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We review the Icom IC-M35 handheld. Read the full review
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The SafaSail Hard Hat looks just like a sailing cap, but will help protect you if you get a bang to the head. Â See our A solution to the ATIS problem
On the topic of the RAINWAT agreement and the problems that British flagged yachts face in the RAINWAT inland waterways.
I gather that a handheld radio with ATIS is not likely to be the desirable solution although it is the first that comes to mind. In the RAINWAT agreement, it appears that, with the exception of The Nederlands and Switzerland, the handheld radio is only permitted to operate on channels 15 and 17.
Another complication is the requirement to disable dual-watch, while requiring simultaneous monitoring of two channels. Hence two radios are required.
Yet another is the requirement not to have the antenna higher than 12 m from the load line. My yacht has a 14 m mast and the VHF antenna is on top of that
Living in Brussels and over-wintering my boat there has meant that I needed to obey RAINWAT. My solution is to use my old non-DSC radio with ATIS and a push-pit mounted antenna and my new DSC radio with MMSI attached to the mast head antenna. I can listen simultaneously on both but only transmit on the old ATIS radio when inland. At sea, it is the DSC radio that is used for transmissions.
Hope this helps others with the RAINWAT puzzle.
Richard Idiens
- Created on Tuesday, 10 March 2009 23:27
- Written by Richard Thomas
- Hits: 11146
