Is HF SSB Common in the Northern Hemisphere ?

[kiwa]

Have been looking at boats to purchase in USA & Med . Not many seem to have ssb radios listed ,despite often having a plethora of other electronic aids . This is on boats that often have passages to the Carr or Atlantic crossings claimed as part of their pedegree .
Have done some offshore sailing in the pacific and Tasman and an ssb radio and liferaft are mandatory - you would not consider going offshore without either.
Why are only a small number carrying them ??

[PaulSommers]

Maybe because boat sellers don't think these items add much to the price they are going to get for the boat so they sell them separately. I have seen a number of life rafts and SSB units on eBay, 48 North classified ads, etc.

[teejayevans]

Maybe they just had portable receivers to pick up the weather forecasts.
Tom