Table Rock Lake Boaters - Do You Keep A Vhf Radio In Your Boat?

[Trolling For Walleye]

i've been reading about boat safety and they mention VHF radios.

but it said if your lake doesn't have many users of it, then it is worthless.

What say you?

[dtrs5kprs]

Cell phone with good local coverage. Transistor for storms (at least to listen to while hiding under a dock, weather reports being what they are).

[Whack'emGood]

All I need is a cell phone and a weather radio. Worst case... on TR you are always close to homes. If you get into trouble you can get help quickly.

Whack'em

[tsadler]

I always keep radio on at my houseboat, just as do most houseboat owners do. I recently took out radio from fishing boat, cell phone works just as well .

Campbell Pt. has radio but storm knocked it out several years ago, never fixed it.

[Sam]

No radio, but I've always got a cell phone. So far as weather, keeping a close eye on the sky and listening for thunder gives me better local warning than a radio would. When the sky in the west turns black and I hear distant rumbles, it's time to head for the barn.

For other troubles, like Whack'emGood said you're always near docks, houses, or other boats. I've got a police whistle on the keychain and an air horn under the dash, and I think surely I could get some help if I really needed it.

[Tom Spence]

No radio but I've always got a phone with me and I seem to always have sufficient coverage on Table Rock. I agree with Whackem that you're usually always close to shelter or help on TR. If I was on the Great Lakes or something like that I'd probably re think it though.

[skeeter]

Yep, cell phone for me too. It's expensive enough and don't want to be bothered by chatter on VHF.

As far as weather, I keep my eyes on the sky from time to time. Only thing I would like to see weather related is an inexpensive mobile lightning detector other than your ears listening for the thunderclap. It would be nice to be able to tell how far away the lightning is and it's direction. The way the hills echo the thunder makes it difficult to tell direction many times. There is a card you can purchase and install in your PC along with an external antenna that receives the radio frequency of lightning bolts but that isn't going to help you on the water.

[Bill P]

I keep the cell phone with me. As far as weather,I religiously check it before I go out.

[techo]

The weather forecast seems to be remarkably accurate. It usually even has the wind speeds down and at what time they change. For the most part I have a good idea what the weather will do. I am with everone else in that I have a cell phone. My mrs would call in a heartbeat if something popped up. I don't think there is a place on the lake where you are more than three or four minutes (or less)from some sort of shelter.

[CaptainJoe]

Cell phone for me and I carry a portable weather radio if I need to check conditions.

When I am on my pontoon, I have a VHF radio for emergencies and to monitor the weather and other broadcasts because it takes me longer to get back to the dock (20 mph max.) and it comes in handy when I go night fishing or stay out overnight.