VHF... are you up to speed?

As we enter the new year and prep for the upcoming events gatherings, I see emphasis on gathering the proper gear, PFD, VHF, emergency knife etc. But one thing I rarely hear about is how to properly use such equipment.  Of course we all know how to wear a PFD, and use a knife safely  (or at least most of us), but do you really know how to use your VHF radio? I have been at many events where some of the most advanced kayaker were telling partners to switch to channels that are for special use, or had non emergency mayday calls.
Imagine a serious emergency at one of these events, and someone can't contact the people needed because a certain person didn't know that the VHF wasn't a cell phone.
I have always thought of hooking a base (VHF) unit up to my kayak trailer for use at events. The reason is that a base unit would not only transmit farther,  but receive a signal from a weaker (5 amp) handheld at a farther distance.
Now that I'm living at the cove, I decide to hook up a VHF radio at the Tides Inn for the same reason.
After reading the owners manual (not much else to do when it's raining) and was amazed at some of what I learned.
I'm asking that anyone who attends an event or gathering to read up and hone your skills on the proper use of your VHF radio, you might also be suprised at what you can learn. 
;0)

Intresting read;
http://www.boatus.com/boattech/casey/vhf-basics.asp

You need a private coast station license to operate a land based VHF marine radio. Not sure that anyone in the cove will ever care, but the fines are hefty if you piss off the wrong person.

Yes, this is one of the things I learned, and will be addressed. The main use of the radio will be to listen and help in emergencies if needed and communication for fish reports of course
;0)

As we enter the new year and prep for the upcoming events gatherings, I see emphasis on gathering the proper gear, PFD, VHF, emergency knife etc. But one thing I rarely hear about is how to properly use such equipment.  Of course we all know how to wear a PFD, and use a knife safely  (or at least most of us), but do you really know how to use your VHF radio? I have been at many events where some of the most advanced kayaker were telling partners to switch to channels that are for special use, or had non emergency mayday calls.
Imagine a serious emergency at one of these events, and someone can't contact the people needed because a certain person didn't know that the VHF wasn't a cell phone.
I have always thought of hooking a base (VHF) unit up to my kayak trailer for use at events. The reason is that a base unit would not only transmit farther,  but receive a signal from a weaker (5 amp) handheld at a farther distance.
Now that I'm living at the cove, I decide to hook up a VHF radio at the Tides Inn for the same reason.
After reading the owners manual (not much else to do when it's raining) and was amazed at some of what I learned.
I'm asking that anyone who attends an event or gathering to read up and hone your skills on the proper use of your VHF radio, you might also be suprised at what you can learn. 
;0)

Intresting read;
http://www.boatus.com/boattech/casey/vhf-basics.asp

Thank you for this post.

This is a good time for this thread. I just bought my radio(Horizon HX300) a few weeks ago and haven't used it yet. I figured it had special channels as I used to have a CB radio back in the day and remember channel 9. So I'm doing something most people, myself included, don't normally do...reading the manual.

P.S.

Is there a channel that most NORCAL yakers are usually on?

Many have used channel 69, but some use others.

Many have used channel 69, but some use others.

Most will use 69 but up north by Shelter Cove they all seem to use 68.

Josh

Also,
Please note that there are only a few non commercial ship to ship channels  available (68, 69, 71, 72, and 78a).

Great info here, thanks Yakhopper!

Also,
Please note that there are only a few non commercial ship to ship channels  available (68, 69, 71, 72, and 78a).

Local channels can and do vary, especially far from commercial centers and shipping lanes. A 5w transmission on a commercial or bridge operator channel just isn't going to bother anyone if you are hundred miles or more from the nearest users.

On the Oregon coast 80 is a common non-commercial channel and its use is even necessary at Depoe Bay. The CG monitors the channel too and are reachable on 80 there.

When in Rome...

Communications are always the Achilles Heel of any operation. My suggestion, from running a lot of emergency incidents is to assign a "command" and a "tactical" channel at the events. That way you can filter info and have dedicated channels for different communication. You can even use a "travel" channel for non important chatter. In the case of an emergency you can push all non emergency traffic to an alternate channel so that the person needing rescue doesn't have to fuss with channels. I watched the GS3 rescue on you tube and you all did an amazing job coordinating. Not sure who took coms command but they sounded like they had plenty of experience in managing emergencies.
Hats off gents, it was awesome to watch.

These are just ideas, having never been to an event I am not sure what is already in place.

