FAQ's for new ski boaters..

[benniejordaan]

•     FAQ’s  related to boating…
    Over the past few months, I have been asked a number of questions, so I thought  I would dust off the old SAMSA book and get the facts. These are the most  frequently asked questions!
  
  What  size chain should you have? 
  For vessels under 6m -  Min. 3m of 5mm chain.
    For vessels over 6m – Min 6m of 6mm chain
   
   
  What  anchor should I have for my boat?
    All boats must have an approved (Danforth) anchor.
    Any additional anchor such as a grapnel anchor  will be considered  secondry.
   
   
  What  size anchor should I have?
    According to SAMSA, the "rule of thumb" here is the  anchor  should be 7kg for every 3m of boat. However from my personal experience,   1kg per length of boat will work fine and if you will never anchor in  sand,  then don’t get one too heavy and bulky. I have never seen an  inspector check  the weight plus there is no actual regulation in this  regard.
   
   
  Do I  need navigational lights?
    Only if you intend using the vessel at night!
   
   
  What lights should I fit?
    For vessels under 7m with a maximum speed of  7knots, only a single  round white light is required.
    All other vessels under 9m require an all round light as  well as  starboard and Port side navigation lights.
   
   
  Where  should the light be mounted?
    The white light needs to be mounted min 1m above the  highest point on the  boat and should be above head hight.
    Important, Side/navigation lights should be illuminated  while under way  during the times between dusk and dawn or diminished visibility.  A vessel  under steam INCLUDES vessels drifting.
   
   
  What are  the different radio channels used  for?
    VHF
    16 – Calling & Emergency. You MUST stay on  this channel by law!
    6,8,10 – Ship to ship transmissions
    9 – Durban Port control. Not sure about CT, PE or  RB.
   
   
  29 Meg
    19 – Calling and distress. You must stay on this channel  by law!
    6 (on your radio) is known as channel 1. So if  someone says “go to  channel 1 and stand by”, you will switch to channel 6.
    22 – (on your radio) is known as channel 2.
   
   
  Do you  need both VHF and 29Meg?
    You need only a 29Meg radio if working off the KZN  coast. If you are  launching from a harbour, you will require a VHF radio.Richards Bay requires  only a 29Meg to communicate with the clubs, but then you will be restricted to  their office hours. To Launch through the harbour you will need a VHF radio. In  Cape Town they ONLY use VHF.
   
    What  radio licenses do I need for a ski boat radios?
    For the 29Meg radio, you only need to purchase a  license for the radio  from ICASA, very much like that of a TV.
    For the VHF, you require a license for the unit  plus you also need to  obtain an operator’s license by passing a SAMSA examination.
   pce
  

[jaenswart]

good stuff, have cred

[jaenswart]

well sorry Bennie, the forum is saying i must wait 24 hours before giving you cred

[shagnrelease]

• 
   
  What  anchor should I have for my boat?
    All boats must have an approved (Danforth) anchor.
    Any additional anchor such as a grapnel anchor  will be considered  secondry.
   
   
  What  size anchor should I have?
    According to SAMSA, the "rule of thumb" here is the  anchor  should be 7kg for every 3m of boat. However from my personal experience,   1kg per length of boat will work fine and if you will never anchor in  sand,  then don’t get one too heavy and bulky. I have never seen an  inspector check  the weight plus there is no actual regulation in this  regard.
   
   
  

also you should have your ropes and anchor kept clean in packets and unused, failing to do so will encourage chaps to bring onboard smelly chokka and 50" scarboroughs....

[benniejordaan]

• 
   
  What  anchor should I have for my boat?
    All boats must have an approved (Danforth) anchor.
    Any additional anchor such as a grapnel anchor  will be considered  secondry.
   
   
  What  size anchor should I have?
    According to SAMSA, the "rule of thumb" here is the  anchor  should be 7kg for every 3m of boat. However from my personal experience,   1kg per length of boat will work fine and if you will never anchor in  sand,  then don’t get one too heavy and bulky. I have never seen an  inspector check  the weight plus there is no actual regulation in this  regard.
   
   

also you should have your ropes and anchor kept clean in packets and unused, failing to do so will encourage chaps to bring onboard smelly chokka and 50" scarboroughs....

Bwahaha, speaking of which... Have you found your anchor yet??

[John F]

Thanks bennie... very useful!

