Safety priorities

[Fishcake]

Just been checking out the course and licensing fee for the VHF.... It's more than the bloody radio

Originally Posted by stray

If you are going to sea and you haven't got one, definitely a handheld VHF.

[beamishken]

Originally Posted by Fishcake

Just been checking out the course and licensing fee for the VHF.... It's more than the bloody radio

If funds are tight then the radio and the ability to call for help are far more important that the piece of paper saying you know how to use the radio.
I wouldn't put off purchasing the radio because you can't afford the src course you will find plenty of information available free online etc on how to get by until you can afford to complete the course.
The coastguard would rather work through an emergency call with an unskilled operator and rescue them safely than not be alerted to the fact someone's in trouble(and someone potentially dying) simply because they couldn't afford the radio licence.
No doubt someone will be along to say it's a legal requirement however if your in a life threatening situation you won't give a toss about being legal, you and everyone else will just want you found safe and well

[HDAV]

Fine to use vhf in an emergency without an SRC, so I would buy one and do the course when you can.

£100 doesn't go far on gear, will get you a tidy vhf
But not much more but a first aid kit would be a god idea.

Saw some led flares for £100 recently

[Fishcake]

Originally Posted by HDAV

Fine to use vhf in an emergency without an SRC, so I would buy one and do the course when you can.

£100 doesn't go far on gear, will get you a tidy vhf
But not much more but a first aid kit would be a god idea.

Saw some led flares for £100 recently

Thanks to all for the advice.. Much appreciated

[jonp]

Handheld radios have a limited range especially if you are trying to use one in the water, they run on range of site, so if you are dropping between waves they are pretty useless. True waterproof models are pretty expensive.

If you need to contact emergancy services while not in the water, then a mobile phone kept in a watertight pelican case with all the local emergancy numbers saved in favorates is as useful. A mobile can also give your gps position.

By law we have to carry an epirb if more than 2 miles from shore, plb's don't meet our legal requirements for boating due to the shorter battery life and the fact most don't float indendantly with the arial above water.

Not sure of the price of an epirb in the U.K. but the 10 year battery is well worth the safety cost.

[wellhouse]

handheld vhf and ''flare type torch''.