Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2022 22:48:01 GMT
When I did mine, the most common mistake was signing off with over and out. I can still hear the instructor bellowing if you hand over you are asking for a reply, and then going 'out' before it can be given. Much of the course was aimed at lumpy water with much more sophisticated equipment than you are likely to have. I did mine as a requirement for the Thames tideway, and never used it the first time. The second time, from Brentford to Lime house, I was told to call the lock just before Tower Bridge. I did, several times and got no reply, so phoned and got answerphone. Eventually got an answer on VHF and was told to come straight in as the lock would be open. I turned in to see closed gates and was immediately smashed up the wall as it was still emptying; not nice. The last twice on the non tidal Thames, VHF was not in use, but have used it on the Trent and the Severn for Gloucester lock. The aim is to play out in the Wash much more often, we are now at Peterborough so have much easier and quicker access to the area that claimed King John’s treasure. Pains me to accept it but the poor old boat is going to have to have a half decent aerial. It won’t end up looking like a bloody porcupine though 😂👍
|
|
|
Post by JohnV on Jan 8, 2022 6:38:26 GMT
Nice big aerial !!! no point in having a radio if no one can hear you
(2 on Sabina H ... radios and aerials .... can be handy monitoring two channels) but beware of overhanging trees and low bridges (one of the Aerials has a repaired tip courtesy of a low flying bridge the other has a repaired base courtesy of an overhanging willow .... sigh)
However it does mean I can pump a nice fat signal out to VTS
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2022 8:45:36 GMT
Parglena and Loddon have 5ft fibreglass whips on swivel bases, both worked well enabling me to contact London VTS from Brentford which many can't do.
Don't forget when placing the aerial you now have to do a mandatory RA to assess the effects of radiation on passengers and crew so the higher the better.
|
|
|
Post by patty on Jan 8, 2022 10:13:54 GMT
My son paid for me to do the course as a Christmas present few years ago. The examiner kept making 'funny'(to him) quips about suitability of gift for my age/gender.... I enjoyed the course but cannot remember much of it now. Also did a basic engine maintenance course.. cannot remember any of that really. However I did like going on different courses.. also done couple chocolate making ones and first aid plus several others.
|
|
|
Post by JohnV on Jan 8, 2022 10:21:11 GMT
I found one or two things on the modern DSC VHF course awkward to remember as many things have changed so much over the years.
I never took a VHF course years ago, several years after I left the sea I just applied for one and they sent me it.
I did have to do the course for DSC years later and it surprised me how many things had changed.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2022 10:28:41 GMT
My short range certificate is dated 19/09/1012. DSC. Expired 4 years ago
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2022 11:06:49 GMT
That's odd, my original VHF cert is dated 1983 and still valid as is my short range cert which is dated 2007. However my ICC dated 1999 expired in 2004. Are you getting confused?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2022 11:07:59 GMT
I need to take one step closer to the wash as have been wearing the same clothes for about 2 weeks.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2022 11:09:53 GMT
That's odd, my original VHF cert is dated 1983 and still valid as is my short range cert which is dated 2007. However my ICC dated 1999 expired in 2004. Are you getting confused? You are right. I had put both the SRC and the ICC certs in the same plastic wallet so the front says SRC but the inside is the ICC. Thank you for correcting this It is indeed the ICC that has run out not the SRC. Which is good as I am much more likely to use a DSC VHF in the UK than helm a boat in the EU.
|
|
|
Post by kris on Jan 8, 2022 11:10:09 GMT
I need to take one step closer to the wash as have been wearing the same clothes for about 2 weeks. Just have a shower in your clothes.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2022 14:16:13 GMT
In a proper choppy water boat @gazza do you still have to run aground and await tides when crossing the wash, like I've seen narrow boats do ? I guess not, if only because you have a keel ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png) Rog
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2022 14:41:11 GMT
In a proper choppy water boat @gazza do you still have to run aground and await tides when crossing the wash, like I've seen narrow boats do ? I guess not, if only because you have a keel ![:)](//storage2.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png) Rog Not if you stick to the low water channel. ![](https://i.ibb.co/T0G1kXD/Scholar-Gypsy-Log-Wash.jpg) Perhaps you know that a chart shows the situation at low water. The yellow bits are drying areas which at high tide are in water.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2022 16:09:23 GMT
In a proper choppy water boat @gazza do you still have to run aground and await tides when crossing the wash, like I've seen narrow boats do ? I guess not, if only because you have a keel ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png) Rog Correct-ish! We aren’t fast enough to get round in a oner on the deep water channels, good knowledge is needed for cutting across on the shallower routes, something I don’t currently have! We would fall over if drying out on the likes of Roger Sands like the sewer tubes like to do - a bilge keel boat will dry out ok, JohnV Ormelite takes the mud ok thanks to a very cleverly designed hull. Our only real options is to chuck the hook in and use the dinghy to get onto the Sands. Otherwise it’s timing it correctly or picking a buoy to wait the tide on the approach into Boston/Welland. A trip to the Great Ouse Via Denver would mean a halt at Lynn, out on the Ebb, wait the tide to turn then a slow passage on the flood, it’s a full day and the tide times have to be favourable along with reasonable weather, it’s supposed to be fun remember! Better option is to spread it across a couple of three Days, Peterborough- Wisbech, Wisbech - Lynn, Lynn to Denver. The big drawback with this is if the weather is poor the trip could be off. It is one of the main reasons the MLC scores for us, fixed holidays and the need to be home for work makes it a better approach rather than relying on good weather for a holiday booked weeks or months in advance. Of course this doesn’t affect a weekend to the wash and back from our new home at PYC, it can be called off at a moment’s notice and have no real impact.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2022 16:14:27 GMT
In a proper choppy water boat @gazza do you still have to run aground and await tides when crossing the wash, like I've seen narrow boats do ? I guess not, if only because you have a keel ![:)](//storage2.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png) Rog Not if you stick to the low water channel. ![](https://i.ibb.co/T0G1kXD/Scholar-Gypsy-Log-Wash.jpg) Perhaps you know that a chart shows the situation at low water. The yellow bits are drying areas which at high tide are in water. The big trouble with the wash is the channels change frequently - up to date information is essential from the port authorities to ensure a safe passage, we are quite lucky that there is a reasonable group that cruise in company from the Club, huge amount of local knowledge and obviously safety in numbers.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2022 16:19:26 GMT
Are the Wash waters fairly sheltered ... I realise it is of course tidal, but it has the appearance of a massive harbour without cliffs which suggest a fairly calm environment ... if you avoid sandbanks.
Rog
|
|