On 14-Jul-2004, "Dave Van" wrote:

Example: First group of kayakers launches in the morning and heads out to a
particular destination. First group monitors channel ?? Second group
launches in the afternoon and wishes to find First group by calling out on
channel ??

Use channel 16 to establish contact and then _immediately_ agree to switch to
another channel for any discussion. Channel 16 is used for distress, safety
and calling. In this case, you're calling. It looks like you can use channel
9 in the US for calling as well.

Here's a link that looks ok:

http://www.boatwashington.org/marine_radio_information.htm

as does this:
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/marcomms/default.htm

Check the table of channels there to determine which are available for
your subsequent discussion.

If you look down the first link's page, you'll see that there are standard
protocols for using the radio and you should use those. Since you don't have
a station license and probably don't have a registration number for your
kayak, use your kayak's name (or make one up for radio communication). Try
to pick a name that is easy to pronounce, spell and understand. Be consistant
and use the same one all the time. Ditto for your friend's kayak.

You should also learn the NATO standard phonetic alphabet (alpha, bravo,
charlie, delta...) and know that numbers are read out as single digits
(two, zero, zero, four, not two thousand and four). And so on.

Also look at the use of radio power - use the least power required.

But if the frequencies are not meant to be
used that way, then we will bring some FRS radios too.

They are meant for on-water communications and, with the appropriate
license, for shore-to-ship communications. Used properly, you'll be
ok. If you want to yak on the radio a lot, use FRS instead, since
that's what FRS is for. From the seat of a kayak, the range of marine
VHF and FRS is pretty much the same.

BTW - as far as land use goes, Canadian regs allow the following:
If you are at anchor, you can use mVHF. A kayak pulled up on the
beach is considered equivalent to anchored. So if you are standing
_next_ to your kayak, you can make a call legally to someone on the
water. If you are sitting in your tent, you cannot. I don't know
if the same rules would apply in the US, but if they are reasonable,
a similar interpretation is likely.

Mike