Need VHF Advice for Puget Sound area

[NautiDuck]

I have a Catalina 22 and most sailing is in a nearby lake. We are planning to start doing sailing trips to the San Juan Islands and Puget Sound area. Our first trip will be with several other boats - the Commodore says no way we go it alone our first time off the lake. I have purchased charts, compass, handheld GPS, etc. Next up is a VHF radio. For our lake sailing a handheld VHF would be fine and I like the portability of it and the fact that it uses batteries and not my one 12V marine battery that I count on for boat lights. On the other hand the fixed VHF has a much greater range. So, in the areas I intend to sail, will a handheld alone cut it or should I go fixed? Thanks for your advice!

 

[Brian D]

What you could do...

Is mount a VHF antenna at the top of your mast and connect it to the handheld. The antenna height will increase your range by several miles. But your handheld should be OK on the sound.I haven't been on the sound but I have studied the charts. It isn't extremely wide. Was planning a trip to Anderson Island from San Diego, next year. It's a long haul but might be worth it.

 

[Taylor]

Handheld is a great first radio

My experience in the San Juans is that most of the boats I want to talk to are pretty close to me. Plus, you are going to be cruising in company, so its likely that they will be in your group anyway. The high islands will cut off communications for people who are not right nearby, so what the heck: I'd go with a handheld. I have an Icom IC-M2A which I like because it works with both a rechargeable battery or a AA battery tray. I carry the AA tray as a backup. One charge lasts me a week of intermitant use. The handheld also has the WX channels for both US and Canada. The handheld will work later on as a backup if and when you add a fixed mount. I actually end up using the handheld more than the fixed mount. For emergency calls in the San Juans or Gulf Islands and even up to Desolation Sound, the Coast Guard have relay stations on high peaks, so again, a handheld is going probably going to be enough, with the possible exception of out in the middle of the Strait of Georgia. Nearby lake? Is that Fernridge?

 

[rsn48]

Hand held VHF and Straights of Georgia

I take a hand held on the BC Ferries with me when I go to Nanaimo or Victoria. Its fun to listen to the harbour working channels (12) and other radio traffic; it makes the trip shorter. I use my Standard Horizon model and I am impressed with how much it picks up.Although I have a fixed VHF, I use the portable quite frequently - though its one negative is that it doesn't have DSC.If you are moving from lake sailing to coastal sailing, I suspect your initial forrays for the first year or two will be on the conservative side so the hand held should be plenty. Back in the 70's, a boat was considered high tech if it had a VHF radio.

 

[JC on Bainbridge]

You should be fine with a handheld

Don't get a 2 watt one, get a 5 watt one. The main problem around the San Juan is not handheld vs fixed. It has more to do with antenna height. There are so many hills and mountains, that you could have really bad receptions, and then you round a point, and you get clear reception.By the way, around here, the wind works that way too. No wind, then round a point, lota wind, maybe from different direction too.Where are you planning to launch from? There are some big body of water on all 3 sides of the San Juans, could get really windy, and with big freighter traffic too. But, if you stay within the islands, usually nice and peaceful.Have a fun time.

 

[NautiDuck]

Thanks

Thanks for the quick responses. We sail on Fern Ridge Resevoir in Eugene. It is a great sailing lake. I do not know yet where we will launch from, the trip is in September. We are about to put the boat in the lake so I figured if we went fixed mount that I would install the mast antenna now. From the feedback so far it seems that a good handheld with an extra battery tray is the way to go. I was liking the iCom 32LI but it doesn't seem to have a regular battery tray option.

 

[Tom Spohn]

Icom M1V

is the handheld we use all over Puget Sound, the San Juans, and Gulf Islands. If you decide on the handheld consider the ones with lithium batteries as they last and last.

 

[JC on Bainbridge]

Rechargeable battries are great, but....

Unless you know absolutely sure that you are going to be able to charge them. If you plan on anchoring in some remote bay, and not heading into a marina, get a VHF that uses AA batteries. I don’t care how good a lithium battery is, it is not going to last 2-3 days of use.

 

[Bruce]

Are you going to PS with Bob Rose?

If so please tell Bob hi.I was hoping he would stop by on his way to the Sound as we live just of I-5. The boat we recently bought is a Fern Ridge vet.Bruce H

 

[R Kolb]

Don't know Bob, ordered a VHF

Sorry, but I don't know Bob Rose. We are going with some folks from the Eugene Yacht Club. Our daughter goes to school in Seattle and we go up there a lot. Lots of stops in Kalama for gas at the Chevron!I ended up going with a iCOM M2A handheld. For the use we will have I think it is a good choice and it uses the same size batteries as the GPS (arrives tomorrow!) and I also got an adapter so it can charge off the boat battery or car battery if needed.Thanks for the advice folks!

 

[Fred Ficarra]

And a request for newbies,,,

Please don't forget your CELL PHONES. They sure cut down on the radio chatter. PLEEEEEASE!

 

[Terry Cox]

FWIW, we always stop at the AM/PM...

at exit five for the least expensive gas.Terry

 

[NautiDuck]

Fred

I have a wife and daughter. We never go anywhere with out at least three cell phones!!!Heaven help all mariners and ships at sea if my family decides to chat over VHF!!!

 

[KiwiSailor]

VHF

I sail in those areas and have both a handheld and a fixed VHF. I have never had any problems with coverage on either as they have lots of stations both Seattle and Also Victoria and Vancouver who monitor radio chatter. Also in those areas you are never far away from another boat so you can always rely on others to relay a message should you find your message is not getting through. I would however purcahse a 12v cord to recharge the VHF in case of a lengthy cruise that way you can charge only when necessary and save your 12v battery for lights etc as you mentioned

 

[Bob F]

Another thing to remember?

Those large comm'l ships and frieghters can really move along. They monitor channel 12 (I think). Dont be afraid to hail them if you're unsure as to their course/direction and if they see you. I was up there on a bareboat last year and they can really sneak up on you fast!