Why is there no VHF mike near helm of charter sailboat

[roland stockham]

On a charter or delivery my min is to bring my own H/H radio, laptop with charts and GPS with a decent screen and PLB. You can never rely on what may be on board to work in an emergency!

[dszerlag]

Handheld and for the record about 20 charters all different companies all over Carib and never had a hh on a charter boat.

[wcapital]

Originally Posted by dszerlag

Handheld and for the record about 20 charters all different companies all over Carib and never had a hh on a charter boat.

Our former boat (a 44' cat) was in charter for years, and we added a wired remote at the helm. BUT.....almost every time I came to the boat myself, it wasn't working. The biggest problem was the connector at the helm (that allowed removal) - constantly corroding and losing one or another contact.

Next time I would perhaps hard-wire it all the way from radio to remote -
but if it's always at the helm it's vulnerable to theft and deterioration due to exposure....but maybe with a well-protected connector inside and an enclosed locker of sorts at the helm.....

But always had at least TWO handhelds - if not three!

[rwidman]

Sailboaters never use the VHF anyway so why expect a microphone??

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by rwidman

Sailboaters never use the VHF anyway so why expect a microphone??

That's a two way street. I've called many a powerboat, from sport fish to 65' motor-boat......usually no answer.....usually to ask them what side of the channel they would like me on since they couldn't make up their minds.

[Nani Kai]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

That's a two way street. I've called many a powerboat, from sport fish to 65' motor-boat......usually no answer.....usually to ask them what side of the channel they would like me on since they couldn't make up their minds.

Yeah we've all met that guy. And his brother.

Once when operating commercially out of Boston Harbor in a very narrow slipway (North side of Long Wharf) a big Sea Ray bristling with antennas and every kind of electronic device known to man comes idling in. I'm going ahead on a spring line waiting my turn to leave. Two vessels are in the fairway inbound and this Yahoo is giving his buddies a narrated tour of the harbor. I get on the VHF to tell the guy he's about to find himself in extremis with a very large steel vessel that will barely notice when it crushes him. He's so close I can see down into his boat. And the guys radio is not even on. Doesn't do much good to have all that stuff if you don't turn it on.

That having been said, as one who does use his radio I like to have it close at hand.

[Dave22q]

Originally Posted by rwidman

Sailboaters never use the VHF anyway so why expect a microphone??

Never approached a marina or fuel dock? Bad time to not be at the helm when getting directions over the VHF.

[Nani Kai]

Originally Posted by Dave22q

Never approached a marina or fuel dock? Bad time to not be at the helm when getting directions over the VHF.

My point exactly. A handheld is an obvious solution and I intend to buy one. A remote Mike at or near the helm is a better solution though even with its inherent maintenance problems. Especially in an emergency. I want the height of the antenna at the top of the mast to send that signal as far as possible.

[rwidman]

Originally Posted by Nani Kai

.............. A remote Mike at or near the helm is a better solution though even with its inherent maintenance problems. ................ .

What "inherent maintenance problems" ?

I've never heard of "maintenance problems" on a microphone.

[rwidman]

Originally Posted by Dave22q

Never approached a marina or fuel dock? Bad time to not be at the helm when getting directions over the VHF.

I'm not sure what you mean by this. I approach marinas and fuel docks all the time and I use my VHF. Mine is at the helm within reach.

[Nani Kai]

[QUOTE=wcapital;2443602]Our former boat (a 44' cat) was in charter for years, and we added a wired remote at the helm. BUT.....almost every time I came to the boat myself, it wasn't working. The biggest problem was the connector at the helm (that allowed removal) - constantly corroding and losing one or another contact.

Next time I would perhaps hard-wire it all the way from radio to remote -
but if it's always at the helm it's vulnerable to theft and deterioration due to exposure....but maybe with a well-protected connector inside and an enclosed locker of sorts at the helm.....

That's the solution. Here's one way that could work. On a Center console Boston whaler I had I flush mounted a small Pelican waterproof box into the console . Inside the box I installed bilge pump and running light switches. With the top of the box closed everything was completely protected. It would be easy to install a mike connector in such a box and you could even store the mike there when not in use. It's even lockable.

[EmeraldCoastSailor]

always good to bring a handheld on a charter; good for the dinghy as well as the cockpit

[Snore]

Originally Posted by roland stockham

On a charter or delivery my min is to bring my own H/H radio, laptop with charts and GPS with a decent screen and PLB. You can never rely on what may be on board to work in an emergency!

Ditto.

Except I have a full EPIRB and update my NOAA sourced charts in iNavX before leaving on a delivery. Just finished a delivery where plotter had 8-10 year old charts and VHF died.