Purchased a VHF radio today.

[scbackpacker]

After reading many post about having a vhf radio on board just in case of an emergency I think I found a decent deal on one. It's a hand held Humminbird
VHF55s. Local dealer had a couple for $79.99 each nib with a $20.00 rebate. I figured for this price it would be a good addition to the boat. I only boat in local inland lakes so this should fit my needs.

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: Purchased a VHF radio today.

Who are you going to call in the case of emergency?

 

[scbackpacker]

Re: Purchased a VHF radio today.

I was told that SCDNR monitors ch 16 on some of the lakes plus it has NOAA weather alerts which will really be good to have.

 

[scbackpacker]

Re: Purchased a VHF radio today.

Well I did some searching and found that lakes Keowee and Hartwell are monitored by the Coast Guard Auxiliary on ch 16. These are the only 2 lakes I've been to since they are close to home.

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: Purchased a VHF radio today.

Well I did some searching and found that lakes Keowee and Hartwell are monitored by the Coast Guard Auxiliary on ch 16. These are the only 2 lakes I've been to since they are close to home.

Cool. I was just wondering how far inland you were, and if anyone would be monitoring where you were boating.

 

[KermieB]

Re: Purchased a VHF radio today.

Well SC, I can tell you that I was at Santee today and went to load at about 5:00 (Had to get home by 7 to watch my Gamecocks in the CWS) but I had to wait about 30 minutes for two Coast Guard Aux. boats to load, so I guess it's safe to say that at least some times, they patrol the Santee lakes.

Why did I have to wait 30 for just 2 boats to load? Because they were frickin idiots. There are 3 ramps and they backed trucks into two of the ramps, left one truck sitting empty while ALL four of the guys took 15 minutes to load the first boat. Then they all came over and loaded the second boat. Then when they got out of the water, they blocked the exit while they secured the boat. In the mean time, I backed into the water, loaded my 19' Sea Ray, pulled it out of the water, secured it, and had to drive the wrong way out of a one way parking lot because they were still screwing around AND still blocking the exit.

 

[scbackpacker]

Re: Purchased a VHF radio today.

KermieB congrats on your Gamecocks whipping up on my Tigers. Now they need to bring that championship to SC.
Now back to the radio. At least I know someone will hear me if I need help. I'm going to call DNR tomorrow and see if they monitor emergency channels on VHF.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Purchased a VHF radio today.

Well I did some searching and found that lakes Keowee and Hartwell are monitored by the Coast Guard Auxiliary on ch 16. These are the only 2 lakes I've been to since they are close to home.

Your fellow boaters are your first line of defense in case of an emergency.
I have responded to several Maydays calls and not one time has the CG been the first on the scene.

FWIW: You are required by law to monitor CH.16 while your radio is on.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Purchased a VHF radio today.

USCG won't answer "radio checks" especially on 16.

VHF is a "line of sight" antenna so your radio has to "see" the other one. Effective range on a 5 watt handheld is at most 5 miles.

You already have yours but for anyone else: be sure what you buy is submersible--not just waterprrof or water resistant.

If you have a "cigarette lighter" onthe boat, carry your charger. Also if it can run off dry cell batteries, carry new ones (not rechargeables). If you are a weekend user, when you come home, run the battery down (leave it on weather) and recharge the day before you go back out.

 

[scbackpacker]

Re: Purchased a VHF radio today.

This Humminbird VHF55s is JIS-7 submersible and operates on 6 AA alkaline batteries or Ni-MH rechargeable battery packs. I have a plain Jane that uses 6 alkaline batteries. I'm going to see how long they last in the radio and will always carry spares with me when I'm out on the water. I may purchase the rechargeable battery pack and keep the alkaline battery pack on board as a back up in the future.

 

[scbackpacker]

Re: Purchased a VHF radio today.

Is there a channel dedicated for radio checks? How would I go about doing a radio check without p---ing someone off. I really think it's rude to cut in on someone to do a radio check.

 

[Lrider]

Re: Purchased a VHF radio today.

USCG won't answer "radio checks" especially on 16.

Coast Guard does respond to radio checks on 9, well here in California anyway and I do hear them respond on 16, but I agree it shouldn't be done.

However, always perform a radio check before you go out if you are going to depend on the radio for help. Always carry a cell phone, you would be surprised how well they work in some places.

I also use my radio to chat with other boaters to see where the fish are, you can do that up in the 70's area, sometimes that saves a lot of time putting to your favorite holes and find them empty

 

[Boatist]

Re: Purchased a VHF radio today.

Radio range of a hand held is about 2 miles plus the range of the other station.
Radio range of a fixed mount with antenna top 11 feet above the water is 4.71 miles plus the rance of the other station.
Boat to boat with a handhelds is about 4 miles.
Hand held to fixed mount with anttenna top 11 feet above the water is about
6.71 miles.
Fixed mount to Coast Guard out here can be 80 miles or more because Coast guard antennas are on top of 3000 foot high mountain.

As far as the batteries go buy the NI-MH batteries with a charger.
The NI-MH battery pack would be the same except if one cell fails in the battery pack you have to buy the entire new pack.
If one cell fails and you useing NI-MH batteries you only have to buy one battery.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Purchased a VHF radio today.

around here there is an automated radio check on 28 I think.

 

[riptide09]

Re: Purchased a VHF radio today.

I picked up a Standard Horizon HX280S right before Memorial day weekend for $85 at a local shop. I figured it was good enough for emergencies when I boat in and around Boston Harbor. It is submersible however it does not float.

I set it up to scan a bunch of the channels and it is interesting to listen to all the activity. The CG monitors channel 16 and also actively transmits various messages on channel 22. Funny thing was a couple of times I was also able to pickup the CG from the Merrimack River/Plum Island which is maybe 20 miles or more north.