Archive for May, 2011
It’s really nice to know when there’s a gale coming!
As I write this, the National Weather Service issued a gale warning for our area on the north shore of Lake Superior. Now, if I were on the lake, I’d sure be appreciative if I were given an alert of the incoming weather system in enough time to allow me to get back to shore before the real nasty stuff hit me. It’s just no fun being out in a gale! If any of you have ever been caught in one, you know exactly what I mean. It makes you feel real small and vulnerable. The power of the water when it gets all stirred up is something to behold! For this reason, I can’t stress enough the importance of having a marine radio (preferably a VHF Marine radio) to provide this valuable information to both you and those you have on board with you. The boating season is just beginning as it’s just the 1st of June tomorrow, so you have the whole season just ahead of you. Make a commitment to yourself that this will be the summer that you step up and add this valuable piece of equipment to your watercraft! Remember – it’s too late when you find yourself at the mercy of a gale you didn’t know was coming… Happy Boater.
Friday again – big plans for the weekend?
Time to sit up and take notice – school’s about over, warmer weather is on the horizon, and summer is about to kick off in full swing – ready or not!! It’s time to get the tarp off the boat, pack the wheel bearings, and make ready for summer fun! This year you may decide you want to enjoy your own pre-recorded music on board played through your marine radio receiver. Yes – you can do that in today’s world. With digital quality you can listen to all your favorite hits from the past (50′s and 60′s would be my choice). Music and make a party successful. Why not tap into the technology that’s available today and enjoy your own marine radio receiver this year. Besides providing a plug-in for your favorite music, you can gain access to the NOAA weather updates that will keep you and your guests safe while enjoying a day on the water. While you’re at it – you may want to check out those speakers – are they crackly or hard to understand? Marine speakers today are very inexpensive and deliver great sound quality. They are waterproof besides so you don’t have to worry about the weather. This is a great time to get ready for summer fun! …besides – Father’s day is not too far away – what a great gift!! Happy Boater.
A stranger is just a friend that you haven’t met yet…
Yep – that was my mother’s motto. …and she actually lived by it! She passed away back in 1999, and granted, things were a bit different then – you didn’t have to be quite so careful of who you embraced as a friend, however, she never saw that bad in anyone. She really did meet some very incredible folks and more often than not, they were delighted to make her acquaintance also. Sadly, things have changed and I’m not so sure it’s for the better. We still can take pride in believing the best in everyone and to help us out with that idea we have things like CB Radios! What better way to meet folks and chat with them than through a CB Radio when traveling. It keeps you alert as well as maybe being able to avoid some really slow traffic up ahead by simply hearing what is being said on the radio! Truckers can be invaluable with the knowledge they share about the roads ahead if you just take time to listen. Who knows – they may lead you to great restaurant with great food – they definitely can zero in on those!! CB’s are becoming more popular so why not add one to your car or truck before the summertime travel time arrives in full swing. Who knows – maybe it can save you money by being able to ask where the best gas prices are when you find you need a fill! Happy Boater.
Hand Held VHF Marine Radios are becoming popular…
I can see a trend setting right before my eyes. I’ve seen more and more boaters purchasing a hand held VHF marine radio rather than a fixed radio. Why? I’m not really sure. For sure they are convenient, portable so they can be used in a kayak or canoe, affordable, AND they float if dropped into the water! Maybe those are all really good reasons why they are becoming so popular with so many boaters. I’m not going to say that those that purchased the portable hand held units don’t already have a fixed unit on their boats, because they may. It certainly is a good idea as they will transit further than a hand held unit. They both, however, will provide valuable up-to-date weather advisories for the safety of both you and those on board with you. I think it’s great that so many are realizing the importance of having one of these radios on board at all times! Sometimes things just make sense! Happy Boater.
A “head’s up” on quickly arriving storms is a good thing…
Yesterday we had one of those days that was just plain and simply a “mixed bag” delivered to us from the weatherman. I just did a little bit of just about everything – even some tornadoes just a bit south of here. My kids were nearly in the path of one of them, but it thankfully missed them. Sometimes out on the water, you happen upon some of these fast moving storms that nobody wants to be caught in, but if you don’t know they are coming, how can you avoid it?? In today’s world, there is really no reason to be caught in a big, fast moving storm. Marine VHF radios are available in both a fixed and hand held models. They will give you up-to-the-minute weather advisories when out on the water – and these transmissions will happen 24/7. You will be able to hear these updates and have time to head for a safe harbor (or get back to port) before the ugly weather hits. More and more folks are now including a VHF marine radio when putting together a list of “STANDARD” equipment you must have on board. These little radios have a transmission capability of approximately 20 nautical miles and if an emergency should arrive, the USCG monitors channel 16 constantly and can assist you! Enjoy peace of mind this boating season. Happy Boater.
