Do you leave your VHF on at night in an anchorage?

[johnjuliano]

Always, Always, Always. We never turn it off at anchor.

We don’t want to be in the situation of this boat, which we tried to call to tell them an bergy bit was bearing down on them.

[Redline452]

I used to keep our VHF on pretty much 24/7 as its AIS output was feeding marinetraffic.com, at least wherever we had wifi coverage. The First Mate wasn't crazy about that Coast Guard Distress Relay at 0300 (too far for us to do anything about). Now our AIS transceiver feeds marinetraffic, so the VHF is off overnight, at least with the family aboard. I listen more when it's just me, or me and boating friends.

[Apollo366]

Originally Posted by johnjuliano

Always, Always, Always. We never turn it off at anchor.

We don’t want to be in the situation of this boat, which we tried to call to tell them an bergy bit was bearing down on them.

Did you try sounding your horn 5 times in succession? Doing it until the other boat came awake??

[nhschneider]

Not only do we leave our VHF on all the time we're on board but we also leave our Standard Horizon chartplotter on as well because it feeds the VHF with our coordinates. In the event of an emergency, if I press and hold the 'Distress' button, those within signal range will get our exact location. Granted, many times we have been anchored in secure places yet we never turn off the radio and chartplotter when we're aboard. In our opinion, the current draw is justified by the safety benefit.

Fair winds and calm seas.

[motion]

Kept it on in the Dominican Republic when "lions paw" Paul's Boat was boarded I was able to get up put lights on help chase the borders off but it depends in Florida never worried about it once in awhile in the Bahamas

[Fore and Aft]

How about do you ever turn your VHF on? Surely I cannot be the only day sailor that never turns their VHF on? I could but I doubt I would hear it over my stereo. That problem is only going to get worse now my kids have given me a waterproof Bluetooth speaker for Christmas.
I have a handheld VHF that is close by, so if I have an issue I can call up. But the last time I was in a anchorage I just texted our friends when it looked like they were having problems.
Cheers

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by Fore and Aft

How about do you ever turn your VHF on? Surely I cannot be the only day sailor that never turns their VHF on? I could but I doubt I would hear it over my stereo. That problem is only going to get worse now my kids have given me a waterproof Bluetooth speaker for Christmas.
I have a handheld VHF that is close by, so if I have an issue I can call up. But the last time I was in a anchorage I just texted our friends when it looked like they were having problems.
Cheers

Well I guess it depends where and when you sail. Not too far from you I've been called multiple times by ships pilots at night while near the Moreton Bay Ship channel.

[chrisr]

we keep ours on when we are at sea

at anchor, if the weather is ok then it's off

but if the weather is bad enough to stand anchor watches, AND if there are other boats nearby, then it's on.

cheers,

[HankOnthewater]

Funny that, there are two camps: one have their radios on, the other ones... not. Oops, there is a third camp, those who have their radios normally off, but on on when situation demands that.

I actually belong to a fourth group: I leave my radio on, nearly all the time, even when I am not on the boat. Reason for that, is that anyone snooping around, might give my boat a miss when hearing voices. Yes, VHF consumes a few milli-amps, not worth worrying about. Yes, the LCD screen might fail after 8 or 10 years, but by that time one needs to update anyway.

But for the argument of this thread, count me as being in group 3:
- underway, always on
- anchored not in home waters, always on
- anchored in home waters, on most of the time, and certainly when weather is inclement
- in pen/or slip, and me on board, usually on, but I am not getting out of bed to switch it on, or off.

[Seighlor]

Originally Posted by nhschneider

Not only do we leave our VHF on all the time we're on board but we also leave our Standard Horizon chartplotter on as well because it feeds the VHF with our coordinates. In the event of an emergency, if I press and hold the 'Distress' button, those within signal range will get our exact location. Granted, many times we have been anchored in secure places yet we never turn off the radio and chartplotter when we're aboard. In our opinion, the current draw is justified by the safety benefit.

I do the same... VHF and chart plotter always on. If chatter becomes an annoyance, I may turn off the VHF. Never the plotter. I've been obliged to abandon my anchorage on a number of occasions in deep darkness and storm conditions where the plotter was a blessing. Additionally, once secure in my anchorage I'll plot a bearing to open water and record this with a grease pencil near my compass.

[Turk397]

Absolutely! I would feel horrible if an incident occurred nearby and I could have assisted but, couldn't be bothered because I was sleeping through it. We are the first responders when we are on the water. The government, with all its cut backs is not who will show up first when a true emergency occurs.

[Spot]

Originally Posted by Seighlor

I do the same... VHF and chart plotter always on. If chatter becomes an annoyance, I may turn off the VHF. Never the plotter. I've been obliged to abandon my anchorage on a number of occasions in deep darkness and storm conditions where the plotter was a blessing. Additionally, once secure in my anchorage I'll plot a bearing to open water and record this with a grease pencil near my compass.

I like the note by the compass idea.

[Navicula]

while on sailing trips I keep it on 24\7.....and carry a hand held on my hip if going to shore....
I have been able to assist in draggings and medical emergencys because the VHF was on and I have been able to call for help because I had my hand held with me.........its a life line forsure in the areas where other boater are around

[Mike OReilly]

I'm in the camp where it's off most of the time when on the hook, although I do flip it on when faced with weather, or other special circumstances. There is a risk I might miss an urgent call, but where I cruise there is so little VHF traffic that the odds of hearing anything is near zero.

[Siberian Sea]

I keep the volume down some but .... you never know when some might need some help.