Attn: Southern Classic guys and gals

Any of you planning on bringing two-way radios? I was thinking about picking
up one or two of those little units in case we need communications. Wouldn't
want to lose anyone again this year.

Hey Moe... how well do you think these things will work out on that big
lake?

--
Charles B. Summers
Secret Weapon Lures
http://www.secretweaponlures.com

I've got a set I can bring.

"Charles Summers" wrote in message
...
Any of you planning on bringing two-way radios? I was thinking about
picking
up one or two of those little units in case we need communications.
Wouldn't
want to lose anyone again this year.

Hey Moe... how well do you think these things will work out on that big
lake?

--
Charles B. Summers
Secret Weapon Lures
http://www.secretweaponlures.com

On Fri, 27 Feb 2004 22:47:26 -0600, "Charles Summers"
wrote:

Any of you planning on bringing two-way radios? I was thinking about picking
up one or two of those little units in case we need communications. Wouldn't
want to lose anyone again this year.

Hey Moe... how well do you think these things will work out on that big
lake?

My experience using the popular 2-way radios hunting & fishing is that
they are not very effective--range is limited pretty much to clear
line-of-sight distance. Hills, lake points, islands, trees,
buildings--any interfering structures reduce the range significantly.
Their claims of 1 to 5 miles distance are not realistic, or perhaps
are based on absolute optimum conditions, such as boat to boat across
flat water.

Maybe Moe or others have had better results?

My experience using the popular 2-way radios hunting & fishing is that
they are not very effective--range is limited pretty much to clear
line-of-sight distance. Hills, lake points, islands, trees,
buildings--any interfering structures reduce the range significantly.
Their claims of 1 to 5 miles distance are not realistic, or perhaps
are based on absolute optimum conditions, such as boat to boat across
flat water.

Maybe Moe or others have had better results?

Nope, your right on that Guy. Cell phone is my weapon of choice - lol

--
The most precious thing we have is life, yet it has absolutely no
trade-in value.
Good Fishing - Moe
Moe's Guide Service (Lake Okeechobee) - http://moebassguide.com
Outdoor Frontiers http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com/index

"Moe Conway" wrote in message
...
My experience using the popular 2-way radios hunting & fishing is that
they are not very effective--range is limited pretty much to clear
line-of-sight distance. Hills, lake points, islands, trees,
buildings--any interfering structures reduce the range significantly.
Their claims of 1 to 5 miles distance are not realistic, or perhaps
are based on absolute optimum conditions, such as boat to boat across
flat water.

Maybe Moe or others have had better results?

Nope, your right on that Guy. Cell phone is my weapon of choice - lol

--
The most precious thing we have is life, yet it has absolutely no
trade-in value.
Good Fishing - Moe
Moe's Guide Service (Lake Okeechobee) - http://moebassguide.com
Outdoor Frontiers http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com/index


In the waters where I fish there are lots of hills seperating the various
lakes and backwaters. Cell coverage is nill except in a couple of open
stretches of the river. FRS or GMRS is no better unless a lot of people had
them. GMRS is substantially better than FRS. The Audiovox units that cliam
a range of 7 miles get 3-4 miles in the rela world if there are no
obstructions.

The local sheriff's department (who has primary jurisdiction where I fish)
does monitor the emergency channels on marine radio, but only when they are
on the water. You might still be stuck in a back water for days before you
get anybody's attention.

I carry a cell phone and a 12 gage flare gun in my boat. I'll probably add
a mairne radio to my aluminum boat because I'll be using it in more remote
areas, as a back up form of communications.

You know we should start a safety thread on required equipment and general
regulations. Since most states adopt the larger part of Coast Guard
regulations it should be pretty good. I know there are a lot of things I
would not know if I hadn't taken a Coast Guard small craft certification
course back in high school, (over 20 years ago) and I could certainly stand
a refresher.

Did you know that those inflatable life jackets we all like so much on hot
days don't count as one of your required flotation devices unless you are
actually wearing it?

Did you know that you are required to have two (2) different signalling
devices on your boat? (Cetain small craft are exempt from some stuff due to
size and payload constraints. Craft like canoes and kayaks)

Did you know that in most states you are responsible for any damage caused
by your wake regardless of whether it is a no wake or open speed zone?

Did you know that a functioning horn is a mandatory?

Did you know that inboard and I/Os are exempt from the level flotation
requirements of outboat powered craft?

Add to that requirement 1 throwable floatation device, and be sure to
check the expiration dates on most flares, they do have one.

"Bob La Londe" wrote in message
...
"Moe Conway" wrote in message
...
My experience using the popular 2-way radios hunting & fishing is that
they are not very effective--range is limited pretty much to clear
line-of-sight distance. Hills, lake points, islands, trees,
buildings--any interfering structures reduce the range significantly.
Their claims of 1 to 5 miles distance are not realistic, or perhaps
are based on absolute optimum conditions, such as boat to boat across
flat water.

