I continue to feel that boats in most areas except remote inland lakes
should carry a VHF.

Here's a story of a collision that could have been *easily* prevented
if the boaters had a VHF. Or flares. The fact that the battery was dead
on the boat makes a good case for a hand-held VHF on the smallest boats
and a hand-held backup for larger craft.

The tug and barge may have been technically wrong, but the other
boaters could have been "dead right" without a couple of lucky breaks.


Office of Public Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard Thirteenth District




Press Release Date: Sept. 7, 2005
Contact: LCDR Rick Rodriguez

(206) 217-6065


COAST GUARD TO INVESTIGATE COLLISION NEAR POINT DEFIANCE, WASH.

SEATTLE - The Coast Guard is investigating a suspected collision
between a tugboat and a recreational vessel that occurred near Point
Defiance, Wash., Tuesday night around 8:45 p.m.

A 22-foot recreational vessel contacted Coast Guard Sector Seattle via
cell phone reporting they were adrift with a dead battery. While a man
onboard the vessel was on the phone with a commercial tug company
arranging to be towed, he noticed a tug pushing a barge bearing down on
them.
One of the three people onboard the vessel tried to get the attention
of the tug with a small flashlight but those attempts failed.

The tug Island Storm then allegedly collided with the recreational
boat, forcing the three people onboard to jump off into the water.
The Coast Guard diverted an HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard
Group/Air Station Astoria, Ore., to assist in recovering the three
people. Tacoma Police and Fire Department also responded.

The Island Storm picked up all three people safely and transferred them
to the commercial tugboat the recreational boaters had contacted
earlier.
The father, son and daughter-in-law were then transferred from the
commercial tugboat to a Tacoma Police and Fire boat for examination.

The winds at the time of the collision were 5-10 knots and visibility
was reported as 10 miles.

The Coast Guard recommends vessel operators they should have a global
positioning system and a VHF marine band radio. A VHF marine band
radio is essential for contacting the Coast Guard during an emergency.

Also when a boater broadcasts a call for help on channel 16, they are
heard by everyone around them that is also monitoring the radio.
Compare this to a cell phone which only enables you to contact one
person and cannot currently be tracked.

Additional boating information can be found at
http://www.uscgboating.org/index.

For information regarding this case please contact Lt. Cmdr. Rick
Rodriguez, Sector Seattle's Public Affairs Officer, at (206) 217-6065.




###

The U.S. Coast Guard is a military, maritime, multi-mission service
within the
Department of Homeland Security dedicated to protecting the safety and
security of America.

Also a good case for one of the 1M CP rechargeable spotlights. I have
one on board, and always make sure it's charged. They're cheap, and you
sure couldn't miss THAT beam unless you were asleep at the helm.
JR

wrote:
I continue to feel that boats in most areas except remote inland lakes
should carry a VHF.

Here's a story of a collision that could have been *easily* prevented
if the boaters had a VHF. Or flares. The fact that the battery was dead
on the boat makes a good case for a hand-held VHF on the smallest boats
and a hand-held backup for larger craft.

The tug and barge may have been technically wrong, but the other
boaters could have been "dead right" without a couple of lucky breaks.


Office of Public Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard Thirteenth District




Press Release Date: Sept. 7, 2005
Contact: LCDR Rick Rodriguez

(206) 217-6065


COAST GUARD TO INVESTIGATE COLLISION NEAR POINT DEFIANCE, WASH.

SEATTLE - The Coast Guard is investigating a suspected collision
between a tugboat and a recreational vessel that occurred near Point
Defiance, Wash., Tuesday night around 8:45 p.m.

A 22-foot recreational vessel contacted Coast Guard Sector Seattle via
cell phone reporting they were adrift with a dead battery. While a man
onboard the vessel was on the phone with a commercial tug company
arranging to be towed, he noticed a tug pushing a barge bearing down on
them.
One of the three people onboard the vessel tried to get the attention
of the tug with a small flashlight but those attempts failed.

The tug Island Storm then allegedly collided with the recreational
boat, forcing the three people onboard to jump off into the water.
The Coast Guard diverted an HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard
Group/Air Station Astoria, Ore., to assist in recovering the three
people. Tacoma Police and Fire Department also responded.

The Island Storm picked up all three people safely and transferred them
to the commercial tugboat the recreational boaters had contacted
earlier.
The father, son and daughter-in-law were then transferred from the
commercial tugboat to a Tacoma Police and Fire boat for examination.

