experience on the water, need some input

[RIJIMMY]

Originally Posted by Sweetwater

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.

[Sweetwater]

Originally Posted by RIJIMMY

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.

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

[RIJIMMY]

Originally Posted by Sweetwater

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?

[Sweetwater]

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

[Sweetwater]

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.