vhf radio

[Richard Uren]

I`m thinking of buying a vhf set.Any info/advice on sea kayak friendly models welcome.

[sub5rider]

You will of course need to keep it an an AquaPak, or similair. We do not trust manufacturers claims of waterproofness!

Given that rotary controls are a pain to operate within a waterproof enclosure then the Garmin 720 with its "knobless" design is my current (un-affordable!) choice. As the spring gets nearer I'll no doubt be tempted by eBay.
:o
Nigel, aka Sub5Rider, Onioneer

[MikeB]

Garmin 725e - as Nigel says, knobless is good. If you've got a generous budget, you might want to consider the new GMDSS radios, hand held versions are starting to come on the market.

Also do a search here and you'll find some earlier discussions which might help.

Regards, Mike.

[Andywright]

You dont really need a Digital Selective Calling (DSC) raido it opens up a can of worms with an upgraded VHF license, you will need a boat call sign and a Mobile Maritime Service Identity (MMSI) number (essentially you VHF mobile number)great if you want to contact lots of people, but generally the radio is for weather and checking in with the coastguard.

I am about to purchase a VHF myself, I have chosen the new ICOM (the best make in my opinion) ICOM MC 31 Its brand new, entry level for Icom £150 ish. It is 5 watt (most handhelds are 4) the numbers are back lit and it has tri watch. It is waterproof, but still needs to be kept in a aqua sac.

[MikeB]

Andy said " - - it opens up a can of worms with an upgraded VHF license - - "

Certainly it ISNT essential to have a DSC radio, but sorry Andy - for the sake of accuracy and understanding I think it's important to get clarity on this issue. I'm confused as to how a DSC radio "opens up any cans (worms of, or otherwise)?

Frankly, while the carrying of a VHF may indeed be mainly for getting weather reports and "using in an emergency", I'd strongly recommend going on the relevant course and getting appropriate licence(s) anyway. Which means you can use it - legally. While the coastguard fully supports people having radios, even without a licence, it can only be good for all of us if we go about having and using them properly and legally.

If nothing else, you learn the process for using the thing safely and effectivly. Now, any course that you go on these days will automatically include authorisation (and training) for DSC radio.

We've debated this issue of "boat call signs" before - it's not relevant - you'll need a call (name) sign anyway if you're using the radio, even in an emergency.

Checking in with the c/g is a very good idea - I do it as a matter of course, every trip, and although I felt (and still do) very "self-concious" in doing so they tell me they apprecaite knowing there is a group out (and the approx location)and the advice on the c/g run licence course was to do it as a matter of course as it helps you familiarise yourself with the procedures and the functions of the radio, practise making perfect.

I've paddled with a mate who doesn't have a licence for his - on a biggish group outing, where he'd arranged to check in with the c/g by VHF, and where he could do so as I'd be "supervising" his transmission, he preferred me to make the call as (by his own admission) he didn't feel comfortable in "getting it right". And in a true emergency, with all the stress and pressure, would he get all the details over??

The MMSI number for handhelds is designated as such, so not restricting it to a specific vessel.

The course wasn't expensive, great fun, very useful and everyone passed! Lets just say that no-one was going to be allowed to fail it!

Mike - out.

[ha]

The icom h/hs take a bit of beating and have stood the test of time. Repairs and additional channels are easily carried out by fairly local service centres. One pretty important matter, they may be waterproof but they don't float! Check that yours floats in the bag,if not, do what the RNLI do and attach to it by a lanyard a buoyant piece of foam.
ps. Don't abandon the forum,although I am not a regular contributor I enjoy reading the various topics.

[Andywright]

RE: DSC

DSC is great so long as you use it loads. I see little relevance of using it on a hand held in a sea kayak. I also do alot of yachting and it is great to send a DSC message, but the process involves scrolling through menus and checking channels to ensure they are not being used. In the case of an emergency DSC has the magic red button for distress, not sure how relevant some of the menu items would be, piracy and fire.

I agree that the Short Range Certificate (SRC) is not hard to get and people are encouraged to pass but remembering the operation of the DSC must be practiced, again not sure how many ship to ship calls a kayaker might make through the DSC method.

You are correct that the boat does not need a name but are you likely to think of a suitable one at times of need? My boat is called Sheerwater, easy to remember and printed on the hull fore and aft. I am also registered with the coastguard using their CG66 form, meaning they know what safety kit I carry, other equipment on board, emergency contact numbers and they even have a photo of the boat. When I check in before a trip with my passage plan and eta I add on Brixham CG have my CG66. By saying this any CG in the country has access to all my details, keeping chat on Ch16 / 67 short and saving batteries.

Using a VHF without a license is illegal and should be discouraged by all of us, as we have all said the course is easy!

Over, Andy :D

[Douglas Wilcox]

This is sea kayak Sula, Sierra Uniform Lima Alpha.

Up the West coast of Scotland, unless you are a long way offshore, do not think you will be able to raise Stornoway or Clyde coastguard using a handheld 5 watt vhf. I find it very difficult to receive their much higher power transmissions of the weather forecast unless I climb up the right side of a nearby hill.

In an emergency situation onj the water, you are more likely to raise a nearby fishing boat in line of sight.

Like MikeB, I generally inform the coastguard but usually do so using a mobile or land phone. I find all the coastguards extremely interested in what we are doing.

Sula out

[MikeB]

The last time I spoke to a C/G, (having landed) she advised us to go and get something hot and told me they'd been thinking of us as it was an especially foul and filthy day!

Dahmsoir na Mara / Ocean Dancer - out.

[Douglas Wilcox]

Mike, what a lovely name for a boat!

Mind you, Delta, Alpha, Hotel, Mike........ is a bit of a mouthful. Perhaps for short you could use...