“Crackly” is not a good word to describe your radio reception…
Yep, there’s no doubt about it – crackly is definitely not a good way to have to describe your radio reception – ESPECIALLY if it is critical that you understand what the person on the other end is saying to you! If your radio is sending you signals like this, it may be time to consider updating those old speakers. If you are using speakers on your boat or pontoon, it may interest you to know that the new style marine speakers feature some very nice updates! How about weather proof (i.e. water proof) – rain will no longer be a concern for you! Also, since most of the marine radio receivers out there now have the capability of sending out a digital signal to those speakers of yours, thus allowing you and your friends on board to enjoy quality listening time with their favorite tunes! Sometimes life just doesn’t get any better!! The words clear, precise, and crisp should be the kind of words that come to mind when describing your reception now…. Happy Boater.
When you don’t hear clearly, you miss a lot…
I know a fellow that had a terrible time understanding his wife. He told me that he was considering getting his wife some help by hooking her up with a speech therapist to she could talk more clearly. Now, I know he was kidding as he was well aware of his own hearing problems, but it did make for a good laugh at the time! Very much the same thing happens when you have a hard time hearing what is being said over the radio as it “crackles” over the speaker when you’re out on the boat for the day. Now, do you get a new boat…or do you simply update your speakers so it eliminates that problem. I’d say the latter makes more sense and a MUCH more cost effective way to solve the problem. Marine speakers nowadays are not only water and weather resistive, but they offer digital clarity. What a treat that is. A far cry from those speakers we are all too familiar with that are very sensitive to moisture and spent most of their useful life crackling or distorting sounds that should otherwise have been very clear and precise. Those of us with a natural hearing problem and spend a lot of our waking hours saying “what?” or “will you repeat that?” to those on the other end of a phone or just in simple conversation. Check you speakers out today and decide if this year isn’t the year for an upgrade. Happy Boater.
Call ahead to put the coffee pot on…
I’m reminded of the movie “ET” where the slogan “phone home” became an icon a few years back. Well, I know this weekend there were a lot of frozen, dripping wet, miserable fishermen out on the lake who were probably looking forward to a nice warm cup of coffee when they hit the shore. But, what if there wasn’t anyone in the cabin who knew they were coming?? Easy solution!! Simply make sure to bring a couple of hand held CB Radios with you on the fishing trip – leaving one in the cabin and take one out of the boat with you. What a nice convenience (that is if you have at least one in your party that maybe was a “fair weather fisherman” and just didn’t relish the thought of purposely putting himself through that torture of wind , rain, and cold). I guess I’m one of those that wait until the second or third weekend of fishing season to wet a line because I find the fishing is better and the weather is much more conducive to a pleasant day on the water. My hat is off those devoted few who wouldn’t miss a fishing opener without having their pole in the water – no matter what the weather! Happy Boater.
I do believe that spring has sprung in the northland!
Birds are chirping, trees are budding, and I see folks out busily buying flowers for their gardens. I’d say those are sure signs of spring! Just yesterday, I put my 2 docks into the water, got them leveled out and launched 2 pontoon boats. I sure do like the feel of setting things up for the summer rather than taking things down and putting them away which we encounter every fall. Much more fun in the spring – even if it IS a lot of work. It’s kinda relaxing to lay out under the boat while it’s on the trailer and put a good coat of paste was on the hull. I’m convinced that the boat runs faster when I do that versus when I don’t. Shucks – I think I’d do it even if it didn’t make a performance difference, simply because I think it would be good for the boat. This year, with the gas prices at the level they are, maybe you’ll find yourself not wanting to head back to shore for every little thing. Why not radio your needs? If you’re not too far from shore, a CB Radio may fit your needs very fine. Someone on shore can put together your needs as you encounter them and then make only one trip back to the dock to gather all your goodies. You may even be able to communicate with others in your fishing party to share supplies like bait to save another trip to shore. If you’re more than 2 miles out, you may want to consider a VHF marine radio with can put you into communication up to about 20 nautical miles. When one of these radios is purchased, you automatically get “peace of mind” as a bonus with your purchase because these radios will put you into direct communication with the USCG on channel 16 any time of the day if needed. A hand held VHF marine radio is also a great addition to your on board emergency safety kit. Don’t underestimate these little radios! Happy Boater.
Radio Communcation is used on a daily basis…
Two-way radio communication is used every day in many, many industries. It has become an essential part of the daily work routine. We’ve all seen truckers using their CB Radios as they travel across country, as well as law enforcement using their radios on a regular basis. All facets of the “work-a-day” world use radio communication. To name a few of them we have farmers, fishermen, cargo ships, trains, buses, airplanes, construction sites, and the list could go on and on listing those others who service these folks from a “trickle down” note. The fishermen and captains on cargo ships would probably be using a VHF marine radio, although they very well may have a CB Radio on board also. That way they can use the CB to communicate with the other fishermen in their party/grouping without cluttering up the airwaves with chatter – thus, leaving the VHF Radio available for receiving weather updates or other critical information from the Unites States Coast Guard who monitor channel 16 24/7. If you are a boater, make this a priority on your safety list this year. Put yourself (and your passengers) a cut above the others on the water. Happy Boater.