1) Yes you NEED VHF. Cell phone may not even work in the ocean. Also how would you know the phone number of that boat you can see 2 miles away? You ask for help on VHF and everyone within miles will hear you.
Unless the cell phone is saltwater proof it will be usless. Test it first. try dunking it in a bucket of saltwater. ( no don't even try it. the smallest amuntof seawater will destroy a phone but the VHF will withstand a dunking
Handhelds are OK but for the same price you can get a fixed mount radoi with more power.
Prices start at about $150. On my boat I have both and I use both. The hand held unit has very short range, my fixed mount can do 20+ miles
Doyou know the list of _required_ saftey equipment and lighting requirements. The CG does stop and board boats for inspection. Make sure you do cary all the required equipment and paperwork
The CG does not charge for towing, but then they will NOT tow you. They will ONLY came out if there is a life threatening emergency and then they will rescue you can leave the boat to sink or whatever. (and fine you if in sinking it makes an oil slick)
If it is a simple mechanical problem and oneones life is at risk they will dispatch a comercial tow company. You will pay them directly. A loat of boaters buy towinginsurance. It's chaep at about $100/year. One tow could cost you a lot.
If you do have a VHF turn it on to channle 16 and you can hear this going on all the time.
When a boat calls about "taking on water" the CG moves fast. If the call is "I am out of gas" they will offer to call a tow service but mostly the two service hears the call too.
If I had a RIB I'd bolt a short mast to the transum and then a short sailboat type antena to the mast and get a low cost fixed mount radio and connect it with a fuse to the 12V battery. Who knows you may have a dive acident by trapped in fog orwho knows what.
I'm sure you will also h take a GPS and a chart and the boat should have a compass
The ocean is a big place and when the wind picks up and the visabilty closes down and you can't see shore it seems really big. the being three miles out into the Pacific Ocean is not at all like being on a lake or harbor. eight foot seas are not at all uncommon in your area
bertschb:
I just bought a Zodiac RIB and plan to dive off the Oregon coast as well as the Puget Sound area. I'll never be more than 2 or 3 miles offshore. Do folks still use VHF radios or are cell phones better? In the event of an emergency, can I contact the Coast Guard directly with the cell phone? If so, do they have an 800 number? I've owned boats for years but I've never taken them in the ocean.
If VHF is recommended, are there any inexpensive handheld models available to be used only in an emergency? If I had a mechanical problem, does the Coast Guard charge a fee for a tow?
Thanks for helping a salt water newbie.
Brian
