religiously. I normally ‘tag’ channel 16, channel 13, channel 22 (or 83 when in Canada), the VTS channel if we are near shipping lanes. And when we are traveling with another boat, we add in a side channel. Here is my thinking on these choices:
16
This seems self-evident as it should always be monitored.
13 This is the bridge-to-bridge channel frequently used to call from one vessel to another to negotiate safe passage.
22 or 83 These are the US and Canadian Coast Guard working channels respectively. They are used by the Coast Guard to take non-Mayday calls off 16. By monitoring them it is possible to get the full picture without having to constantly switch channels.
VTS Channel – I don’t always
monitor these channels as there is a fair amount of traffic on them. But ,when I am near a busy area, say Elliot Bay or around Victoria, I will monitor the respective channel. One important piece of information – most ships in the traffic lanes DO NOT monitor channel 16, so you will need to call them on the VTS channel if you need to talk to them.
Side Channel – When we are
traveling with another boat we usually arrange to monitor a side channel so we call each other directly. This keeps traffic off 16 and saves us time.
Weather: It is a good idea to get
a weather report at least once a day and the VHF provides a convenient way of doing so. Most radios have a button marked with WX or the like which needs to be pressed to access the weather channels. The Sailing Tips article published in the July 2009 issue covers this subject in more detail; it can be read on-line at
www.48north.com – just click on Article Archives, then the Past Issues icon for that month.
Low and High Power: VHF radios
have two transmission power settings; usually 25 watts and 1 watt (note: for most hand-held units these settings are 5 watts and 1 watt). If you are nearby
48° NORTH, OCTOBER 2011 PAGE 35
those you are calling, say when calling a harbor, it is a good idea to switch to low power. This saves the ears of the person you are calling and limits your transmissions to a smaller area so the channel can be used by others elsewhere. Note that some channels, like 13 and 67, will transmit only at the 1 watt setting as they are intended for use at a short distance. Hopefully these ideas and/or
knowledge will prove useful. But I would like to leave you with two final items: The first is a list of the marine VHF channels – see Figure 1. Please note this
is not a complete list, it contains only the most commonly used channels. If you want a complete list an online search for”Marine VHF channels” will quickly lead you to many. This last item is a thought – by having your radio on you may someday be able to save a life – or someone else may save yours; assuming they are listening.
Mike Huston teaches sailing for San Juan Sailing in Bellingham, WA. He has been sailing for over 40 years, many of them spent racing. He and his wife own a Jeanneau 43DS, “Illuminé.”
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