Re: VHF radio purchase
Originally posted by nightvision:<br /> Hi all,<br />Thanks for the reply.<br /><br />18rabbit - thanks for the head up about the estuary. I do plan to take a trip out there sometime in the future. This will be my first time on the estuary (in the ocean for that matter), where would you recommend I I launch. I'm sitting here looking at a pretty good chart of the estuary. Can you give me some direction and location that I should go and explore. The mud flat scares me a little. I would appreciate some more info. I'll be out on a 18 footer bowrider. Is there are concern for wind and current in the estuary area? Thanks.
Caution: Rabbit blathing follows. (Btw, new VHF info at the end)...<br /><br />The place to set in at is at the free public boat launch on Alameda Island. Its next to the Grand Marina, just north/west of the Park Street drawbridge (green). Youll probably see one or two USCG cutters moored across the estuary from the launch. Stay well away from them! Thats CG Island, an island in the middle of the estuary. You can/should go around it. It has channel markers on the backside that are clear and easy to read, makes for good practice, but obvious enough where you should be without them. Quinns Lighthouse (restaurant and pub upstairs) is back there, too.<br /><br />There are three drawbridges along the estuary. Use caution after the 3rd bridge, High Street drawbridge (silver) because the mud flats are shortly after that. You will see what looks like a lake, thats the mud flat. As you approach there will be a single nav sign, a green square on a pole. It can be confusing to know where the channel is from that single marker. Technically, at that point you are headed toward the bay so you have to get all the way up to it, keeping it on your right (stbrd) and then turn to your starboard around it before you can see the Farm Island drawbridge and another (red triangle) nav marker.<br /><br />Theres more to oogle at the other way on the estuary, toward Jack London Square. The estuary gets deeper and wider in that direction. On the weekends they do regattas in the middle of it with 8-ft sailboats. They make excellent moving targets. A little further and youll be at the Oakland pier where the container ships and huge cranes are, then it opens into the bay. Nice thing about that end of the estuary is the chop on the water will increase the closer you get to the bay. You will know if you should go into the bay or not before you ever leave the protection of the estuary. Currents arent an issue for motor boats on the estuary, tides can be at the mud flat end, and wind chop at either end.<br /><br />If you get up to the Oakland pier and you are comfortable with the chop and swells, head on into the bay. The bay bridge is directly in front of you, Yerba Buena Is in the middle. Just past that is Alcatraz. Hint: the ferry contracted to carry folks to/from Alcatraz does not want you to know the pier at Alcatraz is a public pier, theres just nowhere to moor your boat, but you can drop off and pick up passengers there. If the ferry shows up they have to wait until you toot your horn and safely leave the pier. Just past Alcatraz is Angel Is. Go around to the north/west side of it where the piers are. Cheapest parking in all of the bay area is there. $2/day at the pier, $6/day for a mooring ball. Angel Is is a great place for a family picnic but if you hang around until late afternoon the waters in the bay will be rougher but you wont know that from looking at the water between Angel Is and Sausalito.<br /><br />This time of year you will want to keep an eye toward the Golden Gate Bridge for fog. Thats where it comes from. When you see the fog it is time to head back to the estuary. Also stay clear of (1) all ferry boats Blue & Gold and the Red & White. The capts are maniacs on water. The only thing worse is (2) the pilot boats. Those are orange with PILOT in big black letters on the side. They are supposed to be the crème de la crème of capts, but they are arrogant and presume everyone will get out of their way, nav rules aside.<br /><br />If you need to know how to get to the free public boat launch next to the Grand Marina, let me know.<br /><br />Just out from the fine folks at Powerboat Reports is their evaluation of mid-price range VHF. Uniden UM525 ($200) is their best buy pick, just barely beat out by the Icom M422 ($240) for performance. The new, revised Uniden VHF is giving Icom and Std Horz a run for their money in price, performance, features, and quality. Personally I wouldn't give you a dime for the previous Uniden VHF, but I would not overlook the new models.