The winds at the time of the collision were 5-10 knots and visibility
was reported as 10 miles.

The Coast Guard recommends vessel operators they should have a global
positioning system and a VHF marine band radio. A VHF marine band
radio is essential for contacting the Coast Guard during an emergency.

Also when a boater broadcasts a call for help on channel 16, they are
heard by everyone around them that is also monitoring the radio.
Compare this to a cell phone which only enables you to contact one
person and cannot currently be tracked.

Additional boating information can be found at
http://www.uscgboating.org/index.

For information regarding this case please contact Lt. Cmdr. Rick
Rodriguez, Sector Seattle's Public Affairs Officer, at (206) 217-6065.




###

The U.S. Coast Guard is a military, maritime, multi-mission service
within the
Department of Homeland Security dedicated to protecting the safety and
security of America.



--
--------------------------------------------------------------
Home Page: http://www.seanet.com/~jasonrnorth

on one hand I=B4d like to see VHF radios be mandatory equipment like
flares. on the other hand I am not keen for even more government
interference in our lives...



wrote:
I continue to feel that boats in most areas except remote inland lakes
should carry a VHF.

Here's a story of a collision that could have been *easily* prevented
if the boaters had a VHF. Or flares. The fact that the battery was dead
on the boat makes a good case for a hand-held VHF on the smallest boats
and a hand-held backup for larger craft.

The tug and barge may have been technically wrong, but the other
boaters could have been "dead right" without a couple of lucky breaks.


Office of Public Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard Thirteenth District




Press Release Date: Sept. 7, 2005
Contact: LCDR Rick Rodriguez

(206) 217-6065


COAST GUARD TO INVESTIGATE COLLISION NEAR POINT DEFIANCE, WASH.

SEATTLE - The Coast Guard is investigating a suspected collision
between a tugboat and a recreational vessel that occurred near Point
Defiance, Wash., Tuesday night around 8:45 p.m.

A 22-foot recreational vessel contacted Coast Guard Sector Seattle via
cell phone reporting they were adrift with a dead battery. While a man
onboard the vessel was on the phone with a commercial tug company
arranging to be towed, he noticed a tug pushing a barge bearing down on
them.
One of the three people onboard the vessel tried to get the attention
of the tug with a small flashlight but those attempts failed.

The tug Island Storm then allegedly collided with the recreational
boat, forcing the three people onboard to jump off into the water.
The Coast Guard diverted an HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard
Group/Air Station Astoria, Ore., to assist in recovering the three
people. Tacoma Police and Fire Department also responded.

The Island Storm picked up all three people safely and transferred them
to the commercial tugboat the recreational boaters had contacted
earlier.
The father, son and daughter-in-law were then transferred from the
commercial tugboat to a Tacoma Police and Fire boat for examination.

The winds at the time of the collision were 5-10 knots and visibility
was reported as 10 miles.

The Coast Guard recommends vessel operators they should have a global
positioning system and a VHF marine band radio. A VHF marine band
radio is essential for contacting the Coast Guard during an emergency.

Also when a boater broadcasts a call for help on channel 16, they are
heard by everyone around them that is also monitoring the radio.
Compare this to a cell phone which only enables you to contact one
person and cannot currently be tracked.

Additional boating information can be found at
http://www.uscgboating.org/index.

For information regarding this case please contact Lt. Cmdr. Rick
Rodriguez, Sector Seattle's Public Affairs Officer, at (206) 217-6065.




###

The U.S. Coast Guard is a military, maritime, multi-mission service
within the
Department of Homeland Security dedicated to protecting the safety and
security of America.

Chuck, that link you provided isnt good anymore. Can you check and see if
its correct or send me the website you got this from.
Thanks
Ed
wrote in message
oups.com...
I continue to feel that boats in most areas except remote inland lakes
should carry a VHF.

Here's a story of a collision that could have been *easily* prevented
if the boaters had a VHF. Or flares. The fact that the battery was dead
on the boat makes a good case for a hand-held VHF on the smallest boats
and a hand-held backup for larger craft.

The tug and barge may have been technically wrong, but the other
boaters could have been "dead right" without a couple of lucky breaks.


Office of Public Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard Thirteenth District




Press Release Date: Sept. 7, 2005
Contact: LCDR Rick Rodriguez

(206) 217-6065


COAST GUARD TO INVESTIGATE COLLISION NEAR POINT DEFIANCE, WASH.

SEATTLE - The Coast Guard is investigating a suspected collision
between a tugboat and a recreational vessel that occurred near Point
Defiance, Wash., Tuesday night around 8:45 p.m.

