Proper Radio Channel Usage

[FootballFan]

After reading the thread below about using CH 13 for passing I wanted to ask a question from a recent experience.

I have always used 16 to hail a marina or another boater, then when they answer move to a different channel.

Recently pulled into an area in South Florida, approaching the fuel dock and hailed the fuel dock on CH16.

Immediately - the response from CG was the message we have heard when someone is inappropriately using CH16. Was not directed at me specific - but the timing - felt like my hailing initiated.

The CG facility is really close to the marina I was going to - but wouldn't think that would matter.

Is my usage of CH 16 correct? or incorrect?

TY

 

[High Wire]

The marinas monitor 16 (in Florida and NJ at least) and you were correct to contact them on it. Shifting immediately to the marinas working channel is also expected. Pretty much anything additional is taboo. Now if you also asked for slip assignment or fuel price before switching, then yes then the station watchstander will hit the recorded broadcast message button. It also could be a complete coincidence since they can hear boats from many, many, miles away that you can't possibly hear.
BTW, do you routinely use Low Power? If not, you should be using the lowest power available to complete the comms.

 

[MacPhid]

Doesn’t hurt to switch the vhf to low power output when contacting a marina on channel 16, less disruptive all around.

James

 

[NWSeadog]

Interesting. In our neck of the woods (PNW) most marinas / fuel docks monitor 66 or 78 which is low power. Marina traffic can get quite busy at times and I can envision that they would jam up 16 during busy times.

 

[C lectric]

Where I live, B.C., the marina hailing channel is 66A, not 16. In most cases they will not reply if you call on 16. They may no longer even monitor since this has been in effect for many years.
I'm not sure if the marinas are legally required to NOT use 16 or not but experience shows they will not reply,. There are a couple up west that still use 73 , but not 16.

Saves a huge amount of bafflebarf on 16.

 

[psneeld]

16 in the US is a hailing and distress frequency.

Many marinas request you call them on ch16 when near...then they aswitch you.

If you say more than "marina xxxxx, yacht zzzzz ch 16".....then yes you are doing more than hailing.

 

[boater3]

After reading the thread below about using CH 13 for passing I wanted to ask a question from a recent experience.

I have always used 16 to hail a marina or another boater, then when they answer move to a different channel.

Recently pulled into an area in South Florida, approaching the fuel dock and hailed the fuel dock on CH16.

Immediately - the response from CG was the message we have heard when someone is inappropriately using CH16. Was not directed at me specific - but the timing - felt like my hailing initiated.

The CG facility is really close to the marina I was going to - but wouldn't think that would matter.

Is my usage of CH 16 correct? or incorrect?

TY

I dont think I have ever hailed a marina or fuel dock or pump out boat or launch on 16. I have been to several dozen this year alone. Look up what channel they use on their website, garmin active captain, etc. Super easy no sense clogging 16 and most don't monitor 16 any way and you will likely get some rando trying to help you with the correct channel to hail them on.

 

[The Other Gary]

Lake Ontario marinas and Yacht Clubs monitor 68.

I was in the St Lawrence overtaking an ore boat of 700 feet. I radioed on 16 "CSL Salarium, Adios Dinero Two Whistles". The response immediately was "Wait one minute then come on by. We are halfway through a slight course change"
Simple courtesy got me a wave from the Bridge wing.

 

[menzies]

Good grief.

16 is not "clogged." I was out today in Florida, and there even local county and coast guard exercises going on. 16 was pretty quiet all day, with nothing going on generally.

Hail and then move to working.

Just use 16. It's simple, everyone is on it, it works. Don't over complicate it just because a few over-pompous "I know betters" blow about it.

And, yes. It is OK to say "XYZ, I am ABC on your stern. I would like to give you a slow pass on YOUR PORT (OR STARBOARD), and have a short agreement on it.

To the OP, the CG come on when people decide to have a multiple sentence general conversation on 16.

Keep it to the two or three short transmissions clearly necessary for safe navigation and you will NEVER have an issue with the CG.

Jaysus, lighten up everyone.

 

[psneeld]

Its not OK.....


And its not just pompous "know it alls" that think so.


