Trojan Boat Forum

I took the test, payed my money and recieved my station license in 1985. Pryor to that I didn't use a radio or depth finder. A weight on a fishing line worked just fine for finding the bottom and if I wanted someones attention I honked my horn and waved my arms. But it became necessary for me to upgrade, with all the tug boats and log rafts constantly moving. I had a compass and charts, a circular depth finder with paper print-out (Ray Jefferson) good for finding the bottom unless your signal bounced (doubled) from a reef or other underwater object. It was hard to tell shadows from objects, not real accurate compared to today. However, up until the nineties boating was serious business around this area and now days it is as you say, more boaters and less knowledge. That's why places like this forum are so important, to help those who will be helped and to share what knowledge we have with like minded boaters while we can. Helping to keep these new boaters safe any way possible. We are our brothers keeper. I try to encourage everyone I can to join BOATUS or some type of organization that will give accurate updated information whenever needed or wanted. I think we all have the same idea about safety on the water whether it be engines, hull strength or radios.

they don't speak English over there and U know it Paul. but they do bust the radio all day long.

Wowzer, it is quite magnanimous of you to recognize the merits of always striving to learn more about one's avocation. Even though I've been boating for 48 years and am quite at home at the helm, Chapman's is still a wealth of information and I urge you to peruse a recent edition. In it, I learned that... "the phonetic alphabet should only be used when absolutely necessary to ensure clarity. In most cicumstances, when reception is clear, use of phonetics, while it may sound "professional" to some, only prolongs exchanges unnecessarily." (page 697). One area we can agree on, is the need for some sort of training and licensing for boat operators. I am in no way in favor of more government regulation, but the level of ignorance in some boaters is amazing. It is ludicrous to require licensure for a two ton automobile, yet nothing for a ten ton boat. Oh and one last thing, I have looked into joining a Power Squadron in northwest Florida, but did not because the membership solely consisted of septuagenarians and octogenarians, more interested in rules, regulations and procedures than going boating.

Go the extra mile and get your Captain's license. You don't NEED it, but you will learn a lot, and also need to do an annual update on your First Aid skills to keep it.