Hi all,

I am a final year undergraduate student, studying Marine Navigation
(BSc) at the University of Plymouth (UK), conducting a study of the use
of cell phones by recreational boaters. This includes an assessment of
the practices and views of a broad cross section of all recreational
boaters, and I would be very grateful if you would contribute to the
study by taking two minutes to complete a short and anonymous
questionnaire. Please follow the link below to access the
questionnai

http://facultyj.hs.plymouth.ac.uk/cellphone/

Many thanks,

Nick Loewendahl

If you would like a copy of the completed report please email me with
your contact details.

wrote:
Hi all,

I am a final year undergraduate student, studying Marine Navigation
(BSc) at the University of Plymouth (UK), conducting a study of the use
of cell phones by recreational boaters. This includes an assessment of
the practices and views of a broad cross section of all recreational
boaters, and I would be very grateful if you would contribute to the
study by taking two minutes to complete a short and anonymous
questionnaire. Please follow the link below to access the
questionnai

http://facultyj.hs.plymouth.ac.uk/cellphone/

Many thanks,

Nick Loewendahl

If you would like a copy of the completed report please email me with
your contact details.

I filled out the survey. I hope that the survey doesn't encourage some
neophyte to think that he can safely substitute a cell phone for a VHF
aboard a boat operating "at sea", or that there's even some serious
debate about the subject.

Obviously he did not have the "best VHF Antenna money could buy" or his
VHF was not installed properly. I can ping USCG or Sea Tow from Cat,
Bimini or West end on either of my two VHFs (50 to 70 miles) and my cell
will die at 10 miles off shore. My old 3 watt installed phone with an
external antenna would work to 40 miles off shore. Bottom line... BOTH
VHF and Cell PLUS 406 EPIRB are best for COASTAL USE. Offshore still
requires a sat phone plus an SSB. VHF can call ship to ship, cell
cannot.
BTW... Handheld VHFs are NOT safety items... they are toys. Good for
talking to people within eyesite but don't count on them.



wrote:
On 20 Jan 2006 08:23:30 -0800, wrote:


I hope that the survey doesn't encourage some
neophyte to think that he can safely substitute a cell phone for a VHF
aboard a boat operating "at sea", or that there's even some serious
debate about the subject.


A lot really depends on the cell phone and the VHF. If you have a 3
watt bag phone, connected to a good marine antenna it will get out
better than a handheld VHF, maybe even better than a hard wired VHF.
It depends on how far you are from a cell tower or the nearest other
vessel with VHF.
A friend of mine was having problems about half way between Naples and
Marathon and he couldn't raise a soul on his VHF ch16 but his phone
rang. It was his family asking if he was OK (missed the ETA on his
float plan). Things worked out OK for him and he limped home but it
was reassuring that someone had his position in case the situation
degraded. He had an installed VHF and an installed Moto Bag phone,
both with the best antennas he could buy.

wrote:
On 20 Jan 2006 08:23:30 -0800, wrote:

I hope that the survey doesn't encourage some
neophyte to think that he can safely substitute a cell phone for a VHF
aboard a boat operating "at sea", or that there's even some serious
debate about the subject.

A lot really depends on the cell phone and the VHF. If you have a 3
watt bag phone, connected to a good marine antenna it will get out
better than a handheld VHF, maybe even better than a hard wired VHF.
It depends on how far you are from a cell tower or the nearest other
vessel with VHF.

You're out fishing and your engine dies.

I go by within easy sight so you can see the name on my boat. I notice
that you're not underway, but you've still got your fishing gear out so
I figure you're intentionally drifting along- or that you would be
calling for help- so I just mind my own business and press on.

You'd really like to get my attention and ask for a tow, or some fuel,
or what not.......
What's my cell phone number?

wrote in message
oups.com...

wrote:
On 20 Jan 2006 08:23:30 -0800, wrote:

I hope that the survey doesn't encourage some
neophyte to think that he can safely substitute a cell phone for a VHF
aboard a boat operating "at sea", or that there's even some serious
debate about the subject.