Proliferating advice like this after hearing the USCG daily and repetatively transmit the standard "ch 16" use warning for anything more than "hails" should be clear enough.

 

[ktdtx]

over-pompous "I know betters"

Hmmm....something about if the shoe fits comes to mind

 

[psneeld]

Hmmm....something about if the shoe fits comes to mind

At least I know the rules and etiquette...... and don't try and dumb down the group. There's always the ignore list....if you consider my contributions that bad.

...after listening to hundreds of rescue calls both on the water and USCG OPCENs interrupted by useless chatter on CH16.... I have skin in the game.

Probably unlike the nice, normal..... name callers......

Unless of course they are the ones screaming MAYDAY while 2 boaters argue over which side the pass is on....

 

[ktdtx]

Sorry, my post was referencing the one before yours-not you.

 

[psneeld]

Sorry, my post was referencing the one before yours-not you.

Sorry too... my mistake...

 

[Seevee]

Dumb question.....

I'd bet that most of us call the marina on the phone long before getting there.... getting availability, pricing, etc. And they frequently say.... call us on 16 and we'll switch you to 68.

Why is it necessary to even call on 16? Why don't they just receive the call on 68? When I ask them that, a few have argued, "You MUST call on 16 first"

Makes no sense.

====

As long as were speaking of pet peeves......

And why the heck can't the marina just assign the slip a few hours out, and a dock diagram, they ya wouldn't have to call at all. I've had a few that do this, and I simply announce arriving if there's other boats there, never talking to the marina until I meet them at the office.

So, with the above, you call on the phone once, and never call again.

 

[Roger Long]

I dont think I have ever hailed a marina or fuel dock or pump out boat or launch on 16.

I have many times on the ICW and in New England AFTER I have tried on their working channel that I have looked up. Seems lots of dock attendants forget to switch their radios back to scan and are only on 16.


Marinas on the ICW do almost always ask you to hail on 16 just before arrival. I suspect it is because they are tired of, when they ask people to hail on their working channel, being asked, "How do I do that? (Change channels)". I've been asked that often when asking other boats to switch channels. Unbelievable but true.

 

[Roger Long]

Just use 16. It's simple, everyone is on it, it works. Don't over complicate it just because a few over-pompous "I know betters" blow about it.

This over-pompous know better would like to point out that, if everyone who called on 16 made a quick simple low power hail as you described and to which I could respond with a simple "Gypsy Star - Roger", I never would have raised the issue or thought of the sign. However, a significant portion of the trawlers who have called me on the ICW for a pass have made high power calls longer than this reply. I have to wait for them to run out of breath before I can ask them to switch to 13 for the long chat about hoping I'm having a wonderful day, which side would I like, should it be a slow pass, where am I bound, what a nice looking boat. My sign is simply aimed at getting at least some of those folks started on 13 to save me the time and distraction of a channel change and help keep their hot air off everyone 20 miles in each direction.


And yes, once the passing business is done, if they start going on with the small talk, I ask them to switch to an appropriate channel for that.

 

[psneeld]

Roger.... the nickname I have always heard/ use for the guys/gals that use the radio like a cell phone is a "Chatty Cathy"

......after that pull the string doll where you wait and see what next strange comment will come out after pulling the string.

 

[psneeld]

Dumb question.....

I'd bet that most of us call the marina on the phone long before getting there.... getting availability, pricing, etc. And they frequently say.... call us on 16 and we'll switch you to 68.

Why is it necessary to even call on 16? Why don't they just receive the call on 68? When I ask them that, a few have argued, "You MUST call on 16 first"

Makes no sense.

====

As long as were speaking of pet peeves......

And why the heck can't the marina just assign the slip a few hours out, and a dock diagram, they ya wouldn't have to call at all. I've had a few that do this, and I simply announce arriving if there's other boats there, never talking to the marina until I meet them at the office.

So, with the above, you call on the phone once, and never call again.

Which is fine if you dont need anyone at the marina to do anything for you.

But many still want to be there to witness the dock crashing as too many boaters often do.

 

[boater3]

Dumb question.....

