Chit chat and banter while under way!?!?!?! VHF

[HDAV]

So vhf is for essential communication and safety info only...... so how does everyone just chat while underway or waiting for the inivetible late comer? Discuss where to stop for lunch refreshments? Or who picked up the coals for the BBQ when you get back?

Dual band vhf/pmr? Water proof pmr? Mobile phone?

Or just find a quiet local vhf channel and hope CG aren't listening?

VHF is ideal as you can chat on an empty channel but everyone is supposed to be on a constant listen (but that's no benefit if it's turned down/off)

Would a relaxation of some of the regs increase vhf adoption? Regular use increase familiarity and confidence in use?

[treerat]

CG only listen to the emergency channels. Ofcom may be listening to the others but there are plenty of channels that can be used for event communications.

For instance we've been out today on Ch8 to make for easy group comms. Dual watch with 16 and a handheld on 14 (local traffic) meant listening channels were open too.

[lakelandterrier]

Originally Posted by HDAV

So vhf is for essential communication and safety info only......

Agreeing where you are stopping for lunch is essential communication

Channnels 6,8, 72,77 are ship to ship "working" channels for routine or individual traffic - nothing to say it has to be "essential"

LT

[HDAV]

Was out the other week (different area and CH68 as being used for inter group comms) worked well

I tend to (wrongly I know) leave mine turned down (off at times) and in my bag. But it was nice to have some chat and useful.

Being low in the water range is limited to a few miles anyway.

[Mextli]

We have been using 72 during our voyage to Heligoland, and we werent the only ones. A lot of chit chat was going on on 72 whilst near the port. Further out it got quit.

German regulation says 72 is for social messages so i guess it might be similar in the uk