Basic Items for 1st Day out to sea ?-gctid809597

[vonstallin]

Hello all, I have a thread showing I am new to boating.

Besides the mechanical stuff like tools, safety kit, flares and such what is a decent mountable navigation /plotter that will not break the bank?

I am on the Corrotoman River and the Rappahannock River in Virginia and have some long trips planed, and want some type of GPS unit that will help me navigate besides my old school map.

Also, should I have a CB? will any standard one work well? I saw that Wal Mart sells a decent sized one. No antenna.

Any help would help me out.

[CptCrunchie]

"vonstallin" post=809597 wrote:
Hello all, I have a thread showing I am new to boating.

Besides the mechanical stuff like tools, safety kit, flares and such what is a decent mountable navigation /plotter that will not break the bank?

I am on the Corrotoman River and the Rappahannock River in Virginia and have some long trips planed, and want some type of GPS unit that will help me navigate besides my old school map.

Also, should I have a CB? will any standard one work well? I saw that Wal Mart sells a decent sized one. No antenna.

Any help would help me out.

Not a CB (Citizens Band), you need a marine VHF.

Any small marine GPS/chartplotter will work for you, but what is your budget? You can pick up an old Garmin - like a 182C, or 198C because it has all the inland waterways and lakes installed - for about $100 and it will work, but you will likely want more options,...or the ability to loads more options. Also, what all do you plan of doing with the boat? Fishing?

FWIW, the USCG Auxiliary has a free boat certification service. They could answer many of those questions, because many of them have boats in your area. Also, if you get stopped by the USCG, many times the sticker the Auxiliary puts on your boat will keep them from going through your boat to check on your safety equipment.

[Guest]

If you have an iPad with cellular service on it, Navionics has a great app. Last time I checked it was around $50 with all US and Canada maps. Another good app is iSailor, the app is free and then you buy the maps for your area.

[Solandri]

"robster_in_edmonds" post=809662 wrote:
If you have an iPad with cellular service on it, Navionics has a great app. Last time I checked it was around $50 with all US and Canada maps. Another good app is iSailor, the app is free and then you buy the maps for your area.

They have phone and tablet versions for both iOS and Android. It's free for use as a chartplotter with USCG maps, and has rudimentary routing with waypoints. The $50 version (free trial for a couple weeks I think) gives you the more detailed Navionics+ contour maps, as well as some misc features like weather and tides. You can download the maps ahead of time so you don't have to rely on cellular service, unless your device needs cellular service for its GPS to work (assisted GPS).

[Nickdixon]

+1 for Robs suggestion. Garmin Blue Charts is what I use. Download the charts beforehand and then the gps on the iPad, or even iPhone, is all you need. Used it on inland rivers, Great Lakes, and the Bahamas. Don't remember total cost but it couldn't have been too bad or I wouldn't have it. I would not go on the Great Lakes or the Bahamas without it.

Given your planned usage a handheld floatable VHF is what you need. I have a Standard Horizon HX 290. Indispensable for river locks, commercial traffic, marinas, restaurants on the water, etc..

[vonstallin]

Sorry for the late replys.... I am learning this forums set up. I am use to vBulletin forums.

I took the boating class online last year since i have a few jet skis I like to ride. I did end up getting a new older model Garmins from west marina ($449+ a transducer). echoMAP 74 DV. The guy at west marine was super helpful describing it all.

I ordered a VHF (now it make sense why my friends kept replying "VHF" when I ask about CBs lol).

I also picked up a harbor freight 138 kit tools.

[Pcpete]

If you have an experienced friend with their own boat, some buddy boating is a good plan. Having someone to follow and show you around without standing next to you will boost your learning and confidence. Plus, if one of you breaks down, a common occurrence early in the season, there is someone there to do the towing.

Please! Please! Learn the proper protocol for the VHF. Do not start with "breaker breaker, shipwreck, you got your ears on?" Boat name (no open calls like anybody upriver, comeback) three times, then your boat name. Ch 16 is hailing and emergency only, Ch 9 is a secondary channel that the USCG is trying to get recreational boaters to use.

[vonstallin]

"Pcpete" post=810199 wrote:
If you have an experienced friend with their own boat, some buddy boating is a good plan. Having someone to follow and show you around without standing next to you will boost your learning and confidence. Plus, if one of you breaks down, a common occurrence early in the season, there is someone there to do the towing.

Please! Please! Learn the proper protocol for the VHF. Do not start with "breaker breaker, shipwreck, you got your ears on?" Boat name (no open calls like anybody upriver, comeback) three times, then your boat name. Ch 16 is hailing and emergency only, Ch 9 is a secondary channel that the USCG is trying to get recreational boaters to use.

LOL,

I have to say, I remember my dad back in the 70s and early 80s talking and seems to remember him saying breaker LOL, he was a trucker also though.

Where do I find the VHF protocols? Im assuming youtube. Ill check there real quick.

[vonstallin]

Found a good page.

http://www.boatus.com/magazine/2015/december/vhf-radio-protocol.asp