BoatU.S. Releases an Online VHF Radio Tutorial

Marine VHF radios are an important item to have in your boating safety toolbox. BoatU.S. just issued this press release announcing the availability of online training in VHF use. I would suggest that regular passengers on your boat take the course and learn to use the radio in case the regular skipper isn't able.

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BOATU.S. FOUNDATION'S ONLINE VHF RADIO TUTORIAL DEBUTS

By broadcasting your exact Mayday location with the simple push of one button, new Digital Selective Calling (DSC) VHF radios give recreational boaters and the U.S. Coast Guard enhanced search and rescue capabilities. But do you know enough about this new marine radio system to help save a life - possibly your own?

To help boaters understand the latest advances in marine radio communication, the BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water has launched a free online marine DSC VHF radio tutorial for anyone interested in the new technology. Funded by a grant from the U.S. Coast Guard, the online tutorial, "Can You Hear Me?" is designed to educate boaters on all of the basics of DSC VHF radios. By understanding how these radios work, boaters will be able to take advantage of the latest innovations in search and rescue technology.

The 35-minute, narrated web-based program covers all of the basics and even allows viewers to try various radio buttons and sounds on their computers to simulate how a DSC VHF radio would operate. Topics covered include emergency signaling, how to install a DSC VHF radio and an overview of the U.S. Coast Guard's "Rescue 21" program. The tutorial is located at http://www.BoatUS.com/MMSI

No special computer program is needed to view the seven-part tutorial and it's compatible with both PC and Mac formats. A viewer can stop the tutorial at any point and return to the same spot later on. For those familiar with some of the topics, the tutorial lets boaters skip around from chapter to chapter.

While the majority of fixed-mount VHF radios available today have the DSC feature, most boaters have not registered their radio in order to get the unique calling number - much like a telephone phone number - called an Maritime Mobile Service Identity or MMSI number. The tutorial also covers this process, which is free through BoatU.S. Equally important is connecting the radio to a GPS so that vessel location is broadcast with a distress call.

Tags: Boating Safety, Marine VHF Radios, Digital Selective Calling (DSC)

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Review From Cobwebs of the Mind

Teddy Gross is one of my fellow conspirators at Absolute Write and with some self-described reservations, is an avid blogger. Most importantly, Teddy is a writer and he uses a number of venues to effectively communicate his thoughts with others.

Yesterday evening, I received an email from Teddy telling me that he had posted a review of A View From the Waterfront. Teddy has been good enough to comment on a number of blogs belonging to writers that participate in the Absolute Write Forums. I threw my hat into the ring for similiar treatment and was pleasantly surprised by the results. It looks like the review was a near thing; my blog isn't primarily a writer's site.

If you have a chance to visit the review, you can see what I'm talking about here. Teddy has several blogs and I encourage everyone to visit them. Thanks for the review Teddy.

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The View From Jerusalem
Cobwebs Of The Mind
Help! I Have A Fire In My Kitchen

Tags: Cobwebs Of The Mind, Absolute Write, Blogging, Blog Review, Freelancing, Non-Fiction

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Mooring to Floats and Piers

We had a boat get loose last night and one of the many reasons this happened was because of this cleat. The harbor is constantly talking to boaters that try to install their own cleats. Our newer floats avoid using them as much as possible.

To work properly, a cleat needs to be bolted clear through a main structural member of the finger float. A couple of small lag bolts won't protect your boat in a big wind.

Mooring to floats depends on using adequate lines and fenders. Extra lines are inexpensive and can save your boat in bad weather. I've posted an article at Suite101 that goes into more detail. Hold on to your hat!

Tags: boating, boating safety

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*CG Cell Phone Service Ends

Valuable Safety Service Cancelled for Most of the United States

In Alaska and many other parts of the United States, boaters could dial *CG to reach the Coast Guard in case of emergency. BoatU.S. Magazine reports in their November 2006 issue that cell service providers have dropped due this service in part to inconsistent availability and application of the system.

Alaska will remain the only state that retain *CG as a method of contacting their Search and Rescue Center. As noted in this article on Boater Emergency Communications, the preferred method to contact the Coast Guard in an emergency is by using a marine VHF radio.

The Coast Guard actively maintains a radio communications system based on these radios. Installed marine radios allow nearby boaters monitor VHF Channel 16 and assist in an emergency. Future Coast Guard communication projects will include provisions to track distress calls made by radio. Boaters may be able to still dial 911, provided they're in an area covered by cellular service.

Tags: Boating Safety