Gary T wrote in
:

it doesnt
make sense for me to get more than just a reciever for weather updates

It doesn't until you wake up 200 miles offshore, waist-deep in seawater you
can't find where it's coming in and know its sinking. THEN, the purpose of
the transmitter side of the SSB radio becomes self-evident, but alas, too
late. Just like the 406 Mhz, GPS-included, EPIRB transmitter in the ditch
bag you hope you'll never use, the SSB transceiver is another useful tool
you may never use. Buy the best 406 Mhz EPIRB with built-in GPS first, if
you don't have one. If you have one, get the transceiver. I recommend the
Icom M-802 at the moment with the AT-130 automatic antenna tuner to the
insulated backstay. Get the ship's radio license and MMSI to program into
it. Hook up your GPS data to its input, which automates the distress call
and tells authorities who you are, what you are, and where you are in
trouble. Its range, once you learn which bands are for use at which times
of day, is thousands of miles....not the 20 miles of your VHF.

Weather updates and WEFAX (which it also does if you carry a notebook
computer with a soundcard input) are nice to have, also.

Get a ham license and join the maritime mobile net on 14.300 Mhz, almost
24/7. When you're "out there" it's very reassuring to be able to talk to
the hams ashore, who will often be "first responders" if you have a
problem. These retired hams live to help out a yachtsman. Many can even
give you a phone patch to a telephone from halfway across the
Atlantic...for free!

--
Larry W4CSC
S/V "Lionheart"
Charleston