skunked at TI

[tstizzle]

a note of caution about vhf radios for those of you who need to acquire one: many now come with MURS and/or FRS bands. these are short-range, open bands for use talking to other handhelds within range. nice, but there's a limitation.

because these bands are in use for private communication, the fcc has limited the signal strength that can be used on them. to ensure no one boosts power, these radios come without removable antennas so that the signal cannot be boosted.

now you have a radio that is something like 8, and often 12, inches tall and will require you carry it in something other than the piggyback waist harness pack.[/i]

[WindDoll]

Look for your rig around Isabel/Marina Bay. A lot of stuff ends up there . . . dead bodies . . . no, really! (Lacy Peterson was one.) It was awesome there yesterday. I sailed upwind from the launch to Berkeley reef on a 75 Quatro FSW and 4.1 Bash.

[dperzinski]

West Marine has the ICOM-M72 radio for 199. They also sell a Standard Horizons HX850S, floating, with intregal GPS for 249.00. Has anyone heard of this one? I think the GPS might worth the extra 50.

Dave P

[tstizzle]

[diannesf]

Love the discussion about the North/South currents. One thing that helped me tremendously over the years is a map (several, actually) of the currents in different spots during each hour of ebb and flood. They're easy to find, and are usually in each year's tide book.

It's pretty amazing how the currents change and move around, especially true near land masses (Alcatraz, TI, Crissy shoreline, etc.) and if you are familiar with the currents and back eddies in these places, you can get yourself in by using them to your advantage. I thought after way too many years of racing all over the Bay I knew them well, but I learned even more over the Winter by cruising around on my SUP board. Just standing there and seeing where the currents take you and how much stronger they are in different places at different times is pretty fascinating.

That being said, I still haven't gone out on a flood at TI...but I will check my currents map if I ever do!

[greytwhyte]

OK, this thread got me to check my marine radio thoroughly. I normally just make sure it turns on to channel 16 before I put it around my neck and stuff down my wetsuit like Victor mentioned. I've always kept it in an aquapak and it is "submersible"; however, I discovered that my aquapak has been leaking. So, while the radio turns on it is apparantly stuck on the Canadian setting and there is quite a bit of salt water corrosion on the inside. Even though I'm Canadian, I don't think trying to reach the Canadian coast gaurd is going to help if I'm in the middle of the Bay.

So, check your packs and rinse your radios and if throwing your gear in from an elevated launch don't hook your uphaul.

Thanks for reminding me Kev. I had just gotten over the nightmares. At least cold water helps control bleeding so I was still able to get in a sesh with my buddy Sascha that day. One of the few who would launch from 13th in a flood with me.

[koogzah]

[bob1]

[seablind]

Echoing some others here: the ICOM M-72 is a great radio and is "submersible" - so it will work when it gets wet. Corrosion from salt will kill it however, so rinsing with fresh water is key. Carrying it in an aquapac keeps the radio dry and free from corrosion, and the aquapac also blocks wind noise.

Corrosion from salt water killed my radio this year. West Marine replaced it, no questions asked.

As for how to carry the radio, many of us have packs made by airwave (you can look for their ad on this site). The packs attach to your harness, and have a release buckle on one side so that you can swing it around to the front without losing the pack or the radio if you need to call. Enough room to also carry a strobe light, extra line, compass, whistle - or whatever small items you think you might want to have handy.