On Feb 14, 9:46*pm, Gene wrote:
On Mon, 14 Feb 2011 20:29:46 -0500, L G wrote:
Gene wrote:
On Sat, 12 Feb 2011 22:42:13 -0500, L *wrote:

Gene wrote:

On Sat, 12 Feb 2011 18:37:04 -0800 (PST), Frogwatch
* wrote:

http://enews.earthlink.net/article/u...10156-2b74-459...
A sad fishing accident.
Hey, at least it is boating so lets discuss it instead of spoofing.

"...their twin-engine boat's motor went out an hour later..."

Huh?

They took on water. *Both were probably submerged.

That is kinda, my point.... It appears that they were as little as
three miles off shore and that the waves and wind were negligible.
Losing multiple engines usually means fuel, but in this case, since
they took on water and sank without appreciable wave action.... *I
don't think they lost engines then took on water, I think just the
opposite occurred...

Perfect reason to have an EPIRB (if you can afford one) or at least a
submersible VHF handheld.

I was surprised by the water temperature... looks to be no better than
the mid 40's. Personally, I'd like to have some sort of clothing to
fight the cold (water) in that case...

Personal EPIRBs are, now, under $200..... you almost can't afford to
be without one....

I would never discourage anyone from carrying a VHS radio... but due
to their line-of-sight method of communication, if you are in the
water you have a VERY limited transmission radio. There are
exceptions. I am lucky enough to have a USCG station radio antenna at
about 200' height in the sand over the river, AICW, and ocean...
exactly where I boat. If you have a similar circumstance, it makes the
VHS a lot more reliable...

I looked this one up before. *It's surprising how short the effective
distance of VHF is before the horizon is a factor. *Your 200' antenna
will reach only 17 miles. *Two eight-foot antennae will only transmit
about *miles.

http://www.ringbell.co.uk/info/hdist.htm

Hmmmm.... depends.

Assuming I haven't sunk, I should be able to get out about 25
miles.... to the local USCG station.

Two 8' antennae will transmit about 8 miles.

One sea level antenna transmitting to my boat would reach about 5
miles...

None of those are particularly inspiring with respect to a solid sense
of safety....

Here is a better calculator...

http://www.qsl.net/kd4sai/distance.html

--
It is usually futile to try to talk facts and analysis to people who are
enjoying a sense of moral superiority in their ignorance.
*-Thomas Sowell

Grady-White Gulfstream, out of Oak Island, NC.

Homepage
*http://pamandgene.tranquilrefuge.net/boating/the_boat/my_boat.htm

Forté Agent 6.00 Build 1186

Two 8' antennae will transmit about 8 miles.

I have ONE 8 footer on the Boat, and can transmit a lot farther than
that.