Marine radio

One other point I'd like to make is that floating may sound like a requirement for kayak fishing, but a leash is the only way I would feel protected.  It's like trusting your lifejacket to save your life, but putting it behind you in your tankwell.

I seem to remember a thread (can’t find it at the moment, so may only be in my imagination) where somebody was forcefully ejected from their kayak (presumably, a GWS, but they didn’t see what it was). They had a VHF radio tethered to their PFD, but the force was so great that the tether broke.

That may be a freakish situation, but I see no reason not to get a floater. Of course, tether it too—belt and suspenders principle. And I always carry a second radio inside the center hatch, and I have a PLB (belt, suspenders, another belt and another suspenders, and …).

yep, belt and suspenders, got a floater - but plan to tether it. 

Just picked up and am very pleased with the sh hx40

I hate having to pull the radio from my jacket, and with the added noise from waves and wind I like to keep my radio attached to my PFD near my head sort of "tactical style".
[/quote]

+1 on tactical style. I have mine strapped and clipped near my head so can key the mic with my left hand while I cling for my life with my right. SH870. The critical thing is a floppy antennae. You want a floppy one!!!

I'm sure y'all will give me shit for this... but please please please monitor VHF-16.  Not only are we legally required to, but you may realize you can be of assistance before authorities can get there.  Let's say you're at some hypothetical spot called Legume Void and another kayaker gets themselves in trouble near some rocks.  They wind up calling 911 from their cell phone.  After the USCG gets enough information, they're going to broadcast a notice to all mariners (PAN PAN if emergency and a "Marine Assistance Request Broadcast" if no life threatening issues).  You'll only hear that on 16 and you might be close enough to help.  Help could mean anything...  you could be the only person to get eyes on the victims and at least help rescuers get there.  You might also be able to actively help.  Anyway... off the soapbox... monitor 16, please.  I often set my HX300 to "tri-watch" mode with 16, harbor master's, and fishing ragchew channels tuned.

I also do the dual channel listening on my ICOM radio. It's good to listen and become familiar with the way distress calls are handle over VFH. It can help you overcome any fear should you ever need Coast Guards assistance.

For awhile the Harbor Master at HMB was doing safety checks with us in the morning before heading out. One of the things he mentioned was that if I, or others got into trouble and needed assistance to radio the Harbor Master directly. He explained that calls to anyone else would be eventually directed to them since they would be the closest, and fastest to get to the location. This is for HMB not sure about other locations.

I think if the trouble involved a serious medical issue it would be better to radio the Coast Guard so a helicopter could be dispatched.

I was not aware of the "Tri-Watch" feature. I will try to set my radio up for that.   

For awhile the Harbor Master at HMB was doing safety checks with us in the morning before heading out. One of the things he mentioned was that if I, or others got into trouble and needed assistance to radio the Harbor Master directly. He explained that calls to anyone else would be eventually directed to them since they would be the closest, and fastest to get to the location. This is for HMB not sure about other locations.

I think if the trouble involved a serious medical issue it would be better to radio the Coast Guard so a helicopter could be dispatched.

I was not aware of the "Tri-Watch" feature. I will try to set my radio up for that.

If you have the clarity of mind and calmness, then radioing the HMB Harbor Master (VHF-74) is not a bad idea.  However, the Harbor Master also monitors 16.  Most people don't know how they'll react in a life threatening emergency because they've never experienced it.  Therefore, I teach to always hail on 16.  If you hail the Harbor Master directly, they'll still let the USCG know and a helicopter will be dispatched if necessary.  If you radio the USCG first, they'll notify the HMB Harbor Master to launch as they're the nearest asset.  Same response.  But, if you can't remember all of the radio procedures for a formal emergency call and can't remember which channel the Harbor Master is on for your area, calling out with something as simple as "help! help! i'm a kayaker in Half Moon Bay and my boat is gone and i'm floating alone out here" will start the Search and Rescue process... whether it be answered by HMB Harbor Master or USCG Sector San Francisco.

still need that gear up tp RP ?

I got a bit distracted with buying a new (to me) motorcycle from Southern California just after getting back from vacation.  I plan to round up that gear next week and then I have a full week off where I can do an NCKA Express leg northbound.