Do the whalewatching boats in the San Juans use a standard channel to
communicate? My understanding is that they cooperate so the industry
as a whole is more successful, and it would be handy to listen in when
sailing or kayaking.

Mike Wagenbach
Seattle

On 7 Jul 2004 12:06:26 -0700, (Mike Wagenbach)
wrote:

Do the whalewatching boats in the San Juans use a standard channel to
communicate? My understanding is that they cooperate so the industry
as a whole is more successful, and it would be handy to listen in when
sailing or kayaking.

I know the ones off the coast of Massachusetts do, and they also
communicate with the fishing boats that go out earlier in the day who
spot whales for them.

It would make sense anywhere this type of activity is concentrated.

One question might be if this is sent clear or coded in some way.

My friend who would know more is presently on a trip.

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)
------------------------------------------------
at the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence

Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA
Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom

Mike Wagenbach wrote:
Do the whalewatching boats in the San Juans use a standard channel to
communicate? My understanding is that they cooperate so the industry
as a whole is more successful, and it would be handy to listen in when
sailing or kayaking.

Mike Wagenbach
Seattle

All boats of this type tend to use a specific channel ..... problem is
to find it, as they frequently don't use boat names or call signs so
that you have to listen for awhile to figure out which channel they're on.

On Wed, 07 Jul 2004 23:21:03 GMT, otnmbrd
posted:

Mike Wagenbach wrote:
Do the whalewatching boats in the San Juans use a standard channel to
communicate? My understanding is that they cooperate so the industry
as a whole is more successful, and it would be handy to listen in when
sailing or kayaking.

Mike Wagenbach
Seattle

All boats of this type tend to use a specific channel ..... problem is
to find it, as they frequently don't use boat names or call signs so
that you have to listen for awhile to figure out which channel they're on.

Don't most marine radios have a "scan" feature, popping up any
conversation that comes along?

Mike Soja

On Wed, 07 Jul 2004 20:10:44 -0400, MikeSoja
wrote:

All boats of this type tend to use a specific channel ..... problem is
to find it, as they frequently don't use boat names or call signs so
that you have to listen for awhile to figure out which channel they're on.

Don't most marine radios have a "scan" feature, popping up any
conversation that comes along?

There are not that many marine radio channels.

Most any scanner should get that band, and be able to scan it. (lock
out the weather channels, though).

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)
------------------------------------------------
at the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence

Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA
Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom

MikeSoja wrote:
On Wed, 07 Jul 2004 23:21:03 GMT, otnmbrd
posted:


Mike Wagenbach wrote:

Do the whalewatching boats in the San Juans use a standard channel to
communicate? My understanding is that they cooperate so the industry
as a whole is more successful, and it would be handy to listen in when
sailing or kayaking.



Mike Wagenbach
Seattle


All boats of this type tend to use a specific channel ..... problem is
to find it, as they frequently don't use boat names or call signs so
that you have to listen for awhile to figure out which channel they're on.


Don't most marine radios have a "scan" feature, popping up any
conversation that comes along?

Mike Soja


Yes, BUT, the scan feature is normally limited to specific channels
...... i.e., you would have to program the "scan" to work all channels
and there's no guarantee you will be listening to the right one at the
right time.
Best bet .... get friendly with the "Whale watchers" and find out which
channel (s) they tend to work.
otn

On Thu, 08 Jul 2004 01:12:11 GMT, otnmbrd
wrote:

Yes, BUT, the scan feature is normally limited to specific channels
..... i.e., you would have to program the "scan" to work all channels
and there's no guarantee you will be listening to the right one at the
right time.

Aren't there only about 80 VHF marine channels, and 7-10 set aside for
weather?

Best bet .... get friendly with the "Whale watchers" and find out which
channel (s) they tend to work.
otn

Investing in a couple of rounds at the right bar in port might be
productive.

