Preview: Marine Electronics for Every Size Boat, Part 2 – Handheld VHF Radio

28 Responses So Far to “Marine Electronics for Every Size Boat, Part 2 – Handheld VHF Radio”

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  Bruce Lyle says:

  Doing my VHF course with CSS at the moment and this was a great video to go along with that. Is there plans to do any update on the small boat electronics series?

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  Jonathan Mc Donald says:

  I have a small 16′ Glasspar Del Mar with a tiny cabin that I plan on exploring the Sacramento river with this summer. I have a fear of swamping cause its such a small boat. If I take on some water from the rear, say a small wave and take on 20 gallons or so, is that significant enough to press the button? Or do you begin bailing first? I wouldn’t want a jet taking off, but I wouldn’t want to sink either. I watched a video where this perfectly good boat sank in 30 seconds flat. Thanks for the nice video.

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    Steve Stone says:

    Hi Jonathan. First, that’s a very cool boat. Your question is a good one and probably caused some head-scratching, thus the delay in getting an answer. You’ve essentially opened up the can of “seamanship”. You may already know everything I mention below, but from the wording of your question I’ll err on the side of being too wordy. Every boat, owner and situation are different, so it’s not possible to give specific advice, but it comes down to thinking through all the things that could possibly go wrong and working backwards to put things in place to be self-reliant in recovering from them. So there should be a whole series of things that happen before the red button is considered. Learning seamanship at that level, and in conditions such as yesterday’s 49 degree water temperature here in Maine, is a never-ending process. Even life-long sailors get surprised and learn something new. The general requirement for pushing the red button is that a life is in imminent danger, and for a life to be in danger there must be some pretty significant circumstances (or poor planning and seamanship) that prevent both self-recovery and even sustaining captain and crew until a nearby vessel can arrive (your best bet) to help. In the Sacramento River (coincidence — I’ll be there this weekend watching my son row in the high school nationals), it seems your best option for rescue is other boaters and/or a 911 call (which could be done by someone you reach via the VHF radio if your cell phone is wet). I’m knocking on wood. As a Texan, the cold Maine water always have me on edge, overdoing safety, but there’s always the thing I don’t know.

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  Daryl Clark says:

  Regarding the MMSI number assignment. If you go into International Waters, for example I sail Lake Superior and go into Canadian waters, you have to APPLY for your MMSI from the FCC, you cannot use the easy BOAT US or other venues for getting your MMSI number.

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  Thomas Morgan says:

  Both my wife and I have serious hearing problems so I would like to hear about the noise canceling headphones as well. When we are sailing the extension speaker from the fixed radio is Ok. If we are under power the diesel makes it difficult if not impossible. My solution in the future will be to use a receiver/transmitter that is made for the hearing aids we use. The added radio uses a frequency that is received and rebroadcast to the aids either one or both of the aids depending what you select. The ReSound Mike is the receiver/ transmitter the size of your little finger that hangs on the radio. Sorry, it does cost $300 but you can use it to hear the British programs on your TV when you get home. You will also be able to hear your grandchildren most of the time if you hang it on your shirt pocket. Keep the boat, life is good!

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  Jeff Patrick says:

  I have one of the SX 870 units for my small sailboat. Because my hearing is very poor I hope that if I ever have to use it in an emergency situation the responder doesn’t ask me too many questions. I have trouble hearing in a quiet room… one can imagine how difficult it is in an open boat. What would help me hear others better is to have the ability to plug in a pair of noise cancelling headphones. Trouble is, I cannot locate an appropriate adapter and Standard Horizon does not have an accessory available. In fact, whenever I’ve mentioned this problem to sales people at the boat shows, they look at me as if I’m from another planet. Kim, do you have a neat technical solution for me? I’m sure I’m not the only ageing boater who is affected.

  Thanks for this series. The info presented is quite helpful and informative.

  PS… subtitles on the videos would be wonderful!

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  Stephen Van Lare says:

  Loved the first two, and very much looking forward to the rest of the series. I’m coming up on the 1 year mark with my first cruiser and looking to upgrade the circa ’99 electronics this summer with a N2K network and AIS, so hoping to see those covered.

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    Steve Stone says:

    Right on, Stephen. The N2K system will be the focus of part 3.