A 22-foot recreational vessel contacted Coast Guard Sector Seattle via
cell phone reporting they were adrift with a dead battery. While a man
onboard the vessel was on the phone with a commercial tug company
arranging to be towed, he noticed a tug pushing a barge bearing down on
them.
One of the three people onboard the vessel tried to get the attention
of the tug with a small flashlight but those attempts failed.

The tug Island Storm then allegedly collided with the recreational
boat, forcing the three people onboard to jump off into the water.
The Coast Guard diverted an HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard
Group/Air Station Astoria, Ore., to assist in recovering the three
people. Tacoma Police and Fire Department also responded.

The Island Storm picked up all three people safely and transferred them
to the commercial tugboat the recreational boaters had contacted
earlier.
The father, son and daughter-in-law were then transferred from the
commercial tugboat to a Tacoma Police and Fire boat for examination.

The winds at the time of the collision were 5-10 knots and visibility
was reported as 10 miles.

The Coast Guard recommends vessel operators they should have a global
positioning system and a VHF marine band radio. A VHF marine band
radio is essential for contacting the Coast Guard during an emergency.

Also when a boater broadcasts a call for help on channel 16, they are
heard by everyone around them that is also monitoring the radio.
Compare this to a cell phone which only enables you to contact one
person and cannot currently be tracked.

Additional boating information can be found at
http://www.uscgboating.org/index.

For information regarding this case please contact Lt. Cmdr. Rick
Rodriguez, Sector Seattle's Public Affairs Officer, at (206) 217-6065.




###

The U.S. Coast Guard is a military, maritime, multi-mission service
within the
Department of Homeland Security dedicated to protecting the safety and
security of America.

ed wrote:
Chuck, that link you provided isnt good anymore. Can you check and see if
its correct or send me the website you got this from.
Thanks
Ed




The link was contained in the body of press release from the USCG.
I cut and pasted the press release to the group, but I haven't tried
the link.


wrote in message
oups.com...
I continue to feel that boats in most areas except remote inland lakes
should carry a VHF.

Here's a story of a collision that could have been *easily* prevented
if the boaters had a VHF. Or flares. The fact that the battery was dead
on the boat makes a good case for a hand-held VHF on the smallest boats
and a hand-held backup for larger craft.

The tug and barge may have been technically wrong, but the other
boaters could have been "dead right" without a couple of lucky breaks.


Office of Public Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard Thirteenth District




Press Release Date: Sept. 7, 2005
Contact: LCDR Rick Rodriguez

(206) 217-6065


COAST GUARD TO INVESTIGATE COLLISION NEAR POINT DEFIANCE, WASH.

SEATTLE - The Coast Guard is investigating a suspected collision
between a tugboat and a recreational vessel that occurred near Point
Defiance, Wash., Tuesday night around 8:45 p.m.

A 22-foot recreational vessel contacted Coast Guard Sector Seattle via
cell phone reporting they were adrift with a dead battery. While a man
onboard the vessel was on the phone with a commercial tug company
arranging to be towed, he noticed a tug pushing a barge bearing down on
them.
One of the three people onboard the vessel tried to get the attention
of the tug with a small flashlight but those attempts failed.

The tug Island Storm then allegedly collided with the recreational
boat, forcing the three people onboard to jump off into the water.
The Coast Guard diverted an HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard
Group/Air Station Astoria, Ore., to assist in recovering the three
people. Tacoma Police and Fire Department also responded.

The Island Storm picked up all three people safely and transferred them
to the commercial tugboat the recreational boaters had contacted
earlier.
The father, son and daughter-in-law were then transferred from the
commercial tugboat to a Tacoma Police and Fire boat for examination.

The winds at the time of the collision were 5-10 knots and visibility
was reported as 10 miles.

The Coast Guard recommends vessel operators they should have a global
positioning system and a VHF marine band radio. A VHF marine band
radio is essential for contacting the Coast Guard during an emergency.

Also when a boater broadcasts a call for help on channel 16, they are
heard by everyone around them that is also monitoring the radio.
Compare this to a cell phone which only enables you to contact one
person and cannot currently be tracked.

Additional boating information can be found at
http://www.uscgboating.org/index.

For information regarding this case please contact Lt. Cmdr. Rick
Rodriguez, Sector Seattle's Public Affairs Officer, at (206) 217-6065.




