[Psml] MARYLAND DRN PROMOTES UNSAFE VHF USE

[John & Judy Gill]

Mark,

Let me get your opinion straight.  All boaters who would like to  
receive hailing calls should monitor Channel 9.  Therefore they will  
NOT be listening on Channel 16, and as a result will not hear any May  
Day, Pan Pan or Security transmissions.  If we all do what DNR  
recommends, the only ones listening on Channel 16 will be the Coast  
Guard and they don't rebroadcast these messages on Channel 9 nor are  
they required to monitor Channel 9.

Hopefully everyone will remember to broadcast any Distress Calls on  
BOTH channels - not something I would want to contend with in an  
emergency.  With the cuts in budgets and the added responsibilities  
for Homeland Security, the USCG must not be our only resource for  
help in an emergency -- boaters must be able to contact fellow  
boaters and the CG at the same time.  The practice of many Yacht  
Clubs is to tell all members to monitor a designated "working  
channel" versus hailing on Ch. 16 and switching to the designated  
channel.  If all pleasure craft and commercial vessels are required  
to do the same, no one will ever hear a call for help or be advised  
of a dangerous situation except the Coast Guard (or perhaps TowBoat/ 
US or SeaTow).

Somehow I don't think that this DNR requirement / mandate is in the  
best interests of safety!!!  Why not just tell everyone to call the  
Coast Guard on Channel 22 alpha -- then let the USCG broadcast an all  
call on Channel 16 like they do for missing or overdue boats?  That  
way the CG and Marine Police don't have to listen to the chitter- 
chatter on Channel 16 (I am sure that it is quite boring).

BTW, this prohibition of using Channel 16 for hailing purposes was  
tried on Lake Michigan and caused several serious incidents before  
the CG reversed their ruling.  Thankfully no deaths resulted as far  
as I know.

Bottom line -- we agree to disagree!

John Gill
Pennsway Power Squadron, D/5 USPS
Orillia Power Squadron, CPS-ECP
Two J's V, a 36 ft. Carver Mariner
Slip E-26 Sassafras Harbor Marina, Georgetown, MD
An AGLCA Looper

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On Dec 5, 2007, at 12:45 PM, mark nolan wrote (SNIP)
>
> I do not agree with your interpretation of the DNR message.  They  
> are not telling boaters to  stop monitoring channel 16.  Nor are  
> they asking boaters to monitor channel 9 instead of channel 16.   
> They are asking boaters to avoid calling other boats on channel  
> 16.  You have greatly over reacted to a reasonable suggestion from  
> DNR.
>
>
>