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  Rick B says:

  Thank You, OCH. Excellence is starting to feel commonplace around here. Looking forward to #3.

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  Scott Gile says:

  Very much found these videos helpful and informative, but am left with the need for further volumes, at least based on the use of boats over 18′. Looking forward to Kim’s further articles expanding of non-portable (OK, maybe removeable) GPS trackers! Are they coming?

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    Kim Baker says:

    Scott, you are much too kind. Not sure if the founders of OCH are going to keel haul me, but they are working on videos that cover building an simple N2K network, the basics of using a sailing instrument and MFD (MultiFunction Display), and a piece on the workings of an autopilot. If it warms up (like above 12F this morning) we plan on a jaunt about the harbor aboard a 22′ or 44’er for radar and more. And then they have planned a very special finale aboard a custom 91′ yacht. More coming… YES

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  Alex Zimmerman says:

  One thing to keep in mind about the DSC radios, which sound like a no-lose proposition, is that all the ones I have looked at require charging from a 120V AC outlet. If you make extended trips beyond a week or so in small engineless boats, that isn’t an option. I currently use a handheld VHF that can be charged from a USB, which my portable solar panel + battery provides. Unfortunately, no DSC capability.

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    Jeffrey Wright says:

    The HX870 shown in the video comes with the option to use AA batteries, a nice feature in addition to the many other features on this VHF.

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      Kim says:

      Thank you Jeffrey for helping out Alex. The AA battery tray is very cool. It also comes with a 12V charger in the box. If we can make Alex’s solar/battery 12V, he’s good to go

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        David Tew says:

        We use a small cigarette plug/12v inverter to charge 120V AC low-demand devices. Is there anything we should be wary of with this unit? http://www.promariner.com/en/79018

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  Charles Burns says:

  Nice overview and introduction. Don’t forget passive electronics such as a foldable, portable radar reflector for hoisting up the mast.

  Keep up the great work, Off Center.

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    Kim says:

    Charles, great point! Have seen reflectors standing 3′ high on the sterns of kayaks (which have no radar cross section)

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      David Tew says:

      Inflatable Echomax radar reflectors are good, stowable ones for small boats: https://www.echomax.co.uk/reflectors-inflatable.html

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  David Tew says:

  Looks like it was filmed in the Mayher’s studio. Nice, bright place. And thanks for all the useful, up-to-date info. Next week is the Maine Boatbuilder’s Show and Hamilton Marine’s show-goers discounts (if they still do that). Time to upgrade for us. It might be worth suggesting Sea Tow’s free-to-the-public ‘automated VHF check’ program: https://www.seatow.com/tools-and-education/automated-radio-check

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  Art Swenson says:

  Good video series, makes we think about upgrading some equipment. If I have an MMSI number for my VHF base unit can I use the same number on a new handheld VHF ?

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    Kim says:

    Art, yes, the same MMSI should also be programmed into an EPRIB as well

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  Sandy Butterfield says:

  Thanks Kim and Eric. this was very well done. just the right amount of information. but i wondered why you didn’t mention the ability to download offline charts charts for Navionics. i use this all the time, most recently through the Bahamas where cell coverage is spotty. once i have the chart downloaded i no longer need cell coverage, only the GPS receiver. what am i missing? thanks again for a great series. Sandy Butterfield

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    Kim says:

    Sandy, we were hoping to get the basics across, but it’s great you’ve pointed this out. If you’ve pre-download the charts, then you are not dependent upon connectivity to constantly supply you with changing cartography. You are not missing a thing. You are right on the ball, and obviously a prudent navigator

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  michael mcallister says:

  Well done. What is the dsc range?
  Very well articulated , clear and informative.
  I will be keeping my ssb, in addition…

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    Kim says:

    Michael, range is dependent upon variables such as the height of transmit and receive antennas. Short answer is, visible horizon. Unlike your SSB which can skip off the ionosphere, so hang onto your SSB (some SSBs can be configured for DSC as well)

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      michael mcallister says:

      Thanks Kim, I assumed so but I have been known to be wrong.

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  Howard Sharp says:

  Wow, never heard of DSC, thanks for the information.

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  Jason Ehrich says:

  This series of videos is VERY helpful to a new boater such as myself. Clear, authoritative, and convincing. Thank you!