[Rhodes22-list] Cell Phone Triangulation

[Joseph Hadzima]

Hi Bill

Yes I do give a little safety talk, but it's limited to how
to stop the boat - {head into wind drop sails, use the
engine), and there is a waterproof emergency card with the
radio.  Since we rent I bring these with us on our trips. 
and I do try to get everyone to try something during the
trip.

As for the cell phone - I'd like to pass along a news story
from the DC area, this past week.  A UMUC college student
attempted to dial 9-1-1 because four people were attempting
to break in.  It took 20 minutes for the wireless company
to connect them to the correct police department!  The TV
news did not state which company they had, but did say it
is a function of the cell company, and cell phones from out
of the area.  So I would suggest you program in the local
CG emergency number in YOUR cell phone and instruct anyone
left aboard if you are tossed over (or other-wised
incapacitated) to use YOUR phone, and not theirs (more
important if they are from out-of-town).

the local newspaper story is
http://www.gazette.net/stories/112206/princou112739_31993.shtml

I assume since you have your own boat, you may be taking
more non-sailing friends & family out, rather than people
with even limited experience.  I sort of see this as the
same problem for which a solo sailor needs to prepare.  I'd
suggest getting an EPIRG and attach it to your PFD - which
as the only able-boddy sailor / skipper you wear 100% of
the time :-)  then you can relax :-)

Personally, I like using the MapTech waterproof chartkit,
and use a grease pencil to mark position on the clear
plastic cover, so everyone knows the boat position.  this
may be just me being over cautious because when we rent it
is to expolore new areas (like LIS last Summer) and I'm
double carful since I don't know the waters.

I hope the cell phone works for you.


--- Bill Effros <bill at effros.com> wrote:

> Joe,
> 
> It's really not me or my position I'm worried about. 
> It's what others 
> will do if I should fall overboard.
> 
> Do you give people a safety briefing when they come on
> board?
> 
> Do you teach them how to hail on a marine radio?  Do they
> know where the 
> GPS is, or how to read coordinates off it?  Do they know
> what channel 
> they are supposed to hail on?  Do they know where the
> talk button is?  
> Or how to use it?
> 
> They all know exactly how to use their cell phones, and
> most of them 
> know exactly where they are.  My guess is that calling
> 911 where I sail 
> would get anyone a faster response than jumping onto a
> frequency and 
> yelling "Mayday" (kids do this 100s of times each
> summer).  (Greenwich 
> has a police boat.)
> 
> Remember that in the time it took you to read this, even
> on our slow 
> little sail boats, people on the boat keep moving farther
> and farther 
> away from the person who falls over board.  A lot of
> people drown every 
> year in LIS--it's serious water.  I read the same
> magazines you read, 
> and I know what they say--but if my life is on the line I
> might be 
> better off if the people on my boat hop onto their cell
> phones instead 
> of trying to navigate the idiosyncrasies of marine
> radios.
> 
> Bill Effros
> 
> Joseph Hadzima wrote:
> > Regardless of whether or not triangulation is working,
> you
> > should always be able to give your aprox position
> during
> > your first transmission! 
> >
> > The advantage of radio over cell phone is that others
> may
> > also be listening.  Perhaps some that can reach you
> sooner
> > than the USCG!
> >
> > just a thought.
> >
> >
> >
> > --- Bill Effros <bill at effros.com> wrote:
> >
> >   
> >> Cell phone companies were supposed to provide
> >> triangulation from their 
> >> towers so that any cell phone could be located in case
> of
> >> emergency.  
> >> Anyone know the status of that?
> >>
> >> Can you still dial "CG" from your cell phone and get
> the
> >> Coast Guard?
> >>
> >> On LIS you've got a much better chance of rescue on
> your
> >> cell phone than 
> >> your marine radio because of all the clutter on the
> >> channels.  We use 
> >> marine radios to hail the head cleaning boats, request
> >> pick ups from 
> >> yacht clubs, and to find out where the fish are
> biting.
> >>
> >> Bill Effros
> >>
> >> Arthur H. Czerwonky wrote:
> >>     
> >>> Nan,
> >>> All good suggestions, especially the original one
> that
> >>>       
> >> you seriously consider the Rhodes 22 for your boat. 
> >> Hands down a superb choice.  On the VHF, if you do not
> >> have one already, I'd choose the one with emergency
> GPS
> >> position transmission capability, and a handheld GPS
> as a
> >> minimum.  Lake or open water, I'd get a depth reader
> of
> >> some kind.  Stan can make integral with the hull,
> sealed
> >> properly, and I wouldn't miss that.  The boat will
> >> probably have Stan's engine hoist.  Saves alot of wear
> >> and tear on you, especially if you opt for 8 or 9.9, 4
> >> stroke - a heavy beast!
> >>     
> >>> Art
> >>>
> >>> -----Original Message-----
> >>>   
> >>>       
> >>>> From: Charles Henthorn <rexh at sbcglobal.net>
> >>>> Sent: Nov 21, 2006 12:01 PM
> >>>> To: The Rhodes 22 mail list
> >>>>         
> >> <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> >>     
> >>>> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Considering a Recycled
> >>>>         
> >> R22
> >>     
> >>>> Hi Nan:
> >>>>     Welcome to the list.  I got my recycled 1988
> last
> >>>>         
> >> spring and had to make the same decisions.  I elected
> to
> >> get the antenna and provide a VHF for installation and
> a
> >> depth gauge.  In contrast to Rummy, the wind in the
> sails
> >> are the only music I need.  
> >>     
> >>>>  Rex 
> >>>>
> >>>> Nan Bailey <nan at npbailey.com> wrote:
> >>>>  Hi,
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> I am in touch with Stan @ General Boats to purchase
> a
> >>>>         
> >> recycled boat and
> >>     
> >>>> would be interested in hearing some feedback. Are
> >>>>         
> >> there any features
> >>     
> >>>> that are "must have"? I thought I would want
> >>>>         
> >> life-lines but Stan is
> >>     
> >>>> suggesting I reconsider. I am assuming I will have a
> >>>>         
> >> depth-finder and
> >>     
> >>>> compass put in...make sense? Other thoughts?
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> I am on the Long Island Sound and hope to use it for
> >>>>         
> >> day sails and some
> >>     
> >>>> overnights with my 10/15 yr old children & friends.
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> Thanks,
> >>>>
> >>>> Nan
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> Nan P Bailey, MBA, CFP(r), AIF(r)
> >>>>
> >>>> 1875 Palmer Ave, Ste 206
> >>>>
> >>>> Larchmont, NY 10538
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> tel. 914.834.9105
> >>>>
> >>>> fax 914.834.6376
> >>>>
> >>>> www.npbailey.com 
> >>>>
> 
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