Maybe Moe or others have had better results?

Nope, your right on that Guy. Cell phone is my weapon of choice - lol

--
The most precious thing we have is life, yet it has absolutely no
trade-in value.
Good Fishing - Moe
Moe's Guide Service (Lake Okeechobee) - http://moebassguide.com
Outdoor Frontiers http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com/index


In the waters where I fish there are lots of hills seperating the various
lakes and backwaters. Cell coverage is nill except in a couple of open
stretches of the river. FRS or GMRS is no better unless a lot of people
had
them. GMRS is substantially better than FRS. The Audiovox units that
cliam
a range of 7 miles get 3-4 miles in the rela world if there are no
obstructions.

The local sheriff's department (who has primary jurisdiction where I fish)
does monitor the emergency channels on marine radio, but only when they
are
on the water. You might still be stuck in a back water for days before
you
get anybody's attention.

I carry a cell phone and a 12 gage flare gun in my boat. I'll probably
add
a mairne radio to my aluminum boat because I'll be using it in more remote
areas, as a back up form of communications.

You know we should start a safety thread on required equipment and general
regulations. Since most states adopt the larger part of Coast Guard
regulations it should be pretty good. I know there are a lot of things I
would not know if I hadn't taken a Coast Guard small craft certification
course back in high school, (over 20 years ago) and I could certainly
stand
a refresher.

Did you know that those inflatable life jackets we all like so much on hot
days don't count as one of your required flotation devices unless you are
actually wearing it?

Did you know that you are required to have two (2) different signalling
devices on your boat? (Cetain small craft are exempt from some stuff due
to
size and payload constraints. Craft like canoes and kayaks)

Did you know that in most states you are responsible for any damage caused
by your wake regardless of whether it is a no wake or open speed zone?

Did you know that a functioning horn is a mandatory?

Did you know that inboard and I/Os are exempt from the level flotation
requirements of outboat powered craft?

I'll bring my set.

pat

Charles Summers wrote:
Any of you planning on bringing two-way radios? I was thinking about picking
up one or two of those little units in case we need communications. Wouldn't
want to lose anyone again this year.

Hey Moe... how well do you think these things will work out on that big
lake?

--
Charles B. Summers
Secret Weapon Lures
http://www.secretweaponlures.com

I just got back from Okeechobee - trying to fish out of Clewiston (south end).
The wind was so bad that I fished only a couple of fruitless hours Friday and
not at all on Saturday. We had reservations at Anglers but our room was
unavailable since the guy who was supposed to be leaving on Friday got lost on
the lake Thursday and was not found until Saturday around noon. He was finally
found by searchers using a helicopter as he had blow in behind a cattail line
and could not be seen from the water. I understand that he was in fairly good
shape after spending two nights on the lake.

Okeechobee can be very dangerous and it's very easy to get lost if you go
inside the reed lines. Everyone should have the ability to communicate in case
of emergencies. I now use a cell phone and get reasonably good service on the
lake. A seven-mile range radio will not be very effective on a lake over 30
miles long and very wide.

For the classic, we should have a list of cell numbers for everyone fishing.
Also, when my club fishes down there (we have a tournament out of clewiston
next weekend) we usually have everyone file a "float plan" so we will have some
idea where to look if someone does not show up at weigh-in. We seal these in
an envelope that is opened only if someone is late.
Lamar Middleton
Winter Haven, FL

Sounds scary Lamar... too bad the fella didn't have GPS on the boat. I think
I'll print this off for when my new GPS comes in, I can show my wife that I
only bought it so she won't end up a widow from me getting lost on
Okeechobee. LOL

--
Charles B. Summers
Secret Weapon Lures
http://www.secretweaponlures.com


"Lamar Middleton" wrote in message
...
I just got back from Okeechobee - trying to fish out of Clewiston (south
end).
The wind was so bad that I fished only a couple of fruitless hours Friday
and
not at all on Saturday. We had reservations at Anglers but our room was
unavailable since the guy who was supposed to be leaving on Friday got
lost on
the lake Thursday and was not found until Saturday around noon. He was
finally
found by searchers using a helicopter as he had blow in behind a cattail
line
and could not be seen from the water. I understand that he was in fairly
good
shape after spending two nights on the lake.

Okeechobee can be very dangerous and it's very easy to get lost if you go
inside the reed lines. Everyone should have the ability to communicate in
case
of emergencies. I now use a cell phone and get reasonably good service on
the
lake. A seven-mile range radio will not be very effective on a lake over
30
miles long and very wide.

For the classic, we should have a list of cell numbers for everyone
fishing.
Also, when my club fishes down there (we have a tournament out of
clewiston
next weekend) we usually have everyone file a "float plan" so we will have
some
idea where to look if someone does not show up at weigh-in. We seal these
in
an envelope that is opened only if someone is late.
Lamar Middleton
Winter Haven, FL