###

The U.S. Coast Guard is a military, maritime, multi-mission service
within the
Department of Homeland Security dedicated to protecting the safety and
security of America.

Shortwave Sportfishing wrote:
On 8 Sep 2005 20:50:49 -0700, wrote:

I continue to feel that boats in most areas except remote inland lakes
should carry a VHF.

The problem is that it doesn't do any good once you are inland more
than 10 miles or so.


?????????????????

First I've ever heard that a VHF radio stops transmitting 10 miles from
the coastline. :-)

It's true that you might not reach the USCG, but the specific value of
a VHF is that you can reach other boaters on the same body of water.
Your cell phone may or may not work out in the country at Lake
Whatchacallit. If most boats had VHF, you would hear that a guy at the
other end of the lake needs a tow, hit a rock, lost somebody ob, etc,
and be able to respond to help- whether or not the Coast Guard was ever
involved.
If you and I are in two different boats on the same lake and one of
needs some help, we can comunicate with VHF. If we both have a cell
phone we're still screwed unless we know the other person's cell phone
number.

wrote:
Shortwave Sportfishing wrote:

On 8 Sep 2005 20:50:49 -0700, wrote:


I continue to feel that boats in most areas except remote inland lakes
should carry a VHF.

The problem is that it doesn't do any good once you are inland more
than 10 miles or so.



?????????????????

First I've ever heard that a VHF radio stops transmitting 10 miles from
the coastline. :-)

It's true that you might not reach the USCG, but the specific value of
a VHF is that you can reach other boaters on the same body of water.
Your cell phone may or may not work out in the country at Lake
Whatchacallit. If most boats had VHF, you would hear that a guy at the
other end of the lake needs a tow, hit a rock, lost somebody ob, etc,
and be able to respond to help- whether or not the Coast Guard was ever
involved.
If you and I are in two different boats on the same lake and one of
needs some help, we can comunicate with VHF. If we both have a cell
phone we're still screwed unless we know the other person's cell phone
number.


that's right..you reach everyone within rough 'line of sight' who has
the VHF turned on and monitoring the channel you broadcast on.
Two small boats can probably hear each other approx 5 miles away.
On the coast, the authorities have towers on high land so the range is
much better if talking to harbour master, coast guard, large ocean going
ships etc.

Around 9/9/2005 8:25 AM, wrote:

ed wrote:

wrote in message
oups.com...

snip
Additional boating information can be found at
http://www.uscgboating.org/index.
snip

Chuck, that link you provided isnt good anymore. Can you check and
see if its correct or send me the website you got this from. Thanks
Ed

The link was contained in the body of press release from the USCG. I
cut and pasted the press release to the group, but I haven't tried
the link.

The file extension got snipped somehow.
http://www.uscgboating.org/index.aspx will get you there.


--
~/Garth - 1966 Glastron V-142 Skiflite: "Blue-Boat"
"There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing
as simply messing about in boats."
-Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows

Around 9/8/2005 9:07 PM, JR North wrote:

Also a good case for one of the 1M CP rechargeable spotlights. I have
one on board, and always make sure it's charged. They're cheap, and you
sure couldn't miss THAT beam unless you were asleep at the helm.

I agree with both of you completely; I've got both a radio (mounted) and
a 1M CP spotlight, and my boat is only 14'...

There are few good excuses for not having, at the very *least*, a
handheld radio and a cheap waterproof flashlight.


--
~/Garth - 1966 Glastron V-142 Skiflite: "Blue-Boat"
"There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing
as simply messing about in boats."
-Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows

wrote in message
oups.com...
I continue to feel that boats in most areas except remote inland lakes
should carry a VHF.

Here's a story of a collision that could have been *easily* prevented
if the boaters had a VHF. Or flares. The fact that the battery was dead
on the boat makes a good case for a hand-held VHF on the smallest boats
and a hand-held backup for larger craft.

The tug and barge may have been technically wrong, but the other
boaters could have been "dead right" without a couple of lucky breaks.


I have struggled with the decision of whether or not to install a fixed
mount VHF radio/antenna on my 20 footer. I have a pretty reliable Standard
Horizon HX260S hand held VHF (subject to battery discharge and without the
range of a fixed mount) and we always carry our cell phones when on the
boat. We are near shore boaters on Lake Erie because of the size of the
boat and do not go out when storms or bad seas are predicted.

The $200 for the purchase of the fixed mount VHF and antenna/ratchet mount
is not the concern...I just wonder if it is overkill for our situation
considering the emergency communication hardware we already have.