Mike, Alpha, Romeo, Alpha that has a nice ring to it :)

Douglas

[MikeB]

Why thank you! 'tis in the Irish - thanks to the lads over the water on ISKA for the translation!

Mind you, I'm not all that sure she likes her name, given that she dumped me in the surf a week or so back on her first outing with her nice new sticky name!

(Chap down south John Woods - www.norsewood.com - did me a superb custom transfer job, using laser-cut letters based on a font I'd found on the web).

Mike.

[Jonathan Theobald]

I've a name in mind for my kayak (Further after Ken Kesey's magic bus) and am interested in some smart sticky letters.

So I'd like to be able to contact Mr Woods but I can get no joy from www.norsewood.com. you sure it's right, Mike?

[Douglas Wilcox]

I downloaded a truetype celtic font for "Sula Sgeir" enlarged it to the size I wanted printed it out on paper then used a craft knife to cut through the paper which I overlayed onto Sticky backed plastic, John Noakes style. It worked.

www.gla.ac.uk/medicalgene...risaig.jpg

Douglas

[MikeB]

Re - Norsewood Website - hmmmm - indeed it's not! Leave it with me, I'll mail him. I note he's still advertising stuff (stickers etc) on eBay which is where I came across him initially.

I liked his stickers - they are the "individual" letters rather than the sheet of transaprent stuff with printin, and come on a backing sheet so you dont have to faff around with trying to line them up.

Seem decent quality.

More later! Mike.

[Steve B]

You can get cut vinyl lettering made up that way at any sign shop. They will make up the artwork if you wish, or if you have (or have access to) one of the usual drawing packages such as Illustrator, Freehand or CorelDraw they should be able to work from your files.

Don't forget to tell them where you intend to use the lettering. S/A vinyls vary greatly in adhesive properties and also shrinkage, and although it's easy to get suitable stuff they wouldn't necessarily supply it as standard.

Steve B.

[MikeB]

Steve - indeed - although having tried to have a conversation with on of my local printing folk, and got a somewhat less than interested response (obviously far too busy!) I'd given up on the idea until I bought some vinyl vehicle stuff from this particular chap on eBay.

The quality seemed excellent so I'd asked him to make me a name sticker for the Quest which has subsequently proved durable (so far anyway). I had spec'd the stickers for a kayak but he couldn't give me any guarantees!

It seems his site is undergoing revision - mail him though on norsewood99@hotmail.com and see what he can do for you Jon.

Cost will vary according to size etc - iirc I paid £6 for a pair and I think that may have included postage??

He was very helpful, especailly so as I was originaly trying to include an image and couldn't get the quality right for reproduction.

Mike.

[Jonathan Theobald]

Thanks Mike. I will email him - as soon as I've found a snazzy design I can live with.

[sub5rider]

as soon as I've found a snazzy design I can live with.

Like these perhaps?

Pity they don't do mirror pairs, but could have Rachael to starboard & Roxanne to port ?
Nigel, aka Sub5Rider, Onioneer

[sub5rider]

There's another hh marine vhf, sans rotary controls:
here

Only 4w o/p tho' ....

8)
Nigel, aka Sub5Rider, Onioneer

[Pete]

I'm in the same position, which one do I choose?

Ideally, one that takes NiMh rechargables, so that I can carry spares and or charger on extended trips?

Anyone got a 'dogs danglies' recommendation?

[MikeB]

- - - well, I like my Garmin VHF 725e with its NiMH as standard and a NiCad as "spare" and an AA battery tray as a "spare spare".

Waterproof (so far anyway - it gets fresh-water washed after every trip and has been dunked in salt both deliberatly and accidentally). Press button everything and a nice clear, readable screen.

5 watts, neat enough charger which can be either mains or 12 volt.

Mike.

[Chris B]

Like Mike, I have a Garmin 725e, with exactly the same approach to batteries, and the same opinion of it. Recommended.

Chris

[Pete]

Anyone got any pointers for where to get the beast deal on the Garmin?

[Jonathan]

Knoydart has started doing solar-powered charges www.knoydart.co.uk/displa...10&id=488.

They claim they work with phones, gps and vhf radios but I wonder how much they depend on sunshine. Anyone have any experience?

[MikeB]

Google it - lots of choice. Just make sure the package comparisons are the same though as some retailers include car-chargers and some dont provide the NiMH's, just NiCads.
www.google.co.uk/search?q...CcountryGB

Mike.

[Pete]

Hey, hands up I'm lazy!

Just wondering what people out there were paying?

[MikeB]

Well I paid less than £140 for mine.

[Jim]

I have experimented with solar charging my GPS with limited success. Solar panels need to be in direct sunlight to work, filtered sunlihgt (e.g. through a cloud) is not intense enough to make a big enough voltage difference for charging.

I'm not totally discounting such devices, they will work, but best to use on the spare batteries as you can rarely guarantee getting enough sunlight at this time of year to keep a device powered up. I can't be bothered to take my solar panels with me anymore (more cables to tangle up) and given that I get about 22 hours use out of a set of alkalines, that's around 3 days of expeditioning per set.

Now, another gadget!

I noticed a device for emergency charging mobile phones today, it was a simple hand cranked dynamo but they reckoned that 3 mins of cranking at 2 revs per second would get you about 7 minutes of talk time depending on battery condition. Anyone got any experience? I carry a spare phone battery and leave it off through the day at sea anyway so never flatten the battery so managed to put it back on the shelf and buy kit I really need instead (like a magnesium fire starting block, mmm fire!).

JIM

[Pete]

Second hand? Ebay? Trade contact?

C'mon, let us in on the secret dude?

[MikeB]

Nah - you find out for yourself :D :evil