Gulf Islands Boating Blog https://www.cruising.bc.ca/blog Power & Sail Tips from Gulf Islands Cruising School Ltd. Fri, 03 Nov 2023 21:40:15 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.8.10 VHF Radio Signal Checks and Readability Scale https://www.cruising.bc.ca/blog/vhf-marine-radio-operator/vhf-radio-signal-checks-and-readability-scale Fri, 03 Nov 2023 14:21:00 +0000 http://www.cruising.bc.ca/blog/?p=206 It is sometimes necessary to verify that your transmitter and receiver are operational. This can be done by: 1. establishing contact on the working channel and conducting your tests (the actual wording of the test is given in the example below), 2. not exceeding ten seconds for signal checks, 3. using the readability scale listed … Continue reading "VHF Radio Signal Checks and Readability Scale"

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]]> Summer Boating https://www.cruising.bc.ca/blog/general/summer-boating Wed, 19 Oct 2011 12:59:25 +0000 http://www.cruising.bc.ca/blog/?p=231 Summer boating is great fun, but there are some things you’ll need to take into consideration before you get your boat on the water. When summer hits, there’s no better time to go boating on a nice, cool body of water.  It’s also the time when hundreds of other boaters have the same idea. First, remember … Continue reading "Summer Boating"

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]]> How to Use Marine Radar https://www.cruising.bc.ca/blog/coastal-navigation/how-to-use-marine-radar Mon, 17 Oct 2011 11:09:13 +0000 http://www.cruising.bc.ca/blog/?p=227 Most of the twin engine vessels I teach aboard have marine radar. A client has just purchased a larger vessel for sport fishing and it is equipped with chart plotter/marine radar. We were on the water for two hours to show him how to use this unit. We went through all the options to set … Continue reading "How to Use Marine Radar"

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]]> Boat Galley With Two Burner Stove https://www.cruising.bc.ca/blog/boat-galley/boat-galley-with-two-burner-stove Sun, 16 Oct 2011 19:19:05 +0000 http://www.cruising.bc.ca/blog/?p=220 Cooking on a boat’s two burner galley stove takes planning and preparation to feed your crew. My first experience was outfitting, menu planning and provisioning  boats with two burner alcohol stoves and an icebox. 3 tips for managing your galley: 1.  Assess the space you have.  Containers may be needed to hold cutlery, spices, etc. … Continue reading "Boat Galley With Two Burner Stove"

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]]> Calling on VHF Radio https://www.cruising.bc.ca/blog/vhf-marine-radio-operator/calling-on-vhf-radio Thu, 13 Oct 2011 09:15:38 +0000 http://www.cruising.bc.ca/blog/?p=204 The calling examples used are sample call signs only. Before transmitting, listen for a period long enough to ensure that harmful interference to transmissions already in progress is not likely to occur. If such interference seems likely, wait until the transmissions in progress are completed before making your call. A station having a distress, urgency … Continue reading "Calling on VHF Radio"

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]]> Expressing Numbers and Time on VHF Marine Radio https://www.cruising.bc.ca/blog/vhf-marine-radio-operator/expressing-numbers-and-time-on-vhf-marine-radio Wed, 12 Oct 2011 09:10:08 +0000 http://www.cruising.bc.ca/blog/?p=202 Numbers Expressed in Words 0 – ZERO 1 – ONE 2 – TWO 3 – THREE 4 – FOUR 5 – FIVE 6 – SIX 7 – SEVEN 8 – EIGHT 9 – NINE . – DECIMAL ?,000 – THOUSAND All numbers except whole thousands should be transmitted by pronouncing each digit separately. Whole thousands … Continue reading "Expressing Numbers and Time on VHF Marine Radio"

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]]> Phonetic Alphabet for VHF radio https://www.cruising.bc.ca/blog/vhf-marine-radio-operator/phonetic-alphabet-for-vhf-radio Tue, 11 Oct 2011 20:03:21 +0000 http://www.cruising.bc.ca/blog/?p=197 The words of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) phonetic alphabet should be learned thoroughly. Whenever isolated letters or groups of letters are pronounced separately, or when communication is difficult, the alphabet can be easily used. When it is necessary to spell out words, the following table should be used. The syllables to be emphasized are … Continue reading "Phonetic Alphabet for VHF radio"

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]]> VHF Marine Radio Operator https://www.cruising.bc.ca/blog/vhf-marine-radio-operator/vhf-marine-radio-operator Mon, 10 Oct 2011 09:50:12 +0000 http://www.cruising.bc.ca/blog/?p=195 Procedures The efficient use of VHF radio depends to a large extent on the operator’s method of speaking. As the distinctive sounds of consonants are apt to become blurred in the transmission of speech, words of similar length containing the same vowel sounds may sound alike. Special care is necessary in their pronunciation. Special care … Continue reading "VHF Marine Radio Operator"

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]]> Advanced Anchoring – Using a Stern Line https://www.cruising.bc.ca/blog/anchoring/advanced-anchoring-using-a-stern-line Sun, 09 Oct 2011 08:19:01 +0000 http://www.cruising.bc.ca/blog/?p=192 In a crowded anchorage, you may want to limit your swing. One way to do this is to take a stern line to shore. Make sure that other boats around you are doing the same thing or you will have other vessels swinging into you. Usually the vessel is anchored and then a crew member … Continue reading "Advanced Anchoring – Using a Stern Line"

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]]> Anchoring Without Yelling https://www.cruising.bc.ca/blog/anchoring/anchoring-without-yelling-2 Sat, 08 Oct 2011 09:08:42 +0000 http://www.cruising.bc.ca/blog/?p=185 Here is a simple step by step process that will allow you and your crew to anchor confidently and quietly. 1. Select your anchorage using the criteria in “Choosing Your Anchorage“. 2. Check the chart for any hazards and circle around your selected anchoring watching your depth sounder. 3. Discuss with your crew your anchoring … Continue reading "Anchoring Without Yelling"

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