Citizen's band radio instead of VHF?

[massimofinance]

I will always be boating in Long Island Sound, am already over budget with the boat and I have a cell phone. Would like to skip the VHF radio and just keep the CB radion (with antenna) in the boat, for an emergency. What do you all think? Waste of space/weight? I know the consensus will be to get a VHF, but wanted your thoughts on the value of a CB radio. Thanks!<br /><br />MAX

 

[RubberFrog]

Re: Citizen's band radio instead of VHF?

CB radios are great! If you want a trucker to come rescue you....

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Citizen's band radio instead of VHF?

CB's on the Sound are going to be few and far between. You probably get pretty good coverage with the cell phone, but I would still want a VHF for piece of mind. What happens when you need help in a hurry. Who ya gonna call with a cell phone? With a VHF, your fellow boaters will hear your call for help and come running.<br /><br />There's no price on safety. Get a VHF radio.

 

[massimofinance]

Re: Citizen's band radio instead of VHF?

Thanks, I will get one, all good points.<br /><br />Would anyone have an opinion on this radio?<br /><br />"COBRA MR HH100VP HandHeld Dual VHF Marine Radio"<br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />MAX

 

[jurgenscraft]

Re: Citizen's band radio instead of VHF?

Here in SOUTH AFRICA we also use the 29Mhz marine band.( 29,7725 Mhz 29,9350 Mhz and 29,9725 Mhz,)this in Radio terms, is very similar to the 27 Mhz Citizen band frequencies, propogation is very similar to the 10 meter Amateur Radio band and 11 meter citizen band, a certain amount of ground wave and a certain amount of sky wave depending on the time of day and propogation conditions, but does supply a fair general purpose band, but for every day ship to ship and ship to shore line of sight communications , VHF is the way to go, I have yet to be let down by this band ,Works for me.<br />Kind Regards.<br />William Wright

 

[Perfidiajoe]

Re: Citizen's band radio instead of VHF?

Look for sales on a fix mount radio, in the sound a hand held signal will get lost in the summer. A fair radio & a good ant. should cost on sale $150- $175. Really worth the money, just the peace of mind. Remember those 2 kids who got lost in the sound w/ a cell phone a couple of years back. As for the CB, Who has the other one, & how do you know he's listening? Good Luck, Joe

 

[captharv]

Re: Citizen's band radio instead of VHF?

A handheld radio with only 5 watts and a very inefficient antenna would give one a false sense of security.<br />Get a fixed mount and a good antenna, like a 5225 shakesphere.<br />The purpose of having it is for YOUR safety. No place to cheap-out.....<br />CB, well, want to trust yout life to a kid playing Adam 12?<br />Captharv

 

[Homerr]

Re: Citizen's band radio instead of VHF?

I would run both if you have the room. Quite a few people in my area have both types in their boats. They keep the VHF for emergencies, harbor communications etc... and use the CB to chat with other boats.<br /><br />A VHF radio is your first line of defense/communications. Cell phones work too, but they are less reliable than a VHF (in my opinion)... Would you want a drop call while you are trying to relay your location?<br /><br />It's a good bet that someone near will hear your distress on a VHF radio.<br /><br />I picked up a VHF rig that automatically relays my coordinates if I send a distress call. It was around $300 if memory serves.<br /><br />H.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Citizen's band radio instead of VHF?

Cell phone can work to make a call but who do you call? Coast Guard, 911, family?<br /><br />VHF is the way to go you put out a MAYDAY call and talk to the Coast guard station 30 miles away. They send a boat but at the same time the boat 1/4 mile away here your call and comes to your aid until the Coast Guard arrives.<br /><br />CB 4 watts, VHF 25 watts. CB HF band may not be able to contact someone 5 miles away but get someone in Texas 1500 miles away. Some Coast Guard stations I have visited did have a CB Radio but the squelch was all the way up and the volume down<br /><br />VHF is the only way to go for near shore boating.<br />Get a good antenna Like Shakespear Galaxy 5225.<br /><br />Saling the high sea's then need to get a licence and a HF Single side badn radio.

 

[massimofinance]

Re: Citizen's band radio instead of VHF?

Great info, guys, thanks a lot.

 

[massimofinance]

Re: Citizen's band radio instead of VHF?

Actually, have one more question. I have a Garmin 172C chartplotter/GPS unit. I don't suppose these are able to put out a distress signal, are they? I thought I heard somplace they could, but then again, I could not find a reference to that in the manual.

 

[Luna Sea]

Re: Citizen's band radio instead of VHF?

You just might be a redneck if........<br /><br />"Breaker, breaker, mayday, mayday....."<br /><br />Sorry, had to chuckle at this post. <br /><br />If you have the Garmin, get a "DSC" vhf that you can interface with the Garmin to send out your coordinates in an emergency.<br /><br />Good luck!

 

[Boatist]

Re: Citizen's band radio instead of VHF?

As Luna Sea said it can supply your Latitude and Longitide to your VHF to allow DSC to send your position when in distress. <br /><br />Also depending on the radio can tell your buddy that have programed your code where you are when you transmit. That can be good when call your fishing buddy to tell him fishing is red hot where you are. Only the people that have your code will be able to tell where your are. So only your buddy show up to fish with you not the whole fleet.

 

[Richard Petersen]

Re: Citizen's band radio instead of VHF?

Cars cost$$ Boats cost$$$$ Planes cost$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. Go over budget on the ONE thing you really have to.