Re: CB Radio vs Marine Radio
If a person stays close enough to shore a good cell phone with 3g access will also stomp a cb radio.
I would not place any trust or faith in using a cellphone either.
A couple of years ago, a good friend was anchored in a cove on the Chesapeake Bay with his wife when a boat with 2 men aboard went by. The boat circled around and stopped, with only 1 person visible onboard. That person was leaning over the side of the boat.
My friend and his wife felt something wasn't right so they pulled up anchor and motored over toward the stopped boat and asked if they needed help. The guy that was onboard replied "Yes". When my friend got closer and to the far side of the stopped boat, they could see the 2nd guy was face down in the water and the guy onboard was trying to keep the guys face up out of the water.
My friend dove in and swam over to assist. His wife thought using the cellphone and calling 911 would result in a faster response from rescue personnel. They were only yards from the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay. Her 911 call was picked up by a 911 call center on the eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay. She gave them the name of the cove they were in and the GPS coordinates. They couldn't help and transferred her to a 911 call center on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay. The 911 call center could NOT use GPS coordinates and required a street name which they didn't know.
About that time a lady in one of the nearby houses saw what was going on and went down to her dock to see if help was needed. Of course she knew the street address and rescue personnel arrived soon on site.
My friend had gotten the guy that was in the water turned over, on board one of the boats and started CPR. By the time rescue personnel had arrived, they had docked at the lady's dock and the guy was sitting up.
My friend was recognized in a county awards ceremony as saving the life of the boater.
So DON'T RELY on a cellphone when out on the water!