experience on the water, need some input
 

I was out Sunday with my family fishing for some scup, we anchored up along an island. Across the bay, I saw a sailboat and saw some some smoke, i wasnt sure if the smoke was from the boat or on land. A little while later, I see a red flare and smoke from the sailboat. I get my binoculars and see if I can see if there is any trouble. I decide to head over and see if they need help, As I pull in lines, I see another flair and also see another boat heading over there. As we approach, I see them talking to the other boat and see a man and about 10 kids on deck. The other boat pulled away. I turned off my engine so I could talk to the man. I ask politely if they need help. He starts berating me - telling me the coast guard has been announcing continuously that they are conducting some sort of test and that I should be monitoring channel 16. He was being a real arse. I respond by telling him that I dont always monitor ch 16 and dont believe I am required to while on the water (am I wrong?) also that there is no requirement to have a radio and a flare is a distress signal, many small boats may feel obligated to help and head over here to help you, they dont HAVE to have a radio. He continued to be a priCk. My wife snapped back and said YOU"RE WELCOME and we left. It left a bad taste in my mouth and seemed like a reckless test. A flare is a distress signal and conducting that test on a nice weekend day seemed dumb. Im no expert but you guys may have a different view.

I think you did the right thing by investigating. But if you see something that looks like a request for help, turn on your VHF radio before heading over there.

Technically I think if you have a VHF radio, you are supposed to keep it on (same goes for radar) and monitor 16 but it gets old quick and on a weekend the chatter becomes annoying and I turn it off. But if I see a USCG helo or jet or some smoke I normally switch it back on and become informed.

Those that were conducting the test should not have an attitude in any case.

(leakage from the gun thread....Now if you were carrying a gun you could have fired a few across the bow and that would have changed his attitude (just kidding) )

Something's not right.... regardless, he should have been relieved that you responded.. was he part of the Auxialry C.G. ?.. I rarely turn my radio on.. just too many idiots asking for radio checks... and fish reports... If I see a flare go off, or see the harbor master or Coasties head out, I'll tune in...I would have reported his action to the Coast gaurd...if nothing else you would have gotten their input...

I thought it was weird. he was annoyed we responded.
My thought process was if he was using a flare in the daytime, it was become he didnt have a radio or cell to call for help. It was a big boat anchored close to shore so if he had a radio he could have easily given his location and no need for a flare.

Did you catch a lot of scup?

yes, I am quite good at bottom fishing. :smash:
The day before I livelined a few scup and for 15 mins watched a teen sized bass try to figure out how he would swallow a 12" scup. he eventually gave up and so did I.

I'm heading out tonight if you want to join me. I'll probably be leaving after jr goes to sleep and fish for a couple hours. It won't be too late of a night because I'm working in the morning.

My understanding is that for "voluntary" vessels (that is a vessel that chooses to have a VHF) it is required that you monitor ch 16 when the radio is on.

I use a tri-watch (scan) function and monitor 16 along with two "local" frequencies. I keep the volume down and the squelch up pretty high to avoid all the distant (irrelevant) chatter.

can you provide a source for that info? I couldt find anything that states that. Also, is it only when the radio is on? I never have my radio on.

Source: FCC
 

Vessels not required to carry a marine radio (e.g. recreational vessels less than 20m length), but which voluntarily carry a radio, must maintain a watch on channel 16 (156.800 MHz) whenever the radio is operating and not being used to communicate. Such vessels may alternatively maintain a watch on VHF channel 9 (156.450 MHz), the boater calling channel. Note however that urgent marine information broadcasts, such as storm warnings, are announced on channel 9 only in First CG District waters (northern New Jersey, New York and New England).

Source: FCC 47 CFR 80.310

thanks, very interesting. it states "whenever the radio is operating" but what if you dont turn it on?

Again, my "understanding" is that you are NOT required to have your VHF turned on if you are operating a voluntary vessel.

Also, it's kind of a crazy regulation since it is unenforceable. I think what you did in checking in on a boat apparently in distress was the right thing to do.

You did the right thing..Boats should always give aid to the best of their ability and without endangering their own vessel or crew. Also keep this in mind.
"The Federal Boat Safety Act of 1971 contains a "Good Samaritan" clause stating: "Any person ....who gratuitously and in good faith renders assistance at the scene of a vessel collision, accident, or other casualty without objection of any person assisted, shall not be held liable for any act or omission in providing or arranging salvage, towage, medical treatment, or other assistance where the assisting person acts as an ordinary, reasonably prudent man or woman would have acted under the same or similar circumstances."

If you have a VHF you are "required" to monitor ch 16. No coastie is going to haggle you about it unless you are being an ass, he is trying to hail you and you don't respond. Then the most you'll probably get is a good scolding. However.. if you have a powerboat over 16ft you are REQUIRED to have 3 day signals AND 3 night signals. Most people have the combo (smoke/flare) flares that fulfill both requirements. These "signals" don't have to be pyrotechnics but they are the most common and best overall (Orange distress flag & Electric distress light) Maybe this will help a little :)

YouTube - ‪USCG Inspection‬‏