I'd bet that most of us call the marina on the phone long before getting there.... getting availability, pricing, etc. And they frequently say.... call us on 16 and we'll switch you to 68.

Why is it necessary to even call on 16? Why don't they just receive the call on 68? When I ask them that, a few have argued, "You MUST call on 16 first"

Makes no sense.

====

As long as were speaking of pet peeves......

And why the heck can't the marina just assign the slip a few hours out, and a dock diagram, they ya wouldn't have to call at all. I've had a few that do this, and I simply announce arriving if there's other boats there, never talking to the marina until I meet them at the office.

So, with the above, you call on the phone once, and never call again.

I did 4,000 miles from TX to the North. I stayed at dozens of marinas. I can't recall any saying hail us on 16 first. Maybe one did but even if so that is a tiny fraction. They all had working channels. Could easily look up online on their website or a boating site. I also had no problem getting slip assignments a few hours out. In fact some nights I was not going to arrive until after they closed and either gave them my CC info, settled in morning, or called it in the next day. I learned to do my due diligence on marinas because a few advertised they had 5-6+ feet of water and when I pilled in it was more like 1-2' and I was stuck in mud. Plenty of info online (and that is why its important to leave reviews!). I usually don't need docking assistance but a couple times I was single handed or in extreme wind/tight space, I did opt to call for it. I tend to call dock hands to meet me at the pump more often than docking assistance as they usually aren't standing at the pump and off doing something else.

I have many times on the ICW and in New England AFTER I have tried on their working channel that I have looked up. Seems lots of dock attendants forget to switch their radios back to scan and are only on 16.


Marinas on the ICW do almost always ask you to hail on 16 just before arrival. I suspect it is because they are tired of, when they ask people to hail on their working channel, being asked, "How do I do that? (Change channels)". I've been asked that often when asking other boats to switch channels. Unbelievable but true.

That is why most only stay on their working channel. Then they don't forget to switch back. My experience is with dozens of marinas from TX to the North. Maybe a few do monitor 16 but most do not. In fact, I am one of the few that will help someone with the correct working channel when they are hailing on 16 non-stop and not getting a response. My general experience traveling the ICW is that most marinas had a working channel and that is where I hailed them.

 

[psneeld]

I disagree after 30 or so round trips between NJ and FL.

I would say quite a few say call on 16 or you wind up doing so when not reached on their working.

I would also say many wil not givea slip assignment more than an hour or less out or not till you arrive...Dockwa may be changing that though...or if arriving very late in the day or after hours.

 

[Ex Sailor]

After reading the thread below about using CH 13 for passing I wanted to ask a question from a recent experience.

I have always used 16 to hail a marina or another boater, then when they answer move to a different channel.

Recently pulled into an area in South Florida, approaching the fuel dock and hailed the fuel dock on CH16.

Immediately - the response from CG was the message we have heard when someone is inappropriately using CH16. Was not directed at me specific - but the timing - felt like my hailing initiated.

The CG facility is really close to the marina I was going to - but wouldn't think that would matter.

Is my usage of CH 16 correct? or incorrect?

TY

In our area, Marinas are on 68, Bridges on 13 and so on ... I have never been able to get a Marina on 16. I don't think 16 should be used for that purpose (?)



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[psneeld]

In our area, Marinas are on 68, Bridges on 13 and so on ... I have never been able to get a Marina on 16. I don't think 16 should be used for that purpose (?)



fb

sounds like what one 'instructor" posted in this or the other thread....in Canada, the shore stations are prohibited from using Ch 16.

 

[CEC]

On west coast if you use 16 for any of these things other then to hail another boat or distress to contact CG you get a stern warning from CG most of the time. 16 is silent most of the time for a reason. Even on low frequency most of the time the CG picks it up anyways. Its ok to use it to contact a marina as long as it just a quick hailing x marina what channel is x harbor/marina on, but technically its a grey aria and should be avoided. Trip planning should include looking up the harbors you will visit and document their contact info ie vhf number. If its an emergency stop at a marina ext 16 is perfectly OK to use 16.


https://www.boatus.org/marine-communications/basics/


"When hailing other boats for routine communication, you'll need to hail them on 16 or 09, and then move to an available working channel, usually 68, 69, 71 or 72. Always remember to check for channels authorized for use in your area as well as any local restrictions."

