Quote:
> Thanks for the info WD, I changed the subject a bit so I, and others,
> can find it on google easier
Hi Brad,
FWIW...I've owned boats for decades...spent time on a research
vessel...got a degree in Oceanography...yada,yada,yada...
The 3 times that I have made emergency calls on my VHF to the CG on
Channel 16, they have responded once...and it took awhile...
A sailor had broken his leg jumping at Rio Vista...before most people
had cell phones...I helped a kid (who would become a team rider) drag
his dad in...Mike was in shock...
I found a 2x4...grabbed a roll of duct tape and fashioned a splint...
we covered him up with a blanket and I raised the CG on my VHF...
Another incident was at Rio Vista...evening sesh...on the opposite side
of the Sign, a huge, slightly submerged, telephone pole was getting
sucked out with the tide...almost hit the damn thing on a 4.5m2...
motor boats seem to navigate on that side...
I put a courtesy call into the CG, and they basically said that all
vessels navigate at their own risk...
The 3rd incident was in the Gorge...we were camping and had just gotten
out of the wetsuits...broken down sailor holding on to his gear getting
sucked down river...fast...waving his arms in distress for help...
CG asked if he had a board...I said affirmative...they said "then he's
not in any risk of drowning"...true...as long as he didn't get separated...
There was another sesh where I swam my stuff into Ft. Point while
sailing Crissy Field...while others got sucked out of the SF Bay and
were eventually rescued by the CG...I guess somebody called them and
they responded...I hear it happens all of the time...
M***of the story...your VHF radio may be false security...
I'd say that more rescues are prolly done by non-Coasties...regardless,
you MUST plan on saving yourself in a breakdown...
http://SportToday.org/
http://SportToday.org/
kind of a kewl blog:
http://SportToday.org/
WARDOG
http://SportToday.org/
Quote:
> Brad
>>Use Channel 9 or 68 for radio checks...
>>See 2b. below...
>>>Before I put it
>>>>on, I turn it on to make sure it works and it is set to 16 or 9 (
>>>>emergency channels, even though there is 'quick ch16 button') and
>>>>then turn it back off. I've been tempted to 'test it' out on the
>>>>water to see if I could hail the coast guard, but not sure they
>>>>would appreciate my chatter (anyone know if this is OK? or if there
>>>>is like a standard callout that the coast guard will respond to if
>>>>they arent busy?).
>>http://SportToday.org/
>>2) CHANNEL 16 (156.8 MHz) This is the international VHF-FM
>>radiotelephone distress, safety and calling frequency used for
>>distress and urgent traffic, safety signals, marine information
>>broadcasts, and general calling and reply. After the preliminary call
>>to establish communications, mariners should shift as soon as
>>possible to an appropriate working frequency. In order to facilitate
>>the reception of distress traffic, all transmissions should be kept
>>to an absolute minimum and must not exceed one minute.
>>a) Channel 16 Call-Up Procedure
>>1) Call up the vessel you are attempting to contact using the vessel's
>>name. The name is spoken twice.
>>2) Next, send the name of your vessel and call sign spoken twice
>>prefaced by the phrase: this is.
>>3) End the call-up by saying, "channel 16, over."
>>4) When the vessel being called answers, shift to an agreed upon
>>channel.
>>b) NO RADIO CHECKS ON CHANNEL 16
>>A Federal Communications Commission ruling prohibits boaters from
>>using Channel 16 for non-emergency radio checks. Do not ask for or
>>respond to a radio check on channel 16.
>>UNDERSTAND AND FOLLOW THESE PROCEDURES AT ALL TIMES
>>1. Use Channel 16 for Distress and Hailing only.
>>2. Keep all calling on Channel 16 to an absolute minimum.
>>3. It is illegal to use Channel 16 for Radio Checks.
>>4. LISTEN before transmitting--don't interfere with other stations'
>>calls.
>>5. Don't call Marine Operators on Channel 16. Use working channels.
>>6. Children should be taught how to operate a radio in case of
>>emergency.
>>7. Children should also be taught that a RADIO IS NOT A TOY!
>>8. Use LOW POWER as often as possible.
>>9. NO unnecessary communications are permitted on VHF.
>>10. Never use a Telephone Credit Card on your VHF-- others can hear
>>your number. Use a Marine Telephone Identification Number (MIN).
>>WARDOG
>>http://SportToday.org/
by