to boating- 29,7725 Mhz 29,935 Mhz as well as 29,9725 Mhz)we do not have a 911 service as good as you guys have in the states so cell phones are a back up. I also believe that a GPS system is a good investment, fish finders are also a usefull saftey instrument when used as a depth sounder, Keep it safe.Kind regards William Wright

 

[glasply1]

Re: Silly (or stupid) to put a VHF radio on a 13 foot boat?

Good idea. Nothing like having a redundant emergeny system. Someday you can tow the laughers in to shore.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Silly (or stupid) to put a VHF radio on a 13 foot boat?

i have on in all three boats. even the little 14' aluminum open fisherman. all have 3' antennas, as we have a lot of draw bridges in our area, coverage is better than cell phones. the bridges all monitor channel 9 and 16.

 

[Wreck Rider]

Re: Silly (or stupid) to put a VHF radio on a 13 foot boat?

There's always people out there looking for a laugh and I guess with a 3' antenna on a 13' boat you should expect to be a focal point for some of that laughter.<br /><br />Keep your resolve though, the way I see it the VHF is a fantastic and inexpensive tool that makes the boating experience that much safer for all of us.

 

[waterone1@aol.com]

Re: Silly (or stupid) to put a VHF radio on a 13 foot boat?

Am I starting to hear that VHF is not "fashionable". To he11 with that. Boaters use VHF. At least real boaters do.

 

[limacina]

Re: Silly (or stupid) to put a VHF radio on a 13 foot boat?

I was reading Eldridge (a prominant tides and currents book for the east coast) and they suggested the coast guard monitors channel 16 on the vhf 24 hours a day; but they have no obligation to answer the phone. Also, if you get on the radio and hollar mayday, others in the area can rush towards you. cell phones are not a replacement. <br />I would think a handheld would be more than adequate for a dinghy or 13 footer; but a radio is cheaper and if the boats got a battery, thats great

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Silly (or stupid) to put a VHF radio on a 13 foot boat?

Limacina, I wanted something with greater range than a handheld. It can't receive very well, whereas mine can receive and transmit very well.

 

[EBBTIDE 78]

Re: Silly (or stupid) to put a VHF radio on a 13 foot boat?

I have one on mine, nothing crazy about it at all. <br /><br />" HEY BUDDY, I'M TWO MILES OFF SHORE, CAN YOU WAVE YOUR ARMS A LITTLE LOUDER FOR ME, I CAN'T HEAR YOU" <br /><br />Need a little help here

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Silly (or stupid) to put a VHF radio on a 13 foot boat?

This is funny, my dad went to our camp to pick it up so we could have it serviced and while he was climbing around in it hit the antenna mount with his knee, breaking the epoxy that's been there for years. Oh well, right now I have a 13 foot boat with a 3' foot VHF antenna sitting in the bed of a truck! LOL It's ok, it will be repaired next week!

 

[jtexas]

Re: Silly (or stupid) to put a VHF radio on a 13 foot boat?

Toledo Bend will always be one a my favorites - did you ever fish it back in the 70's before all the trees broke off at the waterline, before they established a limit on bass? My uncle & my dad & me used to fill 2 igloos with pan-sized bluegill - 300 crickets would hardly last till mid-afternoon - remember those coin-operated automatic fish scalers - looked like converted washing machines - had 'em at all the bait shops in the area...those were the days...bass boats had stick steering...and if you had a flasher, man that was fancy...

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Silly (or stupid) to put a VHF radio on a 13 foot boat?

I couldn't fish it in the 70's because I was still only a thought! I began fishing it in the mid 80's. Its not doing too well now, it's lacking any vegetation for cover for the fish. It's getting harder to find good schools. <br /><br />If it matters, my little boat has stick steering!<br /><br />Pray for seaweed on the bend!