SSB weather Dry Tortugas

[Panacea2183]

Anyone know of a weather broadcast on SSB for the Dry Tortugas area?

[laika]

Nothing I know of specific to DT, but you can get Chris Parker on one of his freqs. Some options:

East Coast Cruising Nets

If you're trying to get wx while out there:

The ranger station posts wx sporadically. Ask them to update their bulletin board. They also have a VHF wx station, tho it was out of service when we were there last year.

You can get wx via VHF out there with a good high mounted antenna. Or you can even climb to the top of the fort with a handheld with the right atmospheric conditions.

Finally, we made friends with the workers on the daily ferry boat. They would download weather forecasts each day from Key West and bring them out to us.

[kmacdonald]

There is a public VHF radio on the dock there and the rangers post the weather forecast daily. I was able to receive VHF weather with a handheld VHF radio almost all the way there from Key West. You can buy lunch from the ferry boat and or rent snorkeling gear.

[Panacea2183]

Originally Posted by laika

Nothing I know of specific to DT, but you can get Chris Parker on one of his freqs. Some options:

East Coast Cruising Nets

If you're trying to get wx while out there:

The ranger station posts wx sporadically. Ask them to update their bulletin board. They also have a VHF wx station, tho it was out of service when we were there last year.

You can get wx via VHF out there with a good high mounted antenna. Or you can even climb to the top of the fort with a handheld with the right atmospheric conditions.

Finally, we made friends with the workers on the daily ferry boat. They would download weather forecasts each day from Key West and bring them out to us.

Thanks for the info.
Have Chris Parker but only on email.
Have a Sony reciever (works like crap)
Just bought my buddy’s Tecsun reciever, he had good luck in Bahamas w/it we’ll see.
Going next month,
In reference to VHF my antenna is 25ft above water, think ill get it?
My concern is had a friend that was there 2 years ago and said the park forcast was inaccurate, long story but broken arm on a 48ft Defever going back to Key West.
Would like to have multiple sources.
Not too much concern as I will not go if long term forecast is not good.
Thanks

[kmacdonald]

You can anchor off Marquesas Key. The Dry Tortugas are only about 40 miles from there if I remember correctly. Makes for two easy days in a sailboat. It's easy to get there, but coming home is against the prevailing winds. You should be fine with your VHF, your antenna is about the same height as the one on the dock.

[a64pilot]

Th guy who flies the seaplanes is also a good source of weather, nice guy too. He sits by the aircraft in a chair and I’m sure wouldn’t mind you asking what the weather forecast is.
The ferry boat lunch when we were there was cold sandwiches, never asked about weather though.

[travellerw]

Like A64Pilot said, the seaplane guy will give you weather....

When we were there 3 years ago, the lady in the souvenir shop would open weather sites if you asked nicely! Might still be an option.

[laika]

Great point, just ask the seaplane dude.

Have fun! It's a wonderful spot.

We were there for 3 weeks waiting for good wx to cross south in Jan. We'd long used up our fresh provisions. The ferry guys gave us pounds and pounds of those leftover cold sandwiches.. best cold ferry sandwiches we've ever had. Thanks Yankee Freedom!!