A lot really depends on the cell phone and the VHF. If you have a 3
watt bag phone, connected to a good marine antenna it will get out
better than a handheld VHF, maybe even better than a hard wired VHF.
It depends on how far you are from a cell tower or the nearest other
vessel with VHF.

You're out fishing and your engine dies.

I go by within easy sight so you can see the name on my boat. I notice
that you're not underway, but you've still got your fishing gear out so
I figure you're intentionally drifting along- or that you would be
calling for help- so I just mind my own business and press on.

You'd really like to get my attention and ask for a tow, or some fuel,
or what not.......
What's my cell phone number?




If that is the case then who cares.....just get out the flare gun, the
distress flag and air horn to get your attention.

Regardless, you make a good point and every boater should have a VHF radio
on board. ;-)

wrote:
wrote:

Hi all,

I am a final year undergraduate student, studying Marine Navigation
(BSc) at the University of Plymouth (UK), conducting a study of the use
of cell phones by recreational boaters. This includes an assessment of
the practices and views of a broad cross section of all recreational
boaters, and I would be very grateful if you would contribute to the
study by taking two minutes to complete a short and anonymous
questionnaire. Please follow the link below to access the
questionnai

http://facultyj.hs.plymouth.ac.uk/cellphone/

Many thanks,

Nick Loewendahl

If you would like a copy of the completed report please email me with
your contact details.


I filled out the survey. I hope that the survey doesn't encourage some
neophyte to think that he can safely substitute a cell phone for a VHF
aboard a boat operating "at sea", or that there's even some serious
debate about the subject.


It's the law to have a VHF so that of itself is not a problem, but the
normal everyday cell phones are becoming much better for normal boat
contacts. Most boats rarely if ever actually go offshore & so most
always have cell coverage. The conversations are private, the other end
doesn't need to have a VHF & be next to it monitoring it 24X7.

I'm clearly well chuffed with the mobile phones from a marine
perspective, mostly I can contact my other halves anytime & like & they
me. In the event of a "problem" short of a sinking or burning boat, I
think a phone call to someone you actually know & trust to organise
whatever you need organised is a better bet than a maybe it's being
monitored VHF. Of course for that to work you really need to be in
serious trouble.

As I said not suggesting throw the VHF over the side but .............
put the mobile in one of those special placky bags for them because it
will do you most good, most places a rec boater is likely to really need it.

Just so you know the barrier reef is probably 30-40 miles offshore in
the Whitsunday region & for tourists they have daily big ferries going
out & a permanently manned pontoon in one of the lagoons. After much
national park compromise they allowed a repeater to go in one of the
mountains on Whitsunday Island now all around the area even out at the
reef people can make & receive normal in the bay type communications.


K

K. Smith wrote:
wrote:
wrote:

Hi all,

I am a final year undergraduate student, studying Marine Navigation
(BSc) at the University of Plymouth (UK), conducting a study of the use
of cell phones by recreational boaters. This includes an assessment of
the practices and views of a broad cross section of all recreational
boaters, and I would be very grateful if you would contribute to the
study by taking two minutes to complete a short and anonymous
questionnaire. Please follow the link below to access the
questionnai

http://facultyj.hs.plymouth.ac.uk/cellphone/

Many thanks,

Nick Loewendahl

If you would like a copy of the completed report please email me with
your contact details.


I filled out the survey. I hope that the survey doesn't encourage some
neophyte to think that he can safely substitute a cell phone for a VHF
aboard a boat operating "at sea", or that there's even some serious
debate about the subject.


It's the law to have a VHF so that of itself is not a problem, but the
normal everyday cell phones are becoming much better for normal boat
contacts. Most boats rarely if ever actually go offshore & so most
always have cell coverage. The conversations are private, the other end
doesn't need to have a VHF & be next to it monitoring it 24X7.

