Stupid question time

lockieboi · 04 July 2013, 21:14

Maybe a silly question but I really don't know the answer.

Is there a way to find out what coastguard covers the area of sea you are in?

I'm going out in the Thames estuary (Herne Bay Area) on saturday and now I have my VHF certificate I wanna use it!

Is it just a case of calling "coastguard" as opposed to the location I.e "Solent coastguard"

jambo · 04 July 2013, 21:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by lockieboi

Maybe a silly question but I really don't know the answer.

Is there a way to find out what coastguard covers the area of sea you are in?

I'm going out in the Thames estuary (Herne Bay Area) on saturday and now I have my VHF certificate I wanna use it!

Is it just a case of calling "coastguard" as opposed to the location I.e "Solent coastguard"

Use n look up MCA. Have a good trip.

Sent from my iPhone using Rib.net

ShinyShoe · 04 July 2013, 21:30

Look on the back on your chart?

ShinyShoe · 04 July 2013, 21:31

Or if you listen at the right time for the Maritime Safety Broadcast you'll know...

lockieboi · 04 July 2013, 21:34

Thanks.

Good thinking about listening for the broadcast although I would like to do a radio check as soon as I go out.

Haven't got a chart so will look up MCA.

Tim&Linda · 04 July 2013, 21:42

Get a chart as back up you will learn allot whats around you

ShinyShoe · 04 July 2013, 22:33

OK - so why cant you listen to the MSB BEFORE going afloat? Thats kind of the idea. Not a lot of point in being out and being told its about to blow a hooolley?

Herne Bay is in the Thames operational area.

Thames should transmit an MSB on: CH 23, 84 or 86 at: 0110, 0410, 0710, 1010, 1310, 1610, 1910, 2210 (Local Time)

They will announce on CH16 immediately before hand unless they are working something significant on 16. Channel depends on the aerial you are nearest. Don't know the geography down there well enough:
Walton, Shoeburyness, Southend – 23;
Fairlight, Bawdsey – 84;
Bradwell, Langdon – 86

If you are on DSC you can call them on: MMSI 002320009 (Guess as you are on a SIB you are on a HH so probably not)

So I'd turn up at the launch site at 10am. Stick the VHF on while sorting things out ashore...

Have you looked at tides?

Why would u think of putting your boat in the water without knowing whats under that water. Get a F***in Chart!

SDGANDER · 05 July 2013, 10:32

Reeds Almanac ha the coverage maps (or did last year).

SDG.

steco1958 · 05 July 2013, 12:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by lockieboi

Thanks.

Good thinking about listening for the broadcast although I would like to do a radio check as soon as I go out.

Haven't got a chart so will look up MCA.

Do the radio check before hitting the water, also buy the chart, it gives you lots of info, ensure you look at it before you need it !!!!!!!!

Budgie1 · 05 July 2013, 13:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by lockieboi

Thanks.

Good thinking about listening for the broadcast although I would like to do a radio check as soon as I go out.

Haven't got a chart so will look up MCA.

I also use handheld on small boat and always wait until on the water before doing radio check simply because of limited handheld range hence think it's best to test in an area your likely to spend most of your day, have learnt not to panic if I dont get a response just try again couple hundred yards further away. (I just call costguard regardless of area sometimes Portland come back other times Solent)

Copinsay · 05 July 2013, 18:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by lockieboi

Maybe a silly question but I really don't know the answer.

I'm going out in the Thames estuary (Herne Bay Area) on saturday and now I have my VHF certificate I wanna use it!

Is it just a case of calling "coastguard" as opposed to the location I.e "Solent coastguard"

Was that really not covered on your VHF course, even if just informally......?

Or just listen on ch 16 for a few days before....

And yes - get a chart :o)

Good luck and stay safe

Steve

lockieboi · 05 July 2013, 19:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by steco1958

Do the radio check before hitting the water, also buy the chart, it gives you lots of info, ensure you look at it before you need it !!!!!!!!

