Gary wrote:

I think we can sum this up by saying that:

Roger was probably in the right as far as Colregs and right of way was
concerned.

Single handing demands some effort to think ahead and does not grant you
any special status.

The discussion that has evolved is the requirement to have/use VHF.
That is a good topic.

I don't think that VHF radios are required on small pleasure craft but I
wonder why everybody wouldn't have one as a basic safety onboard safety
item?

Because they are too noisy, and too much chatter. I am nosy, so I
want to know what is going on. In the Chesapeake it is like listening
in on a party line, especially if you have a scanner. And we do. Bob
doesn't like to use it and would prefer just to listen to channel 16.

In addition, he's a little deaf and he doesn't really listen to what's
going on anyway, whether it is the radio or me. (The most common word
in our conversation is "What?") So if there is a call that we need to
pay attention to, it is up to me to tell him about it.

Furthermore, if one is onboard why wouldn't you make best use of it as
required by the Colregs?

We have the radio mike available in the cockpit, and the speaker is
also in the cockpit. Not everyone does.

(I interpret the rules to say that if you have one you must use it.
Just like radar etc. "all available means")

Gary