Does anyone have experience with SSB that can brief me on it in terms of use, licensing, installation, etc. This is required safety equipment for the Marion to Bermuda Race and I really hate the thought of the expense (over 2 grand) when there are much cheaper alternatives available today in the form of satellite telephones. If this can be rented somewhere that would be a nice option too. BOAT/US rents EPIRBS and possibly life rafts but I doubt an SSB. thanks, dave
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Other way...
Will be to get a second hand Ham radio, mod it (very simple) to general coverage and install that as permanent radio. Antenna may be just a vertical attached to the transom. For $500 bucks you can get excellent radios, w/ 100/150 watts output. Aldo/WA2IST alozano@monmouth.com
Will be to get a second hand Ham radio, mod it (very simple) to general coverage and install that as permanent radio. Antenna may be just a vertical attached to the transom. For $500 bucks you can get excellent radios, w/ 100/150 watts output. Aldo/WA2IST alozano@monmouth.com
Not Legal but ???
Modified 'Ham Rigs' will work fine but aren't FCC Type Accepted for marine use and could get you in trouble with insurance underwriters, etc. The 2 meter ham hand-helds work fine on VHF marine channels too but aren't legal for the same reason. It just depends on how much risk you're willing to assume but if it's a serious race, it might be a technicality that could disqualify you. No reputable yard will send you out with illegal equipment either..... they have a reputation to uphold as well as liability. Ken (K0KS) S/V Wouff Hong
Modified 'Ham Rigs' will work fine but aren't FCC Type Accepted for marine use and could get you in trouble with insurance underwriters, etc. The 2 meter ham hand-helds work fine on VHF marine channels too but aren't legal for the same reason. It just depends on how much risk you're willing to assume but if it's a serious race, it might be a technicality that could disqualify you. No reputable yard will send you out with illegal equipment either..... they have a reputation to uphold as well as liability. Ken (K0KS) S/V Wouff Hong
Bermuda...
Dave, Do I get a hint that you are considering the Bermuda race? Please tell more of your planning and modifications. r.w.landau
Dave, Do I get a hint that you are considering the Bermuda race? Please tell more of your planning and modifications. r.w.landau
R.W. - Bermuda news
R.W. I have been slowly accumulating what I need for the journey (race). I hope to enter the marion to bermuda race in 2003 or 2005. So far I have made a storm jib, a storm trysail, a series drogue, added a whisker pole (no spinnakers allowed), and jacklines and safety harnesses. The SSB is required equipment for the race. Go to the race web site and you can see what the required equipment is. I also need a 406 mhz epirb and a life raft but those can be rented at boat/us. dave
R.W. I have been slowly accumulating what I need for the journey (race). I hope to enter the marion to bermuda race in 2003 or 2005. So far I have made a storm jib, a storm trysail, a series drogue, added a whisker pole (no spinnakers allowed), and jacklines and safety harnesses. The SSB is required equipment for the race. Go to the race web site and you can see what the required equipment is. I also need a 406 mhz epirb and a life raft but those can be rented at boat/us. dave
crew....
Dave, You said nothing of crew. My brother (an Engineer)is currently (well not right now)crewing for many races in Portland ME near our friend Justin. He is currently single and probably, with much notice, love to go. I would like to also, but will have 5 kids in college about that time. Justin thought he was on a tight budget. r.w.landau
Dave, You said nothing of crew. My brother (an Engineer)is currently (well not right now)crewing for many races in Portland ME near our friend Justin. He is currently single and probably, with much notice, love to go. I would like to also, but will have 5 kids in college about that time. Justin thought he was on a tight budget. r.w.landau
R.W. - Crew
R.W. - one of my purposes in entering the Marion to Bermuda race is to allow me to do a major offshore passage while having the comfort of knowing about 150 other boats are close by if I get in trouble. Since all my experience is coastal cruising this is a welcome comfort for a fisrt passage. I have about 4 people interested at this time, but as the race gets closer I will assess things and see how it goes. Thanks for your offer. I doubt I'll be competitive but will be happy with a safe passage, a brief stay in bermuda and then a nice sail to either Beaufort N.C. or back to Mystic, Ct. Might have the wives (who are afraid to go) meet us in Bermuda. My Dentist did this race once on his C&C 38 and said he hit 15 knots surfing waves in the gulf stream.
