Question: Marine Radios

[cabbry]

My question is are they used or monitored in the Midwest? Marine radio use in coastal areas, Great Lakes, major rivers which are coast guard patroled (Missouri and Mississippi) would seem like logical places where they would be an asset. Non of which are my boating haunts.

The only time I have personally observed them in use in the midwest was a striper guide service for boat-to-boat communication on Table Rock Lake.

Does any forum member have one in their boat? Are there any Midwest Lakes where Guides, local lake residents or Game and Parks officials use or monitor marine radio channels, emergency channels or otherwise? What abbout lakes like Manawa, Branched Oak, Big Mac, Minn or SD Lakes?

It might be a dumb question, but it would be interesting to know if all those marine radios they are selling at bass pro and cabela's are anything more than eye candy.

Thanks in advance.

[Big Vic]

I don't think that the marine radios are monitered at this time, but I could be wrong. The reason I dont think they are now is because I know that some of the local truck drivers have them in there trucks. I'm not sure what the legal aspect of that is, and I'm not trying to stir up things for the truck drivers. I drive part time myself. They do get out better than the C.B. radio and travel farther. ( wish I had one ) You may be just sittin in your boat at Branched Oak listening to truck drivers and not boaters. I fish a lot at night, I hear more cell phones ring and people talking on those than I hear people talking on any radio

[Scott Eveland]

Marine Band radios are not consistently monitored by anybody I am aware of in Nebraska.

When the US Coast Guard Auxiliary Patrols are out, they monitor Marine Band. I monitor Channel 16 when I am working. However, there are not any dedicated monitoring stations operated by the Coast Guard like you find on the coasts, lower MO and MS Rivers or the Great Lakes.

At Lake McConaughy it was beginning to deterioriate into an expensive Citizen's Band. I politely remind people of the radio etiquette and they move on, at least off of 16.

What chaps my hide is the folks who use Marine Band as an alternative to business band or for walkie-talkies--a clear and blatant violation of Federal law. I commonly hear hunters, tow trucks and other outfits chatter on there far away from any waterways. I even turned in a construction company to the FCC because they outfitted all their trucks with Marine Band radios rather than buy business band.

As I tell people in boating safety classes... Your best bet for calling for help in an emergency remains your cell phone. Sadly, especially in my area, there are some lakes where cell phone coverage is poor to practically non-existent (can anybody say Box Butte or Merrit?).

So, Marine Band radios in Nebraska are more of a way to communicate with your buddy and inquire about the fishing (off of Channel 16 of course), but not too helpful in an emergency.

Scott

[Hillbilly Fisher]

I carry one on my boat and monitor when out, but like most have said, I don't think it's monitored very well.

[MrPike]

We have one in the fishing boat. It was used mostly for boat to boat when fishing with friends, and letting them know where we were and what was biting. Better use code though or you are broadcasting it to every boat in the lake with a scanning radio. They are pretty common on the bigger water in SD, not so much here in Nebraska.

Another good feature in most radios is the weather band.

[NETim]

I've had one in my boat for years now. My trips to LOTW convinced me it was a good idea. Usually, if I'm on the water, such as a large secret lake on the NE/SD border I visit, I'll have it on and scanning/monitoring Channel 16.

Cheap insurance IMHO.

[NE_Sportsman]

I don't have one on my 10ft jon boat. But, I know that some coyote hunters in the area use them to comunicate instead of using CBs. Again I dont know if that is legal or not but I guess it sells radios.

[Scott Eveland]

Don't get me wrong, a Marine Band radio is better than nothing. Just have a backup too (like a cell phone). Also, to clairify, chit chat on the water is just fine. There is nothing wrong with it. Just reserve channel 16 for calling/distress.

Originally Posted by NE_Sportsman

But, I know that some coyote hunters in the area use them to comunicate instead of using CBs. Again I dont know if that is legal or not but I guess it sells radios.

It is highly illegal--as in up to $5,000 Civil Forfeitures (fines) in Federal Court. I recently had a discussion with a salesperson at an outdoors store who I overheard recommending marine band to hunters.

Marine Band radios are very inexpensive and can be a good tool to have onboard your boat. Just don't count on it being the only source of help in an emergency.

Scott Eveland
Boating Officer, NGPC

[cabbry]

[quote=

As I tell people in boating safety classes... Your best bet for calling for help in an emergency remains your cell phone. Sadly, especially in my area, there are some lakes where cell phone coverage is poor to practically non-existent (can anybody say Box Butte or Merrit?).



Scott[/quote]


I have experienced this on water and on land and like any electronic device, have a backup! Thanks all for your information. Learned some things.

I am probably going to look for a good buy on a new or really good used handheld marine/weather band to monitor when on some waters out of state. I don't fish lakes big enough where there is a high percentage of both cell phone and a radio not being of use, but looks like it's worth checking in to.

In NE SD depending on the lake and your cell carrier, you may or may not have a signal and it can vary from one end of the lake to the other.