Hey all, I just purchased my 1st sailboat and am curious if a VHF is a "must have" item? I will be sailing small lakes in Kansas and I am simply not sure if I will ever use it and can think of other things the boat needs that I may use more... BUT I want to get some feedback as I may be overlooking an important piece of equipment on a sailboat and would hate to get started this spring and see that I really did need one. I am curious to get your thoughts. Thanks, Matt
Do I need a VHF?
- Thread starter H22matt2282
- Start date
- Status
Not that important...
on an inland lake unless there is a TON of traffic, some of it commercial. I sailed for over 12 years on a large inland lake in Texas and only used VHF to check weather. No one used VHF for much of anything on that lake.
on an inland lake unless there is a TON of traffic, some of it commercial. I sailed for over 12 years on a large inland lake in Texas and only used VHF to check weather. No one used VHF for much of anything on that lake.
Cell phone
I sailed out of Wichita when living there in the 70's. A lot of fun, hang on to your hat. Using a cell phone is a better way to get help if required on a lake. List out the local marina, friends, etc. numbers and take it with you. I only use the vhf to open bridges around here. I used to use the horn, but the bridge tenders didn't seem to like it.
I sailed out of Wichita when living there in the 70's. A lot of fun, hang on to your hat. Using a cell phone is a better way to get help if required on a lake. List out the local marina, friends, etc. numbers and take it with you. I only use the vhf to open bridges around here. I used to use the horn, but the bridge tenders didn't seem to like it.
Not Unless .....
you need to communicate with attendants at draw bridges or locks. I use my radio to call them both
you need to communicate with attendants at draw bridges or locks. I use my radio to call them both
How big are the lakes, or how small is small?
Can you see from one shore to the opposite shore? Are there marinas on the lake? What do they use? What do other boaters use? If they all use cells, then you don't really have much use for a VHF. You can use a VHF and call for help all day and no one will ever hear you. Find out what most of them use, then match them.
Can you see from one shore to the opposite shore? Are there marinas on the lake? What do they use? What do other boaters use? If they all use cells, then you don't really have much use for a VHF. You can use a VHF and call for help all day and no one will ever hear you. Find out what most of them use, then match them.
You can get a handheld VHF
and use that if you need one at all. No installation required and sell it on eBay for a profit a year later if you find that you don't need it.
and use that if you need one at all. No installation required and sell it on eBay for a profit a year later if you find that you don't need it.
Living in the
midwest, weather can change quickly. I find it useful to carry a VHF to listen to NOAA from time to time on the days that look ify. That plus the barge traffic, locks and bridges here on the Illinois make a VHF useful if not necessary.
midwest, weather can change quickly. I find it useful to carry a VHF to listen to NOAA from time to time on the days that look ify. That plus the barge traffic, locks and bridges here on the Illinois make a VHF useful if not necessary.
A cell phone is fine to call just one location at a time, if it works and there's someone there to answer. A VHF will get the message out to everyone in the area monitoring 16, or scanning. All marinas and yacht clubs monitor VHF. You will kick yourself if something serious happens that a handheld VHF could have mitigated.
VHF a MUST
When I bought my new 98 H240 I added one as soon as I got the boat home. In 99 my son had a seizure while we were sailing on the bay in strong winds and large waves. We were 2 miles out of Little Creek starting a week long vacation. I put out a mayday medical emergency. I got an immediate response from both Coast Guard and Norfolk Police Marine Unit. Additionally a Doctor who was on his boat at his slip answered up. Norfolk Police Marine Unit along with a doctor picked my wife and son up. They had an ambulance waiting at the marina and my son was transported to Childrens Hospital where he was diagnosed with a rare seizure disorder. A cell phone would have greatly delayed the response to help my son because the 911 call would have been answered by State Police who would have had to coordinate through Coast Guard and Norfolk Police Dispatch. I've been a Police Officer for 15 years. I can tell you from experience this can take quite a bit of time. In this day and age there is no excuse not to hava atleast a handheld vhf. My son is now doing great and we are hoping this is his last year on the seizure medicine since he should outgrow this problem as he goes through puberty. Just my 2 cents. Sean Coerse 98 H240 "Right Coerse"
When I bought my new 98 H240 I added one as soon as I got the boat home. In 99 my son had a seizure while we were sailing on the bay in strong winds and large waves. We were 2 miles out of Little Creek starting a week long vacation. I put out a mayday medical emergency. I got an immediate response from both Coast Guard and Norfolk Police Marine Unit. Additionally a Doctor who was on his boat at his slip answered up. Norfolk Police Marine Unit along with a doctor picked my wife and son up. They had an ambulance waiting at the marina and my son was transported to Childrens Hospital where he was diagnosed with a rare seizure disorder. A cell phone would have greatly delayed the response to help my son because the 911 call would have been answered by State Police who would have had to coordinate through Coast Guard and Norfolk Police Dispatch. I've been a Police Officer for 15 years. I can tell you from experience this can take quite a bit of time. In this day and age there is no excuse not to hava atleast a handheld vhf. My son is now doing great and we are hoping this is his last year on the seizure medicine since he should outgrow this problem as he goes through puberty. Just my 2 cents. Sean Coerse 98 H240 "Right Coerse"
Depends
The cell phone is a much more vital piece of safety equipment provided it is charged and you either preprogram the necessary numbers or carry a list of them. I think however that it's important to have a reliable source of weather information. Find out if NOAA even broadcasts weather for the area(s) you will sail. If not, an AM radio should do. If they do, I would get a handheld. I got one for $100 because the fixed radio that came with the boat is below in the nav station and that doesn't do me much good while I'm sailing. I admit I almost never use it but it seemed like a minor expense. If you have one on board, I understand that you are expected to monitor the emergency channel. Also, if you are mounting a fixed model or a bracket for a handheld, be sure to mount it well clear of the ship's compass.
The cell phone is a much more vital piece of safety equipment provided it is charged and you either preprogram the necessary numbers or carry a list of them. I think however that it's important to have a reliable source of weather information. Find out if NOAA even broadcasts weather for the area(s) you will sail. If not, an AM radio should do. If they do, I would get a handheld. I got one for $100 because the fixed radio that came with the boat is below in the nav station and that doesn't do me much good while I'm sailing. I admit I almost never use it but it seemed like a minor expense. If you have one on board, I understand that you are expected to monitor the emergency channel. Also, if you are mounting a fixed model or a bracket for a handheld, be sure to mount it well clear of the ship's compass.
- Status