I'm clearly well chuffed with the mobile phones from a marine
perspective, mostly I can contact my other halves anytime & like & they
me. In the event of a "problem" short of a sinking or burning boat, I
think a phone call to someone you actually know & trust to organise
whatever you need organised is a better bet than a maybe it's being
monitored VHF. Of course for that to work you really need to be in
serious trouble.

As I said not suggesting throw the VHF over the side but .............
put the mobile in one of those special placky bags for them because it
will do you most good, most places a rec boater is likely to really need it.

Just so you know the barrier reef is probably 30-40 miles offshore in
the Whitsunday region & for tourists they have daily big ferries going
out & a permanently manned pontoon in one of the lagoons. After much
national park compromise they allowed a repeater to go in one of the
mountains on Whitsunday Island now all around the area even out at the
reef people can make & receive normal in the bay type communications.


K

In the US, believe it or not, private vessels are not required to carry
a VHF radio. Looks like you folks in AUS are more safety conscious in
this regard.

With DSC, there is now more privacy than before for non emergency
conversations on a VHF.

I carry my cell phone everywhere I go, including out on the boat. My
land line office phone forwards to the cell 24/7, so I can be "working"
on those days I may not actually be doing much work. (Gets to be a
nuisance on the long vacation cruises). The cell phone works great for
calling ahead to a marina to check on the hours of the fuel dock or
arrange transient moorage. My wife can call one of her girlfriends and
yak away for an hour or so in the unlikely event she gets bored with my
company......(so she spends hours every day on the phone). I think a
cell phone is a useful communication device, and there is no good
reason *not* to carry one- but if I had to boat with only a VHF or only
a cellphone, I'd leave the cell phone on the dock.

Cell phones have pretty well put the marine operators out of business,
and that's no loss for nearshore boaters. It used to be that if we
wanted to make a phone call from the boat we would have to hail the
marine operator, and then the marine operator would patch us through to
the number at the other end. I think the rates used to be several
dollars a minute- I clearly remember a bill of over $40 for a marine
operator phone call that really wasn't all that long.

On 20 Jan 2006 17:51:09 -0800, wrote:


wrote:
On 20 Jan 2006 08:23:30 -0800, wrote:

I hope that the survey doesn't encourage some
neophyte to think that he can safely substitute a cell phone for a VHF
aboard a boat operating "at sea", or that there's even some serious
debate about the subject.

A lot really depends on the cell phone and the VHF. If you have a 3
watt bag phone, connected to a good marine antenna it will get out
better than a handheld VHF, maybe even better than a hard wired VHF.
It depends on how far you are from a cell tower or the nearest other
vessel with VHF.

You're out fishing and your engine dies.

I go by within easy sight so you can see the name on my boat. I notice
that you're not underway, but you've still got your fishing gear out so
I figure you're intentionally drifting along- or that you would be
calling for help- so I just mind my own business and press on.

You'd really like to get my attention and ask for a tow, or some fuel,
or what not.......
What's my cell phone number?

You don't have it painted on the side of your boat?
--
John H

******Have a spectacular day!******

JohnH wrote:
On 20 Jan 2006 17:51:09 -0800, wrote:


wrote:
On 20 Jan 2006 08:23:30 -0800, wrote:

I hope that the survey doesn't encourage some
neophyte to think that he can safely substitute a cell phone for a VHF
aboard a boat operating "at sea", or that there's even some serious
debate about the subject.

A lot really depends on the cell phone and the VHF. If you have a 3
watt bag phone, connected to a good marine antenna it will get out
better than a handheld VHF, maybe even better than a hard wired VHF.
It depends on how far you are from a cell tower or the nearest other
vessel with VHF.

You're out fishing and your engine dies.

I go by within easy sight so you can see the name on my boat. I notice
that you're not underway, but you've still got your fishing gear out so
I figure you're intentionally drifting along- or that you would be
calling for help- so I just mind my own business and press on.

You'd really like to get my attention and ask for a tow, or some fuel,
or what not.......
What's my cell phone number?