I've grown accustomed to people showing up at the Cove and tending to want to use 69 because they feel it's a "kayaker" channel, or they may feel that we need to have our own channel away from the local talk.  I maintain that we should be on the local channel - 68 - because it's very important to hear what the powerboaters and other local voices are saying, and they should hear us too.  Not only is it very helpful for fishing info, but safetywise it's huge.  If a powerboat, the tractor launch, or any other local is trying to hail a kayaker we don't want them wondering what channel we're using.

The VHF can of course be used for smalltalk, but that casual level of discourse should be limited, especially when there are literally hundreds of people sharing the airwaves.  When people get carried away with chitchat it takes away from everyone else's ability to communicate - people need to keep this in mind and self regulate, or others should speak up and remind heavy users of this, IMO.

As for coordination during an urgent development such as someone capsized or otherwise in trouble, mcnwy1438 has a good point.  Having been through several such occurrences since GS3, it's become apparent to me that people are able to quickly hush non vital talk and use the active channel for important communication.  This will be discussed at the safety seminar on Friday before GSX.

It's worth sharing here also that since GS3 the community has evolved in impressive fashion in terms of how we deal with capsizings, which are by far the most common emergencies faced as up to 200 of us kayak fish over several square miles and possibly in fog, wind and raspy swells.  Over the past few years the emergencies that I've heard occurring and being dealt with have been orderly and quite professional really.  A big factor in that is how individuals involved have come a long way in being prepared regarding being dressed for immersion and able to quickly self-rescue.  Most capsize occurrences now are actually pretty low-key, as, typically, a few people around the boater in trouble are prepared and ready to assist, and the person in the water is able to quickly re-board their yak and move on with their day - while at the same time the tournament field is made aware of what's occurring and then given an all-clear message.  It's a source of great pride for me as a tournament director, and it should also be a source of great pride for our community.  Let's keep it that way!

Thanks, Eric, for bringing this topic to the front page, as the proper use of the VHF is absolutely critical to our success and safety OTW.

Everyone at GSX is required to have at least one handheld waterproof VHF, among other safety items.

Damn!  I can't wait to get back out on big blue.   

So I'm doing something most people, myself included, don't normally do...reading the manual.

Manual? What's that?

I've grown accustomed to people showing up at the Cove and tending to want to use 69 because they feel it's a "kayaker" channel, or they may feel that we need to have our own channel away from the local talk.  I maintain that we should be on the local channel - 68 - because it's very important to hear what the powerboaters and other local voices are saying, and they should hear us too.  Not only is it very helpful for fishing info, but safetywise it's huge.  If a powerboat, the tractor launch, or any other local is trying to hail a kayaker we don't want them wondering what channel we're using.

I am not sure about so many of us using channel 68 for GS. With all the fish id, size, and bag limit questions asked over VHF each tournament, the locals will probably think we are a bunch of clueless out of towners there to kill all their fish, more so than usual. Unless they already think that of us. Then by all means, use 68 for all the fishing regulation questions.

I always set my vhf to scan multiple channels (like 11, 16, 68, 69). And if there's a lot of people OTW, I try to establish a 'alternate channel' with my crew/partner...just in case I want to transmit proprietary info...i.e., "Hey ginger, switch over to the secret channel; I found a hot sanddab bite."

It should also be noted that most commies know each others' MMSI #s, so they use DSC to communicate the good info.


In Santa Cruz/Monterey: 9 is comms w/harbor, 11 & 19 are used by sporties, 18 & 74 are used by commies. But many people often use 68 & 69 to chitchat.
In HMB: 74 is comms w/harbor, 19 is used by sporties, and 18 is used by commies. 69 also popular for chitchat.
In SF bay: 12 & 14 are for vessel traffic svcs or harbor comms, 68 is used by sporties. 88 is used sometimes by partyboats.


Below is copy & pasted from Coastside:
9- Bodega
07-Harbors
09-Primary Channel for bridges on the Delta
10-Out of Noyo
11-Santa Cruz/Monterey
13-The Montezuma Lock monitors this channel
19-Half Moon Bay/Coastside in general
67-GG Charter Boats
68-Inside SF Bay and the GG
69-Kayak Anglers
88-San Pablo Bay
68,69, 71, 72, 78 – These are the proper channels to use for vessel to vessel communications
27, 28, & 86 -Stockton Marine operator – upriver from Pittsburg
26, 84, & 87 -San Francisco Marine Operator – downriver/Susuin from Martinez to San Francisco Bay and beyond


More info: http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=mtvhf



 

I watched the GS3 rescue on you tube and you all did an amazing job coordinating. Not sure who took coms command but they sounded like they had plenty of experience in managing emergencies.Hats off gents, it was awesome to watch.

That was thanks to Don Danglin. He managed the comms in that situation brilliantly.