Archive for the ‘VHF Radios’ Category
Sometimes it’s best to stay home…
This past few days we’ve really had a lot of wind making it just about impossible to get out on the water with a small craft. That’s when you tune in channel 16 on your VHF Marine Radio, or tune in to the NOAA weather channel on your marine radio, listen to what they are saying as it is broadcast 24/7 for your safety, then decide whether or not it is safe to venture out into the water with a small craft. There is really no sense to “push the envelope” when dealing with a real wind, real waves, and a really unsafe situation. Consider it a great time to tie more lures or simply catch up on that “honey do” list we all have. Enjoy your day. Happy Boater.
A Bit of Comfort in Nasty Weather…
We’ve all been there………..you set out for a day on the water in bright sunshine and calm seas. Before lunch the waves start rolling and the clouds start filling the sky. Before you know it, you are in the middle of a lot of waves that are all capping and the wind has come up and all-in-all you are not in a very nice situation! About that time, you would be glad you had a VHF Marine Radio on board which would allow you to tune in to any late breaking transmissions from the US Coast Guard (which is broadcast 24/7) on Channel 16 or simply being able to tune into a NOAA weather channel for the latest update on the weather. Either way, you can gain that “comfort level” knowing that you have the latest information and you will be able to plan your day accordingly – even if that planning means pulling up fishing lines and making a beeline for shore to be safe. Happy Boater.
Hand Held VHF Radios come in “handy”.
With the newest style of hand held VHF marine radios available, they are so compact that they can be stowed away until they are needed (that is – IF they’re needed). We all hope when we have made the investment (which is really very reasonable) in a VHF Marine Radio that we never have need of using it to call for help when out on the water. But what a sense of security it offers the boat owner if the need arose call the Coast Guard for help and know that they will be monitoring their end of the radio 24/7 if you need them!! A lot of folks put 2 VHF marine radios on board – one is a fixed unit for daily use and the other a hand held unit which is stowed in the “emergency bag” to take with in the event that a person had to transfer to a life raft. Most of these hand held VHF marine radios are not only waterproof to about a meter, but they float as well – a real handy thing to have on board!! Happy Boater.
VHF – a likely lifeline…
I know its still August as I write this, but in just a couple months we will have November staring us in the face again. With that realization, it isn’t a far fetched reach to realize that November can bring with it some nasty storms on the lakes – at least around the area I am familiar with around Lake Superior in northern Minnesota. Having a VHF Marine Radio on board gives you access to broadcasts sent out 24/7 by the US Coast Guard – advising boaters of incoming storm systems as well as other things that may hamper your great day on the water. Some of those broadcasts may be the one thing that may give you just enough time to get off the lake to a safe harbor before the waves became too treacherous. VHF Marine Radios are really not that expensive and are available even as a hand held VHF marine radio style. Many of the hand held units are waterproof to a minimum depth and float as well if dropped into the deep blue. Take a minute and consider how little money it really takes to be safe! Happy Boater.
NOAA weather alerts are of most importance…
This past weekend, I was on the water and the day started out really kind of calm and soothing. In just a couple of hours, I was in some giant swells and white caps and found that the wind was gusting to 40 mph. That kind of sea is not really fun to be out in. Now, I was on a small enough body of water at the time that it wasn’t a safety factor for me or the others on board, but if I had been on Lake Superior (for instance), it could have been quite another story. Having a radio on board capable of bringing in the NOAA weather alerts is an essential part of your safety equipment. You can obtain these alerts from a variety of CB radios, or VHF Marine Radios. Channel 16 is typically where you will be alerted by the US Coast Guard as to any fast developing weather systems or small craft warnings for the lake you may be on. Always put safety as a number one status level. Happy Boater.
When you catch the big one, who ya going to tell?
After spending a lot of time on the water, you realize that you can encounter great catching as well as “not so great” catching. (note that the “fishing” is ALWAYS good – just the catching varies!) When you catch that big one it sure would be nice to tell someone, wouldn’t it!! Those are the times it would be nice to have a CB Radio onboard as well as a VHF marine radio which has a range of approximately 20 miles over water when using the proper tall antenna. I’ve got a friend that has a great web store and deals in heavy duty fishing gear – the kind of stuff that makes you feel like a kid in a candy store!! I enjoyed a tour and wanted to share it with you guys. His site is www.reeldeepstore.com. Check it out! Happy Boater.
Smooth sailing is a great target for a day on the water!
Smooth sailing is always on the top of the “desire list” when heading out on the deep blue with your favorite friends, favorite fishing gear, and favorite music. What happens when something goes wrong out there? Will you be prepared for that unexpected squall? These days, there is really no reason that everyone couldn’t have a very affordable VHF Marine Radio on board. They are available as both a hand held VHF marine radio model as well as a fixed mount VHF marine radio. I’m sure one is available to fit both your wallet and your communication needs. Check them out at www.marineradiosonline.com. Happy boater.
VHF is something you hope you never actually NEED.
Buying a VHF Marine Radio for your boat or pontoon is, in many ways, like purchasing a life insurance policy. Nobody likes to spend money on something that they hope they will never use or need, but the reality of it all is that lives have been saved by early weather warnings issued 24/7 on the NOAA weather band on your marine radio which can give you sufficient warning to get your craft to a safe harbor if a fast moving weather front is detected by the national weather service. The US Coast Guard will broadcast warnings on channel 16 so always keep your ear tuned to this channel if you are in waters that may become perilous in the event of an incoming storm system. Happy Boater.
VHF is not a direction, but a way to go…
It’s a given that having a VHF radio on board can be the difference between being safe and not safe! Part of that safety factor comes from being alerted 24/7 on the weather broadcasts and alerts from the US Coast Guard regarding any fast moving systems that may be coming your way. They make sure everyone is alerted in enough time to allow them to get off the water – or at least get to a marine refuge area. The NOAA weather channel broadcasts constantly also and will also alert you incoming weather systems. I know just how fast a calm sea can whip up into a frenzy. It really isn’t fun when you find yourself caught in something like that. Be safe and keep your passengers safe. Always have a VHF marine radio on board – either a hand held VHF Radio, or a fixed mount VHF radio. Who knows – maybe your life depends on it!! Happy Boater.
Storm’s a brewin’ – are you ready?
I just came off the water. We had white caps that just pounded the boat when heading into them. It surely takes some of the relaxation out of the day on the water, but it’s all part of the outdoor communication device that will aid in giving you enough warning time to allow you to get off the water in time to keep everyone on board safe. If you are on a small body of water, maybe a CB Radio would suffice, but if you are negotiating the waves on a larger body of water, you owe it to yourself to invest in a very affordable VHF Marine Radio or at least a marine radio receiver capable of receiving the NOAA Weather channel which broadcasts 24/7 to keep everyone on the water safe. HAPPY BOATER.