VHF Radio For Lakes?

[southkogs]

Great idea about the flares Mark.

My inland experience between lakes and rivers is that the majority of the boaters out there are pretty loose. No clue as to VHF, rendering assistance, etc. But a flare is a pretty universally understood "oh shoot" signal. Especially if you've got any sort of LEO/ES crews on your water - they should notice real quick.

 

[roscoe]

Contrary to belief, the coast guard and local emergency responders are not the first or best line of defense on the water. Your fellow boater is the best hope you have to a speedy response.

Having said that, if your in a location where nobody has radios because accidents and emergency situations are prohibited, your cell phone is a viable choice.


Can someone please post the emergency phone number to text SOS in the case of an emergency on the water?

Not sure how an sos text would work, but willing to learn.



Why not prohibit accidents and emergency situations everywhere?

 

[bruceb58]

Great idea about the flares Mark.

My inland experience between lakes and rivers is that the majority of the boaters out there are pretty loose. No clue as to VHF, rendering assistance, etc. But a flare is a pretty universally understood "oh shoot" signal. Especially if you've got any sort of LEO/ES crews on your water - they should notice real quick.

Just so you know, flares or other similar distress signals are actually required on any boat greater than 16' in federally controlled waters. My bet is most people don't follow that regulation when on lakes. I don't carry them on my pontoon boat but I do on my Wellcraft. My pontoon is on a non federally controlled lake.

http://www.boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/reqequip.htm

 

[GA_Boater]

Visual Distress Signals (33 CFR 175.101)

Vessels operating on U .S . coastal waters, the Great Lakes, and territorial seas, as well as those waters connected directly, up to a point where the waterway is less than two nautical miles wide, must be equipped with U .S . Coast Guard-approved visual distress signals (VDS) . Vessels owned in the United States and operating on the high seas must also be equipped with U .S . Coast Guard-approved visual distress signals.


Page 14 - http://www.uscgboating.org/images/420.PDF

 

[Old Ironmaker]

Boating regs. here in Canada require any vessel less than 20' require a whistle to call for help. A whistle! That will get their attention.

We do not go on the water with out at least scanning the marine weather channels, both US and Canadian on the VHF. And monitor it while out on the Great Lakes. I don't have the Doppler Radar apps available, actually don't have any apps.

 

[southkogs]

I keep an air horn on board too.

Remember that the OP was specifically asking about inland lakes (and yes I know they might connect to big water too).

 

[JimS123]

We boat on Lakes Erie and Ontario. I have had a VHF for 30 years or so and would never be without one. They are cheap enough so what's the issue?!!

Regardless, when we are up the Niagara River, the USCG can't receive our signal. Also, spending hours and hours each year on the water i hardly ever hear any VHF communications. Since the advent of the cell phone , few have VHFs any more - just count the number of antennas on new boats.

We DO have a cell phone. I also have the 800 number handy for BoatUS TowBoat. We also have several local towboats and i have their number as well.

IMHO I would rely on knowing local numbers first, and have a VHF as a backup. Now, if your area is used heavily by VHF then that would be your first choice.

 

[bruceb58]

Remember that the OP was specifically asking about inland lakes (and yes I know they might connect to big water too).

Lake Tahoe in California is one of the lakes that requires a visual distress signal such as flares and it does not connect to big water.

There are many lakes in the US that have the same requirement.

 

[SeaDooSam]

I have flares and an air horn, for those who said that
Lots of opinions it seems

 

[southkogs]

Lake Tahoe in California is one of the lakes that requires a visual distress signal such as flares and it does not connect to big water.

There are many lakes in the US that have the same requirement.

Apologies - that's true. There are always exceptions to the generalities In the places I'm used to boating, the inland lakes generally don't carry those types of requirements. Though, to Bruce's point the several of the rivers around my area are bound by those rules.

 

[bruceb58]

Apologies - that's true. There are always exceptions to the generalities In the places I'm used to boating, the inland lakes generally don't carry those types of requirements. Though, to Bruce's point the several of the rivers around my area are bound by those rules.

Lake Tahoe also has many agencies that monitor VHF. Best to review who monitors what at the lake you are going to boat at.

Example for Lake Tahoe
http://donsnotes.com/tahoe/emergency_svcs_radio.html

 

[Texasmark]

I was in WallyWorld yesterday and just happened by the sporting goods section. On the wall was a fluorescent orange flare gun and 3 flares for 50 bucks. Cheap insurance. From experience, just waving at a passing boat doesn't always work. Usually they don't differentiate between fun and fright. They usually wave back, if they see you and keep going.

 

[ziggy]

all good comments from everyone.

for safety myself on my 19' speedboat. i have flares. a portable air horn, boat horn, cell phone, gps, and fixed vhf w/8' antenna. i also have charts for when i'm on the missouri river.

i only boat on small inland lakes and on the missouri river. on the lakes. i quit listening to the vhf as there was never any traffic. not from anyone. not even the local water patrol that are on the lake ''sometimes''. my guess would be that if i hailed someone in an emergency via my vhf i'd get no reply.

my only real emergency that i've had was being blown up on the beach in high winds. the way i got help was via a cell phone.

i have also been boating on the missouri river many times in the past. there, i do hear traffic on my vhf. though it is sparse. i think i am hearing uscg traffic. and for sure the uscg is on the river. so at least there is someone listening on the river. though i don't have any idea as to how much help the vhf would be down in the hills of a river. my guess would be very limited range at best. it can be very sparse for boats on the river at times. that would mean, again, that the vhf may or may not be useful.

as to weather the op should get a vhf. i still think it's a good idea. even though my description of my circumstances wouldn't lead ya to think so. i think better safe that sorry. the more options ya have. the more likely it is you'll find the help ya need when ya need it most.

fwiw. i didn't go to the expense of an epirb. if i was boating on the great lakes or the ocean. i'd have that too.