Marine radios
Whats your opnion of the VHF ragio licenses that we will ( at the moment ) have to get just to go fishing. A course for the license will cost at the moment approx $300 dollars to what amouts to a coxswain ticket. That is a commerical lincense so why are we (recriational fishers going to be force to by a new radio the be forced to Spend $300 to get a profiiicencey ticket to use the radio. We only need to call up sign off and a have station to station channel not all the other crap they want us to do . I know they don't come into force until Sept 2028 when it will cost a lot more.
There will be lot of pensioners that might not be able to coffee up 300 bucks jus to go fishing.
I have emailed the relevent authority and suggested a shortened cousre to bo do on line for a few dollars using you skippers ticket number. Maybe $50 ?
Filletmaster
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Billcollector
Posts: 2194
Date Joined: 16/05/09
Had my license for a number
Had my license for a number of years now and never been asked to produce it.
We arranged ours at our fishing club with the instructor coming from the local Tafe.
It will be interesting if it was policed by Transport or if it was a low priority, usually only check flares, epirb, jackets and if you had a radio on board.
Alan James
Posts: 2334
Date Joined: 30/06/09
...
You will need a license to put your rubbish bin out soon.
Some councils have already introduced 'Rubbish Police' inspection programs. This is progress ......... ??????
sunshine
Posts: 2724
Date Joined: 03/03/09
Doesnt cost anywhere near that
Speak to Marine Rescue Cockburn who hold regular courses for a fraction of the cost.
piscetor
Posts: 303
Date Joined: 13/05/16
marine radios
It's not so much the cost as it is being blugened by the goverment to have one and as i said its a commerical license Coxswain Ticket ) which i frimly believe we don't really need.
Who the hell came up with the idea, some twat sitting in an office somewhere, ahhha we can make a few bucks with this idea.
It's just crap. just like the fishing ban.
Filletmaster
sunshine
Posts: 2724
Date Joined: 03/03/09
LROCP or SROCP
You only need the latter and as I said Marine Rescue Cockburn hold regular one day (about four hours) courses at very reasonable cost
piscetor
Posts: 303
Date Joined: 13/05/16
radio
Yep checked it out $125 the course is n oct 26? But why should we even have to do a payed course.Its a goverment department ( communication and media ) that is FORCING us to do it. To much GOV crap being pushed down our throats.
If they want us to do a course then get us to do it on line using our skippers ticket. And that will be the next thing our life ticket will be under the pump and you'll have to pay to do a revision coures.
Thanks for the the course heads up. Cheers'
Filletmaster
Reefsta
Posts: 417
Date Joined: 03/08/19
Likely cheaper options
VHF and HF radios are long established in commercial and international boating, so certification in proficient use is a nescessity to keep the radio network working well. Moving from 27MHZ to VHF gives rec boaters better radio, but means we are part of the bigger radio user community that includes commercial and international users, so now also need to be certified proficient. The Short Range Operator Certificate of Proficiency is the minimum requirement for commercial use and would be part of a Coxswain ticket, but these days a basic VHF qual like the Australian Water Qual covers coastal use within 12 miles, so enough for most rec boaters and likely cheaper and quicker to do.
piscetor
Posts: 303
Date Joined: 13/05/16
AWQ
I have looked into the AWQ. The costs are about the same. It is a shorter coures if you can find anyone that does it in your local area. the only one i found was well north of where i live. It is an easyer coures to do and as you say, it would suit a lot of fishers as all the small boaters would only be going out a few miles not 12.
I just hate having the GOV twisting our arms with what to me is black mail. Don't do the course and cop a big fine for using the radio without a ticket. Its a safety item and it shouldn't be a prequist for going fishing or boating.
This coures is a good idea that needs to be available if you want to do it.
Filletmaster
sunshine
Posts: 2724
Date Joined: 03/03/09
Not hard to be more than 12 nm offshore here in WA
SROCP therefore recommended. I had a ham license VK6XI but still had to do this course despite the far superior qualifications. Have NEVER been asked to show the license in over a 35 years but given what is happening anything is possible and likely by the "revenue raisers"
Reefsta
Posts: 417
Date Joined: 03/08/19
Some old quals OK for rec use
I have an old ROCP from when I did a coastal conswains about 30 years ago, as we needed to use VHS and HF at the time. Those were issued in perpetuity, so I rang the AMC last week and was told that it is still valid for recreational use, but no longer meets the requirements for commercial use, which requires updated training in things like DSC. Now retired and only doing recreational boating, so it looks like I'm OK for a valid licence. Good to know, but I've always had VHF on my dingy and as above, also never been asked to show a licence for it.
sunshine
Posts: 2724
Date Joined: 03/03/09
Dont forget if you are night fishing
A QRES strobe now replaces rocket flares from 1 September. Amazon have the best prices on these presently
sea-kem
Posts: 15288
Date Joined: 30/11/09
I bought one of these
I bought one of these Gordon, but will still keep flares on board and 2 epirbs at separate locations. If it all goes south I'll be setting the lot off.
Love the West!
sunshine
Posts: 2724
Date Joined: 03/03/09
Exactly what i am doing Andy
But it was suggested by a respected marine dealer that rocket flares effectively become illegal from September 1.........bluntly where my safety and that of the crew is involved the more safety gear the better.
Head out to the fads and a resq strobe wont be seen by anyone after dark but a rocket flare gives you way better chance of being noticed
sea-kem
Posts: 15288
Date Joined: 30/11/09
Totally agree re rocket
Totally agree re rocket flare.
Love the West!
Alan James
Posts: 2334
Date Joined: 30/06/09
...
I used to keep expired flares and EPIRBS onboard as back up and as you say, with the aim of letting the lot off if it turns to poo.
Having said that I believe there is a risk of having flares past their use by date onboard - fire hazard. Gordon would be the perfect person to comment on potential insurance ramifications.
sunshine
Posts: 2724
Date Joined: 03/03/09
Only one recorded expired flare issue
And it was not on a boat but in discarded rubbish ......theoretically they can become unstable as the materials crystallise but well kept last way way over their expiry dates. MRC hold regular flare demonstrations using expired flares both smoke and rocket and i cannot recall a single failure despite many being very old. Certainly not an issue for insurance purposes. I store m8ne in sealed waterproof screw top containers .....easily grabbable in an emergency and will float
Alan James
Posts: 2334
Date Joined: 30/06/09
You're more trusting than me Gordon
Whilst the risk maybe low of an outdated flare being the source of a fire I would ask myself the following question. Would an insurance company pass up an opportunity to reject a claim in the event they suspected the source of the fire may have been an outdated flare?
Keeping outdated flares as a backup is probably commonplace but I expect it does come with a risk, albeit low.
Reefsta
Posts: 417
Date Joined: 03/08/19
up in smoke?
If a flare started a fire, seems to me the use-by-date might be hard to find in the end. I've moved to electronic but also keep my old set of flare on board, as they still look in perfect condition in the original packaging.
Rob H
Posts: 5912
Date Joined: 18/01/12
I bought a RESQ flare when
I bought a RESQ flare when they first came legal and my first thought when I opened the box was "wheres the bracket to mount it?"
I contacted the company to ask if they'd be making brackets and they said "maybe".
I made my own, as I reckon it needs to be on display not only for quick response, but also so other people onboard don't go looking for non existent pyrotechnics if you're not able to explain it to them.
It sits right beside my EPIRB on my dash
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.