Electronics

[BarryL]

Hello,

VHF? Who really cares about that anymore?

I have a fixed mount unit down at the nav station and a second handset at the helm. I have a standard horizon handheld. I rarely, like really rarely, use the VHF. When I'm sailing it will be on and I will monitor channel 16. So I get to hear radio checks, fisherman talking to their buddies, the Coast Guard giving a securite message for a location very far away from me, and other information I don't care about. When I try to contact a marina for a slip assignment I get a response maybe 1/2 the time.

if I needed a new VHF I would spend $100 - $200 on a good handheld and be done with it.

What would you do with a new, high quality VHF radio?

Barry

 

[Davidasailor26]

Hello,

VHF? Who really cares about that anymore?

I have a fixed mount unit down at the nav station and a second handset at the helm. I have a standard horizon handheld. I rarely, like really rarely, use the VHF. When I'm sailing it will be on and I will monitor channel 16. So I get to hear radio checks, fisherman talking to their buddies, the Coast Guard giving a securite message for a location very far away from me, and other information I don't care about. When I try to contact a marina for a slip assignment I get a response maybe 1/2 the time.

if I needed a new VHF I would spend $100 - $200 on a good handheld and be done with it.

What would you do with a new, high quality VHF radio?

Barry

I think this one depends on where you sail. When we sailed in New Jersey VHF was pretty much just what you said. Now in the Chesapeake I think it’s more valuable. There are still plenty of radio checks and distant securite calls, but sometimes those calls are for relevant nearby hazards. We also have tugs and barges that often hail to coordinate crossings. We took a trip around the bay earlier this year and of 12 marinas I think 11 encouraged and responded promptly to hails on VHF 9 or 16.

 

[shemandr]

I have a hand held with GPS, which gives me position, course, speed, and it has duel scan and other features. I take it exclusively on daysails on the Flying Scot. I use the duel scan to monitor 16 and keep track of a race whether racing or doing RC. If I'm out on a boat I have my VHF with me even if I know there is a fixed mount on board.

 

[pgandw]

Cruised for up to 4 weeks at a time with 2 of us in an ODay 25 (before GPS). VHF-FM was the only electronics, no autopilot. VHF was/is used for calling marinas and bridges, and other boats when on a group cruise. We simply spelled each other on the tiller - only 2 overnight sails on the 4 week trip. Telltales (easily replaced yarn) and feel work for me for wind, even now in my old age. Except now the telltales are only 6ft up the shrouds so I don't have to crane my neck so hard. Carried a handheld RDF for electronic positioning.

While in the CG (both surface and aviation), I really came to appreciate radar as a navigation instrument, actually more important than GPS. Especially at night or in poor vis. And of course, radar does a good job with weather as well. When I first started flying, most helos did not have radar, and we were jealous of those that did. Later became standard equipment. However, practicality gets limited on smaller boats.

On my 19ft Mariner which I frequently single hand, there is no electrical system (intend to install one of these days). I use the Tiller Clutch, a handheld VHF, and my phone with Navionics beside me in the cockpit. Wear a pressure-activated inflatable life jacket with a PLB in the pocket. I chose PLB over AIS because of limited Coast Guard VHF coverage and lack of commercial traffic in my home waters. Other areas AIS would be more useful. I am a trailer sailor, and do trailer for cruises.

Top priorities for electrical system when installed are recharging phone/VHF, recharging electric outboard, CPAP, fan in cabin, and running lights (although may stay with removable battery powered for that purpose). Nice to have electronics is a tablet for larger screen for Navionics. Depth sounder is a low priority but would be next. Good stabilized binocs with internal compass are higher priority than depth sounder.

In other words, as a few have already pointed out, determine your use case and go from there.

Fred W
Stuart Mariner 19 Sweet P