Marine channel

Hey everybody.  I’m hitting the Alemeda rock wall tomorrow.  Wifey got me a marine radio and I wanted to know if our group uses any specific channel for general conversation.  I already know the emergency channels for emergencies only.  Thanks for any help.

Hey everybody.  I’m hitting the Alemeda rock wall tomorrow.  Wifey got me a marine radio and I wanted to know if our group uses any specific channel for general conversation.  I already know the emergency channels for emergencies only.  Thanks for any help.

We used CH 69 often. minimize the chatting since its also used by power boaters. if anything happen you can holler at them. If you need coast guard that will be on CH 16.

Thanks for the info.

Also, it's a very good idea to do a "radio check" when you first head out, just to make sure somebody can hear you. Literally, press the button and say "radio check" a couple of times.

Unfortunately, a lot of boaters won't respond to a radio check, even when they can hear you. But if you're persistent, you'll eventually annoy somebody enough to get a response. And depending on location, there are sometimes channels other than 69 that will work for a radio check too.

Thanks very much. 

when I kayak, I just keep the radio on 69. On the boat, its scans everything so even if I hear radio check, I need to stop the scan, dial in the channel the check came on. But in honor of nowhereman, Ill try to be more diligent 

when I kayak, I just keep the radio on 69. On the boat, its scans everything so even if I hear radio check, I need to stop the scan, dial in the channel the check came on. But in honor of nowhereman, Ill try to be more diligent 

If you don't, you'll get sick of hearing me drone on (and on and on) with my radio checks.

Actually, in Santa Cruz, I can usually get a response on channel 9 or 11, but for some reason, those have been non-responsive the past couple of times. Yesterday, I must've tried 20 times and was starting to get paranoid that the radio was defective. Finally, a couple of fellow NCKA'ers finally showed up and all was well...

http://coastsidefishingclub.com/vhf-radio-channels/

VHF Radio Channels
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

Full list
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=mtvhf

http://coastsidefishingclub.com/vhf-radio-channels/

VHF Radio Channels
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

Full list
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=mtvhf

Thanks for the list Mel.

Thanks for the info people.  Now just have to practice the radio language.

This is useful stuff for kayakers like me just entering the salt pond.  This blog is great for searching and finding info.

 Great information, thank you fishingaddict!
Only one correction that I see, although admittedly no expert.

Per the CG link you provided channel 13 is used to communicate with large vessels to avoid collision, this is a new one to me and seems useful in the bay and if for some reason you’re clueless enough to get stuck in front of a large barge or ferry vessel, although paddling or peddling like hell is preferable over fumbling with radio. Useful I suppose if caught adrift,  literally up shits creek without a paddle. I will say from experience that using your hands to row is effective (at least with smaller, ruderless kayak that can be paddled backward) and have even used my net as a paddle, yes I’m that asshole that has lost my paddle not once, not twice, but thrice!
From USCG.gov:
“Boaters should normally use channels listed as Non-Commercial. Channel 16 is used for calling other stations or for distress alerting. Channel 13 should be used to contact a ship when there is danger of collision. All ships of length 20m or greater are required to guard VHF channel 13, in addition to VHF channel 16, when operating within U.S. territorial waters. Users may be fined by the FCC for improper use of these channels.

Great information, thank you fishingaddict!
Only one correction that I see, although admittedly no expert.

Per the CG link you provided channel 13 is used to communicate with large vessels to avoid collision, this is a new one to me and seems useful in the bay and if for some reason you’re clueless enough to get stuck in front of a large barge or ferry vessel, although paddling or peddling like hell is preferable over fumbling with radio. Useful I suppose if caught adrift,  literally up shits creek without a paddle. I will say from experience that using your hands to row is effective (at least with smaller, ruderless kayak that can be paddled backward) and have even used my net as a paddle, yes I’m that asshole that has lost my paddle not once, not twice, but thrice!
From USCG.gov:
“Boaters should normally use channels listed as Non-Commercial. Channel 16 is used for calling other stations or for distress alerting. Channel 13 should be used to contact a ship when there is danger of collision. All ships of length 20m or greater are required to guard VHF channel 13, in addition to VHF channel 16, when operating within U.S. territorial waters. Users may be fined by the FCC for improper use of these channels.

if you are in the way of a ferry or large vessel...its your deal to get out of the way.  our ferry's travel about 45kts or so...and they're slowish turners. A cargo ship essentially can't turn in any timeframe that'll save you.

Good to know, really is life and death getting stuck in the shipping lanes

Thanks for the info people.  Now just have to practice the radio language.

Here you go. This guy can teach you all of the radio lingo.