 

[FootballFan]

Interesting responses. Our experience on the East coast has always been instructions from marinas who say Hail us on 16 when you get near.


My practice is if I have business with the Marina to discuss prior to arriving I do that via cell phone.


In the specific situation I referenced, I was sitting right outside the marina and just wanted to have a conversation about where on the fuel dock they wanted to pull in. One boat was there, didn't know if they needed me to wait till that boat cleared, or to come in on the other side.


My expectation when I hailed, was that they would respond with a channel switch.

 

[Xsbank]

Read and follow the rules. That's it. Know the proper procedure for radio use or stay tied to the dock.

When you don't use proper procedure, you are announcing to every other boater in earshot that you are a moron. Radio use is also a good reason to look closely and consider that cutesy name what you are planning to name your boat - there was a huge kerfuffle here one summer when somebody was calling for "Payday."

Idiotic.

The CG should never have to caution a boater, it proves to all and sundry that you are a moron.

Why is this difficult?

 

[rolomart3]

IMHO there is a lot of misunderstanding here. Yes, it is expected that channel 16 must be used first. This is for the simple reason that channel 16 initially was set as the channel to be monitored at shore, like the marinas. In that setting boaters would do two and only two things in this channel when not in emergencies: 1) Attempt contact, and 2) When contact made, move to another channel.


The key is someone is monitoring. This is why this channel is useful as the emergency channel. That is, for a short distance radio capability, the chances that a distress call is going to be herd increases with more geographically dispersed monitoring radios, and that includes onitoring boaters.



Now, the historical change comes from radios that can monitor multiple channels and selective calling and now one can see how the confusion got created. Some radio users will follow the old protocol, some will use the new protocol, which is simply to use another channel as first contact channel or use selective calling. Marinas and shore service organizations using radios with new multiple-channel monitoring capability would be able to monitor both, channel 16, and another non-emergency channel.


To conclude then, although channel 16 may continue to be used as a contact channel, this purpose is discouraged. Instead, use any other communication medium to include phones and Family Radio Service (FRS) radios but always continue to monitor channel 16 at all times.



I believe that in the not so distance future, VHF radios will succumb to satellite cell phones and EPIRBs just like LORAN died with GPS.


These are my views but there may be better views by others.

 

[Fish53]

View attachment vhf-us.pdf

 

[Fish53]

IMHO there is a lot of misunderstanding here. Yes, it is expected that channel 16 must be used first. This is for the simple reason that channel 16 initially was set as the channel to be monitored at shore, like the marinas. In that setting boaters would do two and only two things in this channel when not in emergencies: 1) Attempt contact, and 2) When contact made, move to another channel.


The key is someone is monitoring. This is why this channel is useful as the emergency channel. That is, for a short distance radio capability, the chances that a distress call is going to be herd increases with more geographically dispersed monitoring radios, and that includes onitoring boaters.

Now, the historical change comes from radios that can monitor multiple channels and selective calling and now one can see how the confusion got created. Some radio users will follow the old protocol, some will use the new protocol, which is simply to use another channel as first contact channel or use selective calling. Marinas and shore service organizations using radios with new multiple-channel monitoring capability would be able to monitor both, channel 16, and another non-emergency channel.


To conclude then, although channel 16 may continue to be used as a contact channel, this purpose is discouraged. Instead, use any other communication medium to include phones and Family Radio Service (FRS) radios but always continue to monitor channel 16 at all times.



I believe that in the not so distance future, VHF radios will succumb to satellite cell phones and EPIRBs just like LORAN died with GPS.


These are my views but there may be better views by others.

I still know folks with a CB radio on their boat, I doubt VHF is going away very soon.

 

[koliver]

I still know folks with a CB radio on their boat, I doubt VHF is going away very soon.

I have a 2007 Motorhome. Came with a CB radio. I have actually had it on once in 5 years, to call for a ride in 7 Feathers RV Park, where the Casino provides a bus from the RV sites to their own door. I can't think of any other reason to own a CB, since Burt Reynolds was calling "Breaker, Breaker".