You don't have it painted on the side of your boat?
--
John H

******Have a spectacular day!******


I had to take it off. My wife was becoming annoyed with all the cell
phone calls from frantic women. :-)

wrote:
K. Smith wrote:

wrote:

wrote:


Hi all,

I am a final year undergraduate student, studying Marine Navigation
(BSc) at the University of Plymouth (UK), conducting a study of the use
of cell phones by recreational boaters. This includes an assessment of
the practices and views of a broad cross section of all recreational
boaters, and I would be very grateful if you would contribute to the
study by taking two minutes to complete a short and anonymous
questionnaire. Please follow the link below to access the
questionnai

http://facultyj.hs.plymouth.ac.uk/cellphone/

Many thanks,

Nick Loewendahl

If you would like a copy of the completed report please email me with
your contact details.


I filled out the survey. I hope that the survey doesn't encourage some
neophyte to think that he can safely substitute a cell phone for a VHF
aboard a boat operating "at sea", or that there's even some serious
debate about the subject.


It's the law to have a VHF so that of itself is not a problem, but the
normal everyday cell phones are becoming much better for normal boat
contacts. Most boats rarely if ever actually go offshore & so most
always have cell coverage. The conversations are private, the other end
doesn't need to have a VHF & be next to it monitoring it 24X7.

I'm clearly well chuffed with the mobile phones from a marine
perspective, mostly I can contact my other halves anytime & like & they
me. In the event of a "problem" short of a sinking or burning boat, I
think a phone call to someone you actually know & trust to organise
whatever you need organised is a better bet than a maybe it's being
monitored VHF. Of course for that to work you really need to be in
serious trouble.

As I said not suggesting throw the VHF over the side but .............
put the mobile in one of those special placky bags for them because it
will do you most good, most places a rec boater is likely to really need it.

Just so you know the barrier reef is probably 30-40 miles offshore in
the Whitsunday region & for tourists they have daily big ferries going
out & a permanently manned pontoon in one of the lagoons. After much
national park compromise they allowed a repeater to go in one of the
mountains on Whitsunday Island now all around the area even out at the
reef people can make & receive normal in the bay type communications.


K


In the US, believe it or not, private vessels are not required to carry
a VHF radio. Looks like you folks in AUS are more safety conscious in
this regard.

Really that does surprise me, a functioning radio is part of the safety
equip, as is an epirb if you're 2 miles offshore & recently the very
controversial compulsory "wearing" of life jackets. I do believe you & I
guess it's just a part of being American, more freedoms & less regs,
which is in general a good thing as far as I'm concerned. Till as the
boat goes down I can't get out a mayday on ch16, then find myself
treading water with no life jacket nor epirb:-). Sounds crazy I know but
for me on balance I'll take your way than ours:-)

With DSC, there is now more privacy than before for non emergency
conversations on a VHF.

I carry my cell phone everywhere I go, including out on the boat. My
land line office phone forwards to the cell 24/7, so I can be "working"
on those days I may not actually be doing much work. (Gets to be a
nuisance on the long vacation cruises). The cell phone works great for
calling ahead to a marina to check on the hours of the fuel dock or
arrange transient moorage. My wife can call one of her girlfriends and
yak away for an hour or so in the unlikely event she gets bored with my
company......(so she spends hours every day on the phone). I think a
cell phone is a useful communication device, and there is no good
reason *not* to carry one- but if I had to boat with only a VHF or only
a cellphone, I'd leave the cell phone on the dock.

Na Chuck no woman would ever get bored with you, besides if you get
stuck for material just use one of the camera threads from this boating
group:-)


Cell phones have pretty well put the marine operators out of business,
and that's no loss for nearshore boaters. It used to be that if we
wanted to make a phone call from the boat we would have to hail the
marine operator, and then the marine operator would patch us through to
the number at the other end. I think the rates used to be several
dollars a minute- I clearly remember a bill of over $40 for a marine
operator phone call that really wasn't all that long.


Not realising you didn't "have" to have a radio I was well out of order,
if it's an either or choice then you better have the radio:-)

K