Archive for October, 2011
It seems like spring just got here and now fall and winter are closing in…
Boating season is just too short in the northland! Why, it seems like you just get your boat into the water and its time to pay storage fees to someone to store the boat for the winter! I guess we just have to “suck it in, take a deep breath” and get on with winter sports, hey? Does the change of seasons mean that your communication needs are all over until next summer? Not on your life! I guess I mean that literally, because hunting season is coming up as well as snowmobiling. Both sports have an element of “unknown” in them where it would be a great “comfort, warm fuzzy feeling” to be able to communicate with someone in your group to get assistance if you needed it. Hunters sometimes get “turned around” in the woods while hunting and can’t remember their way out – and it doesn’t always happen to “the other guy”. Slipping a little CB Radio or a hand held VHF marine radio into your pocket would surely be a great comfort if needed. Maybe you will just stumble upon another hunter who needs medical assistance. Wouldn’t you feel good if you were able to help him/her? Nothing wrong with being prepared. Happy Boater.
No need to put of with squawky-squeaky speakers…
In today’s world, there are incredible options to give you great sound when listening to a radio. And what a better place to get that great sound than when you’re on the water for the day with your favorite friends. Why listen to that horrible sound emitting from those old speakers when you can have speakers that are capable of handling digital sound and are weather proof besides! That’s right – weather won’t affect them so even it rains on your party, those marine speakers will be as clear as a bell and if you have the need to call another boat or radio for help, you will be able to understand the person on the other end because these marine speakers don’t distort like those old ones did. You know what I’m talking about – squeaky, sqauwky, vibrating sound – ugh! Happy Boater.
It’s not winter everywhere…
For some of us, summer is just about over. All the boats have just about all been stored away on shore or in a pole building about to wait out the long winter months with anticipation of the coming spring. For others who live in the southern climate, you have all winter to enjoy your boats! You have a lot more time during the year to enjoy your boats and pontoons than we do in the north, but on the same note, the more time you spend on the water, the more critical it is to have the proper communication equipment . Your chances of getting caught in a storm are just that much greater. Don’t be caught without the proper communication equipment. Outfit your boat with at least a hand held VHF marine radio if not a fixed unit VHF Radio because these little units have gone on record saving many a boater from near certain disaster. For such a little bit of money, you can buy yourself a real “comfort feeling” on the water. Be a smart boater. Happy Boater.
The older we get, the more we depend on others….
Have you noticed that when you’re in your late teens and throughout the 20′s, a large majority of us tend to feel almost invincible. (I’ll bet there’s more of us like that than the other way around) It’s almost like we have this feeling that if anything happens, it will always happen to the other guy – right?? Sound familiar? Well, I was no different, but as I age (or get wiser), I realize that others are there to help and I’m foolish not to take advantage of their offer! One of the ways they help is by communicating with us. If you’re out on a boat, it’s real nice to be able to reach a friendly voice on the airwaves that will help direct you to a special fishing spot, or find your way back to a certain slip in the harbor. Better yet, how about being able to tune in the NOAA weather channel on your marine radio receiver and be able to get the latest on the weather. Or maybe the update will arrive via you hand held VHF marine radio from the USCG. Either way, you can go to the bank with the information and that will keep you safe on the water. Happy Boating from the Happy Boater.
On a big lake, communication is the key…
The larger the lake, the more important it is to have a communication device available for your own safety. After all, why not take advantage of all the transmissions from the Coast Guard regarding water safety conditions……they ARE for your own good, you know. Channel 16 is monitored 24/7 by the USCG and they are always there to assist on a large body of water if needed. Trouble is, if you don’t have a radio, how will they know to come?? A VHF marine radio is crucial the safety and well being of both you and those you have with you on board. With it you will hear weather warnings of storms coming into the area and this will allow you time to re-think where you are and how much time it will take you to get to a safe harbor. These little radios are really an important part of your “outfitting” equipment. Always be prepared. Happy Boater.
