Chuck, I wouldn't worry about "Capt." Boots - he sure sounded grumpy about a
boater asking questions. It's the ones who don't ask questions he should
worry about.

Here in Canada, the appropriate authorities have a list of what channels are
allowable for what purposes, which varies geographically, and I was able,
much to my surprise, to get them to say in writing that unassigned channels
could be used at will! Perhaps such a list is available in the U.S. as
well - I would be surprised were it not.

Duplex channels for recreational boaters here are generally used for
communicating with the Canadian Coast Guard, in which case the "duplex"
nature of the channel is transparent. It's just that other boaters can only
hear the Coast Guard side of the interchange.

We also have VHF courses, and I'm sure you do too. The ones I'm familiar
with are offered through the Power Squadron, sanctioned by the appropriate
government department, and passing the test gives us a life-long restricted
operator's certificate. In the U.S. of course it's www.usps.org, and I
suspect the Coast Guard Auxiliary (www.cgaux.org/) also offers similar
courses.

====

Charles T. Low
- remove "UN"
www.boatdocking.com/BDPhoto.html - Photo Contest
www.boatdocking.com
www.ctlow.ca/Trojan26 - my boat

====

"Chuck Tribolet" wrote in message
...
OK, then, just what is appropriate on the VHF?

--
Chuck Tribolet

http://www.almaden.ibm.com/cs/people/triblet