Is one allowed to use ones VHF in land for a radio check??

lockieboi · 05 July 2013, 19:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Copinsay

Was that really not covered on your VHF course, even if just informally......?

Steve

Not unless it was during the part that i slept through!

I did think that but it wasn't strangely.

Dhf · 05 July 2013, 20:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by lockieboi

Maybe a silly question but I really don't know the answer.

Is there a way to find out what coastguard covers the area of sea you are in?

I'm going out in the Thames estuary (Herne Bay Area) on saturday and now I have my VHF certificate I wanna use it!

Is it just a case of calling "coastguard" as opposed to the location I.e "Solent coastguard"

For starters its not a silly Q, if your new to vhf then it can seem a little daunting making that first call, especially if not sure who your calling, for your area I would have have thought HM CG would get best signal, but either way just the mention of CG on ch16 will get there attention, they will respond and direct you to one of their working channels probably 67 or 84, where they may also ask you, are you CG66 registered, which is well worth while, here's a link.
MCA - Home

ashbypower · 05 July 2013, 20:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dragonhawk ficht

they will respond and direct you to one of their working channels probably 67 or 84,
MCA - Home

Not quite right Channel 84 is a Duplex channel and is used by the coastguard for maritime safety information..

Normal Working channel for the coastguard is Simplex and either 67 or 73..

jyasaki · 05 July 2013, 21:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by lockieboi

Is one allowed to use ones VHF in land for a radio check??

Not in the US. Don't know about you guys over there.

In the US, owning a boat and a VHF is all that is required to operate a marine VHF, but the one stipulation is that to be legal while transmitting, the boat must be on the water. Most people don't bother looking up regulations or protocols, so we hear all kinds of odd stuff.

Reminds me of a story about a boater trailering home from a day on the water, who breaks down in a fairly remote section of the woods. No cell phone reception, no passing traffic. As night falls, he uses his VHF to contact the coast guard, report that he's stranded, and request help.

"Where are you located?" The Coastie asks.

"Near the intersection of Highway 135 and Ridge Road." the boater replies.

A long silence ensues, before the Coastie comes back on.

"Errr... Exactly how fast were going when you hit the beach?"

jky

Dhf · 05 July 2013, 22:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashbypower

Not quite right Channel 84 is a Duplex channel and is used by the coastguard for maritime safety information..

Normal Working channel for the coastguard is Simplex and either 67 or 73..

Yes I must say I've usually been directed to ch67, here's a list of all working channels.
International Marine VHF Channels

TRevor Lawson · 06 July 2013, 21:52

Hi ,we will be out at herne bay tommorrow (sunday) might see you if you are out again.

I use a hand held ,there dosn't seem to be a lot of radio traffic in this area, poss better with a fixed unit ? but for a radio check just put a call out and some one usually responds, What was sea conditions like today ?

ShinyShoe · 07 July 2013, 10:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by lockieboi

Is one allowed to use ones VHF in land for a radio check??

Legally no - but if you are at the top of a slipway and not taking the pi$$ I can't see why anyone would object. Probably depends who you have around.

Launching alone, single engined with no public around? You are probably justified in saying you need your emergency coms tested before the boat touches the water in case something goes wrong during launch.

Launching on a busy slipway with plenty of people around that can take a line from your disabled boat or dial 999 from their mobile if you've gone for a swim etc then maybe testing before the boat's actually bobbing up and down is probably harder to justify.

And of course if you fit into the first category no-one will see where you transmitted from so they wont know you ever did ;-)

Testing on 37M ashore may be legal as its technically not a marine channel.

SPR · 07 July 2013, 12:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShinyShoe

Testing on 37M ashore may be legal as its technically not a marine channel.

M (37a) and M2 are still marine channels just private public channels ...

you need a coastal radio station licence to legally use M & M2 from land - not expensive btw for a club or organisation iirc £75 a year.

S.