Compulsory VHF radios?
Submitted by Tim on Thu, 2009-06-04 22:27
Has anyone heard anything about VHF radios and therefore VHF licenses becoming compulsory later this year for boats?
Had our club meeting last night and one of the guys was saying he had his boat in for repairs and it needed a new 27 meg aerial. The guy at the boat yard told him why bother wasting your money replacing with 27 meg when you will only have to change it later in the year anyway.
He is going back to try find out more info and we will call DPI as well but thought Id ask anyway.
Faulkner Family
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Date Joined: 11/03/08
money grabbers
anything for the government to get more money off the boaties
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carnarvonite
Posts: 8673
Date Joined: 24/07/07
VHF
Haven't heard of them becoming compulsory but as a safety device they are advisable.They have a greater range and better clarity.From the last Carnarfin comp just finished up here out of 109 boats only 7 didn't have VHF radios and I believe the FENACL comp in Dampier it is a requirement of entry to have one and to expect 2 radio call checks during each day.
Not saying that I think the need for a licence is compulsory but I have never heard of anyone being fined for not having one
sunshine
Posts: 2622
Date Joined: 03/03/09
Good luck around Dampier
There are more radio blackspots than areas of good reception thanks to the highly mineralised islands, massive stacks of ore (west of town reception is very poor) etc - at least with HF, particularly the 27 meg band, you have a chance of being heard on skip (sporadic e) somewhere in Australia when out of direct range.
Rick
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Date Joined: 22/12/06
Could be guilty then....
Only have VHF on the boat,but yet to sit the test..........
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till
Posts: 9358
Date Joined: 21/02/08
Doesnt this come up every
Doesnt this come up every couple of years? Its odd how every time it seems to start with a chat from some guy at a boat shop =0
Iceman
Posts: 747
Date Joined: 17/03/09
VHF not compulsary, but licence is
At Whitfords Sea rescue we have heard nothing to suggest that VHF radios will be complusary for all boats. Most boat dealers only sell VHF with new boats but forget to tell th owners that they need a licence to operate it. 80% of radio calls are on 27 meg but more and more are using VHF due to coverage. I was recently of Mandurah and was able to communicate with the tower at Ocean Reef. Good safety item if going long way offshore and northwest of WA. My 27 meg range cuts out at 22 nm.
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kempy
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Date Joined: 28/05/09
most people with boats have
most people with boats have VHF and no license
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HuggyB
Posts: 2515
Date Joined: 03/08/08
$50 says it'll happen
bet everyone scoffed when they suggested boat licenses a few years ago - now its a must have. Vompulsory VHF license and unit will follow suit, no doubt about it.
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