New Member

[Hamin' X]

Hello to the group,

Just signing up to lurk and learn. Sailing experience is limited to small boats (cat or sloop rigged) on lakes or river resevoirs. Currently sailing a Holder/Hobie 14. I am planning on obtaining a boat in the 25-30 ft range for day/weekend sailing on the Columbia River. Retirement is about 5 years off and the wife and I hope to charter/rent a boat for extended cruising. Don't want to purchase because of our other interests such as horses.

Anyway, I just wanted to say hello and post at least once, so that I can use a custom avatar .

[Talbot]

welcome to the forum, with your knowledge of Ham radio, there will be significant areas to aid the overall forum knowledge.

I would be surprised if you could rent a boat for an extended cruising period, and even if you could, the cost would make it economically silly.

Some cruising boats can be purchased quite reasonably (especially ferro designs) and yes a ferro design is hard to sell (hence cheap price), but is then your boat to modify how you like.

[CaptainK]

Welcome Hamin' X,

Welcome to the forum. I am fairly new here too! Ham radios. Wow!

Now that's another thing I need to learn. And get licensed in.

Welcome aboard.

Regards,

Kevin
CaptainK

[Hamin' X]

Talbot,

You could be right on the rental. Perhaps the way to do it would be to purchase in the area we want to sail and sell when we are done. Life is short and there is much to see. I just don't want to waste time with long passages.

CaptainK,

It is much easier to get into ham radio, nowdays. They are about to lift the Morse code requirement alltogether, hoping to come into line with the rest of the world. I just hope that they keep or increase the technical requirements. Few people appreciate what they have, if they don't have to sweat some to get it.

[CaptainK]

Hamin' X,

That's very good to hear.

I live in Arizona. Were do I start, to take the tests to get Ham certified? I'd just thought I'd ask that question?

Regards,

Kevin
CaptainK

[Hamin' X]

Kevin,

The best place to start is a local Ham club. Most areas have one. I'm not sure what area of Arizona that you're in, but if you want to give your city, then I might be able to look up a contact for you.

[CaptainK]

Dear Hamin' X,

I live in Phoenix, Arizona. That's where I'm at!

[Hamin' X]

Kevin,

Here are a few clubs to start with:

Mesa Club

North and Northwest Phoenix

West Phoenix

I'm sure that by contacting any one of them, that you will be steered in the right direction.

[CaptainK]

Dear Hamin' X,

I thank you, very much. Thank you for the weblinks. I will put them to use very soon.

Regards,

Kevin
CaptainK