[shagnrelease]

Bwahaha, speaking of which... Have you found your anchor yet??

what in the hell is that? but on a serious note I have but shes out with her mates tonight...

[Capt. Hook]

Richards Bay VHF is Channel 12
 
 

Proper patent anchor and chain, with a suitable length of rope for the area of operation

 

[/size][/b] Length of chain: [/size] Vessels of 6 (six) metres and more - at least 5 (five) metres Vessels under 6 (six) metres - at least 3 metres [/i] Length of Rope: [/size] At least 50 (fifty) metres

From the SAMSA manual

[benniejordaan]

Richards Bay VHF is Channel 12
 
 

Proper patent anchor and chain, with a suitable length of rope for the area of operation

 

Length of chain: Vessels of 6 (six) metres and more - at least 5 (five) metres Vessels under 6 (six) metres - at least 3 metres Length of Rope: At least 50 (fifty) metres

From the SAMSA manual

Took it out of the book.

The rope is based on the category...
Cat A,B,C,D min. 100m
Cat E min 50m.

[Propwash]

 
 
 
Do you  need both VHF and 29Meg?
  You need only a 29Meg radio if working off the KZN  coast. If you are  launching from a harbour, you will require a VHF radio.Richards Bay requires  only a 29Meg to communicate with the clubs, but then you will be restricted to  their office hours. To Launch through the harbour you will need a VHF radio. In  Cape Town they ONLY use VHF.
 
  The clubs usually only have guys in the radio rooms over the weekends and during the week in busy holiday seasons. For the rest of the time you still file your float plan at the club but call Richards Bay port control for exit and enter permission. They ( Richards Bay port control ) still monitor and use 29Mhz.

[benniejordaan]

 
 
 
Do you  need both VHF and 29Meg?
  You need only a 29Meg radio if working off the KZN  coast. If you are  launching from a harbour, you will require a VHF radio.Richards Bay requires  only a 29Meg to communicate with the clubs, but then you will be restricted to  their office hours. To Launch through the harbour you will need a VHF radio. In  Cape Town they ONLY use VHF.
 
  The clubs usually only have guys in the radio rooms over the weekends and during the week in busy holiday seasons. For the rest of the time you still file your float plan at the club but call Richards Bay port control for exit and enter permission. They ( Richards Bay port control ) still monitor and use 29Mhz.

Cool, thanks for that! I didn't realise they also use 29Meg.

[Propwash]

Hey Bennie. No problem. That's what the forum is here for. Every bit of info I have and shares might help the next guy - we all were once new at fishing.
You must bring that new boat of yours up here to the bay and see if we can get some malin blood on that deck.

[benniejordaan]

Hey Bennie. No problem. That's what the forum is here for. Every bit of info I have and shares might help the next guy - we all were once new at fishing.
You must bring that new boat of yours up here to the bay and see if we can get some malin blood on that deck.

Sounds Good! Looking forward to summer now.

[Searaider]

Thanx ,very useful info I do prefer using a 8mm chain which was recommended to me when I did my COF 
Just one question is a VHF more powerful than a 29 meg?

[Capt. Hook]

Thanx ,very useful info I do prefer using a 8mm chain which was recommended to me when I did my COF 
Just one question is a VHF more powerful than a 29 meg?

I do not think so, as far as I am aware they are both have legally limits of 25w output, for more than that you should get a SSB radio

[benniejordaan]

Thanx ,very useful info I do prefer using a 8mm chain which was recommended to me when I did my COF 
Just one question is a VHF more powerful than a 29 meg?

It's not so much about power but rather frequency wave length. 29 Meg has a larger wave length and therefore dissipates sooner/closer, where with a VHF it's more direct line signal.

[benniejordaan]

It's not so much about power but rather frequency wave length. 29 Meg has a larger wave length and therefore dissipates sooner/closer, where with a VHF it's more direct line signal.

Here is a diagram, sorry for the k@k drawing.
Just to elaborate...
You will notice that CB radio's use 27/29 meg as these may not reach far but are able to get over buildings and bounce off atmosphere etc.

VHF would not work in a built up area but has a very good range in an open area like the sea.

[Tsutsuma]

Interesting all you guys
Many thanks
I will be back in Paradise as from today 12pm
Leaving NRB at 4.30am
}<(((*>

[Searaider]

                       FA, Bennie
cred

[Rory mundy]

vhf also uses repeaters i think thats why you can talk over huge distances like a cell phone network?