R.W. - one of my purposes in entering the Marion to Bermuda race is to allow me to do a major offshore passage while having the comfort of knowing about 150 other boats are close by if I get in trouble. Since all my experience is coastal cruising this is a welcome comfort for a fisrt passage. I have about 4 people interested at this time, but as the race gets closer I will assess things and see how it goes. Thanks for your offer. I doubt I'll be competitive but will be happy with a safe passage, a brief stay in bermuda and then a nice sail to either Beaufort N.C. or back to Mystic, Ct. Might have the wives (who are afraid to go) meet us in Bermuda. My Dentist did this race once on his C&C 38 and said he hit 15 knots surfing waves in the gulf stream.
RW - What's your brother's name?
The sailing community around here is not that large; its not unlikely I've run into him. Suddenly my budget doesn't feel quite that constricted.
Justin
The sailing community around here is not that large; its not unlikely I've run into him. Suddenly my budget doesn't feel quite that constricted.
JustinJustin..
My brothers name is Jim Landau. He was living in S. Portland but I believe he is now in Old Orchard Beach. He worked at Bath and then a pressure vessel company. Now working for a design build company. My Family (Dad and three brothers) is going to charter this summer and get some sailing done in your area. I am really looking forward to sailing the coast of Maine. Though I always find it a bit cold for my liking I look to it's challanges. We are planning to sail to Cousins Island. The last I heard, it is a problem finding a boat to charter. Justin, what type of law are you pursuing? r.w.landau
My brothers name is Jim Landau. He was living in S. Portland but I believe he is now in Old Orchard Beach. He worked at Bath and then a pressure vessel company. Now working for a design build company. My Family (Dad and three brothers) is going to charter this summer and get some sailing done in your area. I am really looking forward to sailing the coast of Maine. Though I always find it a bit cold for my liking I look to it's challanges. We are planning to sail to Cousins Island. The last I heard, it is a problem finding a boat to charter. Justin, what type of law are you pursuing? r.w.landau
Get your Ham License, it's easier than ever now.
You might want to try to get your Amateur radio license. The requirements have been relaxed since the time I got mine. Many, many sailors have their Ham license, it's a must for trips out to the islands. Marine SSB is something else, but I think there is a license involved there too. Keep in mind that once you get a Amateur license, it's your for life, you only need to renew it once every 10 years or so. No money involved in the renewal either. Check your local Radio Shack for a contact in the local Ham club.
You might want to try to get your Amateur radio license. The requirements have been relaxed since the time I got mine. Many, many sailors have their Ham license, it's a must for trips out to the islands. Marine SSB is something else, but I think there is a license involved there too. Keep in mind that once you get a Amateur license, it's your for life, you only need to renew it once every 10 years or so. No money involved in the renewal either. Check your local Radio Shack for a contact in the local Ham club.
Bite the bullet
Bite the bullet, get an SSB that can be used on Ham bands (Furuno, Icom, and SGC are reputable brands - my strong favorite is Furuno), get your Ham license (easy these days), get your SSB license (just a modification of your VHF license) and you will be all set....you won't regret it, either. This will give you all sorts of communication abilities not inherent in a satellite phone. You may be surprised at how much you enjoy it! Tim (XE2-KC6-GIT)
Bite the bullet, get an SSB that can be used on Ham bands (Furuno, Icom, and SGC are reputable brands - my strong favorite is Furuno), get your Ham license (easy these days), get your SSB license (just a modification of your VHF license) and you will be all set....you won't regret it, either. This will give you all sorts of communication abilities not inherent in a satellite phone. You may be surprised at how much you enjoy it! Tim (XE2-KC6-GIT)
What VHF license?
I thought there was no longer a requiremetn for a VHF license on boats. Is that so? jv
I thought there was no longer a requiremetn for a VHF license on boats. Is that so? jv
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