Happy trails,
Gary (net.yogi.bear)
------------------------------------------------
at the 51st percentile of ursine intelligence

Gary D. Schwartz, Needham, MA, USA
Please reply to: garyDOTschwartzATpoboxDOTcom

Gary S. wrote:
On Thu, 08 Jul 2004 01:12:11 GMT, otnmbrd
wrote:


Yes, BUT, the scan feature is normally limited to specific channels
..... i.e., you would have to program the "scan" to work all channels
and there's no guarantee you will be listening to the right one at the
right time.


Aren't there only about 80 VHF marine channels, and 7-10 set aside for
weather?

True, but that's still a lot of scanning time, to find the right one.


Best bet .... get friendly with the "Whale watchers" and find out which
channel (s) they tend to work.
otn


Investing in a couple of rounds at the right bar in port might be
productive.

Dem "boggers" are a closed mouth bunch of Yankees, when it comes to
favorite fishing and whalewatchin spots.

otn

On Thu, 08 Jul 2004 01:12:11 GMT, otnmbrd
posted:

MikeSoja wrote:

Don't most marine radios have a "scan" feature, popping up any
conversation that comes along?

Yes, BUT, the scan feature is normally limited to specific channels
..... i.e., you would have to program the "scan" to work all channels
and there's no guarantee you will be listening to the right one at the
right time.
Best bet .... get friendly with the "Whale watchers" and find out which
channel (s) they tend to work.
otn

I doubt if it's any great secret.

My ma lives out on Cape Cod, and I've gone on whale watching trips
there about each of the last five years. I took one trip from
Barnstable, but the people with that boat are assholes and I'll
never go with them again. Driving to Provincetown is fun anyway,
and cuts about an hour off the boat travel time (and all the diesel
that thing burns). There are so many whale watching boats leaving
at regular times out there that it would be hard not to pick them
out of the radio spectrum.

In fact, there are so many boats that one can almost pick up where
the whales are visually, just by seeing where the big boats slow
down and stop. Plus, during the season, the area doesn't vary
*that* much. The beasts are all up and down the Cape; you just have
to find the right distance. From high up you can spot them with
binocs, but, of course, down low to the water, that gets difficult.

I don't think I'm quite confident of my skills, yet, but a lot of
the whales are only a mile or two off the north east tip of the
Cape, and it would be a gas (a scary gas, probably) to see them from
a kayak. I'd definitely take a marine radio and a big compass and
foghorn and lights in case of fog. Maybe some day.

Mike

EG Hell, If you'd told me the "Cape", I could have saved some band
width ..../. 25 years ago. Sorry, but most of my contacts have retired
or moved on, back there ..... LOL wait till November, and I'll get the info.

otn

MikeSoja wrote:
On Thu, 08 Jul 2004 01:12:11 GMT, otnmbrd
posted:


MikeSoja wrote:


Don't most marine radios have a "scan" feature, popping up any
conversation that comes along?


Yes, BUT, the scan feature is normally limited to specific channels
..... i.e., you would have to program the "scan" to work all channels
and there's no guarantee you will be listening to the right one at the
right time.
Best bet .... get friendly with the "Whale watchers" and find out which
channel (s) they tend to work.
otn


I doubt if it's any great secret.

My ma lives out on Cape Cod, and I've gone on whale watching trips
there about each of the last five years. I took one trip from
Barnstable, but the people with that boat are assholes and I'll
never go with them again. Driving to Provincetown is fun anyway,
and cuts about an hour off the boat travel time (and all the diesel
that thing burns). There are so many whale watching boats leaving
at regular times out there that it would be hard not to pick them
out of the radio spectrum.

In fact, there are so many boats that one can almost pick up where
the whales are visually, just by seeing where the big boats slow
down and stop. Plus, during the season, the area doesn't vary
*that* much. The beasts are all up and down the Cape; you just have
to find the right distance. From high up you can spot them with
binocs, but, of course, down low to the water, that gets difficult.

I don't think I'm quite confident of my skills, yet, but a lot of
the whales are only a mile or two off the north east tip of the
Cape, and it would be a gas (a scary gas, probably) to see them from
a kayak. I'd definitely take a marine radio and a big compass and
foghorn and lights in case of fog. Maybe some day.

Mike