Marine radio - confused

[dvan1901]

I have a 24' boat so I am not required by law to have a marine radio, but lately have been thinking it would be a good idea. My question is, are you required to have a license if you are a recreational boater? I am a bit confused when I came across this:
http://www.boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/radio.htm
What's the verdict?

 

[tommays]

Re: Marine radio - confused

You no longer have to get a license BUT you use to




Tommays

 

[dvan1901]

Re: Marine radio - confused

Ah, ok. That's kind of what I thought, but just wanted to be sure. Thanks!

 

[lncovert]

Re: Marine radio - confused

Can someone give us a quick tutorial of using the marine radio (as far as protocol goes) mainly for non-emergencies?

I have a marine radio and I haven't transmitted on it before, but I have listened in on channel 16. I would like to know the correct ettiquete or law for using one.

For example, are you supposed to say, "Hello, this is my boat name. Insert the rest of your message here."

If you see a boat that you want to talk to, how can you address them or how do they know you are trying to talk to them?

I guess what I mean is, I can't see any use for it besides saying this is an emergency and here are my gps coordinates. Can it be used recreationally?

It's an accessory on the boat, so I would love to be able to communicate with other boaters for non-emergencies if that is possible.

 

[mike176]

Re: Marine radio - confused

Its nice to see another boater from gainesville, some of your pictures are lake sante fe. Well i don't know much about using the VHF but if your not goin out in the salt water its not worth the money. There have been times on lake sante fe i have tryed to raise up FWC and have had no luck. If your out in big water 16 is monitord by the coast guard and is your emergany channel if you need help. you are suposed to monitor 16 or 9 if your radio is on but for the most part around here people don't, 68 and 69 is going to be where most boats are and thats where you can hold short coversations and get fishing reports. It would be nice to meet another boater around here message me and we can talk, i live about 10 min from sante fe but fish the gulf in the big bend area and have been spending time cruising the SJ river lately.

 

[Expidia]

Re: Marine radio - confused

The etiquette is to hail other boat on channel 16 and tell the other party what channel you are going to move to so you can carry on a conversation.

Go to a manufactures site and download a manual for any unit. The manual will answer all your questions on which channels to use and how to use the radio for hailing others.

I would at least get a handheld for emergency's because you can call another boat that may be near you for help. You can't do that with a cellphone!

Handhelds are not very powerful 5 watts (a few miles over water) but they are effective if there is boat traffic where you are and as the other posters have said the Coast Guard and others monitor several of the emergency channels.

Handy too for monitoring converations of other fisherman and the charters as they are saying where the fish are hitting. The radios scan feature when set up can lock in on their converations when they are talking.

Look at the Icom handheld for $169 (or cheaper on the net). That's cheap insurance and not all areas have cell coverage (at least where I go) It's one of the only ones that float. My new Standard Horizon is waterproof and the same price but if I drop it in the water it's gone!

Then if you get a more powerful one that attaches to the boat someday (25 watts) you can keep the handheld in an abandon ship ditty bag on board in case you ever have to ditch.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Marine radio - confused

All boats with a radio are required by rule to Monitor channel 16 the calling and distress channel. If you here a Mayday call you are required to write down what your here. If you have a life threatening emergency then you put out a MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY call on Channel 16 followed by your boat name, the nature of distress, Your position, and number of people on board.

You do not Need a licence anymore but your still must follow the rules.

To call another boat go to 16 and call the boat by name followed by your name and switch and answer on channel 68 or 69 or any working channel.

Most Marinias will monitor 16 and 68, so to get information call on 68 on 1 watt and ask about fuel dock, Guest Dock or and birth to spend the night.

You can find lots of information on net or get the FCC rules or take a US Coast Guard aux class or US Power Squadrons Class.

 

[dvan1901]

Re: Marine radio - confused

Incovert; if you look at that link I put up there, it tells you all about how to use one. How to hale another boat, how to call for help and so forth...

 

[lncovert]

Re: Marine radio - confused

Ok, thanks a lot. I'll read up on all of this.