Large waves can make for very precarious conditions…
I can honestly say that the wind has been blowing over 25 mph for several days with gusts up to 45 mph. Normally we’d have waves crashing into the shoreline, but this time the wind came from the north and northwest which provided us with off shore winds in this area of northern Minnesota. I can only imagine that the folks on the south shore are being pounded with waves – the kind of weather you really don’t want to be in without a VHF marine radio for keeping track of any and all weather updates from NOAA and the United States Coast Guard as broadcast over channel 16. These critical bands provide boaters with current, pertinent information about their area and will issue small craft warnings as needed so as to keep all boaters safe. Be sure you have your marine radio tuned to channel 16 constantly and that you have good marine speakers – speakers that are capable of transmitting digital sound from your VHF marine radio. I guess it’s not worth listening to any broadcasts if you can’t understand what they’re saying due to poor, crackly speakers. Always be safe. Happy Boater.
Being able to understand what you hear is critical…
I can only speak for myself as far as having trouble hearing, but I can assure you it isn’t fun when you can’t understand what is being said. Sure, it makes for some very funny dinner conversations when I misunderstand something that was said and comment on what I thought it was that was said. Everyone gets a laugh, but if you think about it, it really isn’t all that funny. We have a television set just off our kitchen – you know - one of those little flat screen televisions with speakers built right into the bottom of it. It’s even a brand name, but I think those are the worst speakers that I’ve ever listened to. To me, it garbles just about everything that is said through them. Well, the same thing happens when you have bad speakers on board your boat or pontoon – trying your best to play some good music through them or hear a radio transmission from someone. Marine speakers are the key to your problems on board any boat or pontoon. Digital quality, and weather proof and the 2 key factors that place them head and shoulders above normal speakers. make the switch today and start hearing (and understanding) what is being said. Happy Boater.
Fall sure seems to come early in the northland…
I sometimes wish I lived a bit further south so that I could enjoy just a bit more of the summer / fall seasons. Anything would be nice that would shorten the winter months. Sure, I like winter too, but there’s something not nice about having to pile on all those sweaters, jackets, hats and the like just to be able to spend some time outside. Also, the water is really hard about that time of the year (haha) As you prepare for the winter season by pulling your boats out of the water and cleaning them up, take note of the things you wished you had taken time to install as far as equipment goes this past year. Maybe you would like to have had a GPS on board – or maybe a VHF marine radio. Now there’s an idea! Christmas is coming….now is the time to start dropping hints so you can enjoy added safety to your boating season next year. You folks in the south, well, what can I say….you probably will enjoy your boats all year which makes it more critical that you take that inventory for your own safety and those on board with you. The water is fun, but only when nobody gets hurt. Always be safe. Happy Boater.
CB’s don’t do you any good if you forget them at home!
Just a couple of weeks ago, we enjoyed a great day of leaf watching as we traveled up the north shore of Lake Superior with some friends of ours. Naturally, we had too many people to actually fit into one car (also had a dog with), so we piled into 2 vehicles and I led the way – in search of that one perfect spot to view the leaves. Now, as it turned out, we were successful on that point, but it sure would have been nice if I had been able to point out some of the highlights along the way. Guess who left the hand held cb radios at home? Yep – it was me. Oh well, the day was a smashing success and all went well – even without them, but I really couldn’t believe that I actually left them home – all charged up and everything. Don’t be like me – when you have an outing with more than one vehicle, remember to pack your hand held cb radios (one for each vehicle) and add some extra fun to your day!! Happy Boater.
Music makes the world go ’round…
Imagine – you’re out on the water fishing and you’re listening to your favorite tunes! How? Simple – you just plugged your MP3 player into the receptacle on your marine radio and just like magic…you have tunes galore!! Modern conveniences sure are nice. They can add that missing dimension to any afternoon on the water. Besides allowing you to play your favorite tunes, they will allow you to keep abreast of any changes in the weather via the NOAA weather channel. That way, if a nasty weather system threatens to ruin your afternoon, you will be able to duck in somewhere long before it hits. What could be better than that? Make the most of your days on the water – nothing better that family, friends, food and music. (unless you actually catch fish,too!!) Happy Boater.