Has anyone used CB's on a boat?

[dpslusser]

Im trying to fugre the best way to comunicate to the base station (motor home) from the boat when Im out on the lake. I know I could use cell phones, but has anyone ever used Cb radios? I don't have any radio installed yet, i just bought the boat last week. I considerd FRS/GMRS radios, but I already have a cb in the motor home and truck.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Has anyone used CB's on a boat?

That would be ok for that application but not if you needed to get hold of water patrol and such.
A marine radio is what you would need for that.

 

[gcboat]

Re: Has anyone used CB's on a boat?

Great idea. But please do as SBN suggests. Actually I wish a lot more folks would use a CB on the water. Sure would clean up the VHF frequencies.

 

[Caveman Charlie]

Re: Has anyone used CB's on a boat?

CB's should carry well over water. Bet you could go 5 miles or better. You would need to set it up right though. We used to have them on the farm for communication between farm equipment. They had to have the antennae. mounted correctly, and tuned with a RF meter to work good. Then you could get about 3 miles. 5 on a good day.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Has anyone used CB's on a boat?

in the olden dayz. it seems cb was the way to go.... seems many 70s boats are equiped that way. mine was when i got it......i did away with it for vhf for being in communication while on the water with others on the water...but for your situation, cb might be a viable option.......like said before though. just don't think yer gonna commnuicate with anyone on the water as everyone else is onto vhf for that........

 

[azlakes]

Re: Has anyone used CB's on a boat?

A pair of decent two way radios may get you talking from ship to shore but these can be line of sight devices at times...

 

[1730V]

Re: Has anyone used CB's on a boat?

I've used them, for years. One hand held and one permanent mount. As mentioned, they won't call the authorities.

If your boat is fiberglass, you need an antenna that sets up it's own SWR.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Has anyone used CB's on a boat?

Good grief -- the 70's are "olden days"??? Nearly every vehicle on the road had a CB back then. And a good many of them had eight-track tape players as well. In fact I still have an eight-track recorder/player. If all you are interested in is communicating between the boat and your motorhome, a CB will work fine. You won't find many other boats with them though.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Has anyone used CB's on a boat?

You can use a CB for calling your motor home. Make sure you get a 1/2 have antenna or you will need a big ground plane. Main problem with CB is they are not very relibable. One day you can talk 10 miles and the next day the skip is in and your can here people on the other side of the country but not your base.

VHF Marine would not be legal for that use. Land stations require a special permit.

GMRS is good for line of sight just like VHF Marine radios but if you not on top of a moutain then 5 miles at best.

Cell phone is ok for near shore but if you have a MayDay type emergency how do you call the boat that 200 yards up wind of your position for help.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Has anyone used CB's on a boat?

i just bought the boat last week

Question just entered my mind.
With the above quote, does this mean you are new to boating?
If so, I would strongly suggest you take a boating safety course.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Has anyone used CB's on a boat?

Good grief -- the 70's are "olden days"???

snicker, snicker.....yep silvertip. the 70's to me are starting to look like the olden days to me.......i didn't have any grey hair back then......

Nearly every vehicle on the road had a CB back then. And a good many of them had eight-track tape players as well.

more snickering......yep, that's the way my boat came equipped exactly.... a cb + a kracklo 8-track tape player. the only two mods i got on my boat......now it's a vhf + panasonic cd player and 4 new speakers.......sounds much better too..... it don't krackle....just jams....

You won't find many other boats with them though.

nope, not to many.....that's why i went vhf. my goal was to be in contact with other boats or the cg. i run th missouri river and at times it can be pretty lonely on the river......so lonely vhf probably wont even help me (no line of sight in the river vally) if i get a bad case of the blues.... but at least i'll be able to put out my mayday or pan pan and hope that a fellow boater that's on the water will hear me....

If so, I would strongly suggest you take a boating safety course.

yep, yep, yep.........a good idea for sure......

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Has anyone used CB's on a boat?

We have a couple of 89,000 acre lakes here in Texas and CB is the method of communication between fishing guides, and others. Work just fine..........Breaker Breaker, good buddy, 10-4.......boy do I remember that. Trucked for awhile and it did pass the time of day.

10-4 on the ground plane.

Mark

 

[Fish n Geer]

Re: Has anyone used CB's on a boat?

Ahh CB Radio!There isnt too much i havent done with cb radios.Back in the day my parents and i were members of a cb club called the "Silver Eagles" did alot of cool things.And comunicating from boat to camper up at Burt Lake was one.Alot of fun coffee breaks and jamborees on weekends.Heck alot of the people i know around my area here i met because of the cb radio.My better halfs dad was channel control in this area.Everyone loved him!He was retired and thats about all he did all day was talk on the cb.He had handels to fit his moods.Jerico,DR Rigamortis,Lucifer,Whipperwhil,"1814 on the muddy banks of the clinton river".He helped me setup one in my van i called a alligator radio.all mouth no ears.My base station was awesome as well but not neighboor friendly.I would come through my neighboors stereo with it turned off!Was running so much power in the mobile when i flipped the switch and keyed er up it could start the coin operated car wash.Drive through meijers parking lot and key up, everyones alarms would go off.Funny stuff when your young lol.Took three batterys to run the kicker.When we lost him in 2000 it hasnt been the same.Right now everything is all boxed up.As stated above a cb and truck driving went hand in hand.When i was driving truck it was a godsend having it.The nights would have been real lonely without it.Well felt good to see something about cb"s and take that trip down memory lane.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Has anyone used CB's on a boat?

CB's were the on-board navigation system of the 60's, 70's, and into the 80's. Getting to a location in a strange town was a simple as asking how to get to xxxx YYYYYY street. About 10 people would respond with 10 different routes. After the dust settled, you usually had two good routes. There was always at least one person that was good hearted but directionally challenged and would get a person all turned around.

 

[Fish n Geer]

Re: Has anyone used CB's on a boat?

Man is that the truth Silvertip! When i was driving truck asked for directions to my delivery point.Someone gave me directions alright! I was in Chicago well to make a long story short the directions were not for a big rig!I was toolin down the highway when i seen a sign 12 6 bridge aheadHad a police escort help back me up to previous get off!

 

[thurps]

Re: Has anyone used CB's on a boat?

As cheap as radios are I recommend you get both cb and vhf. You can buy cheap radios but buy the best marine antennas you can afford.

 

[dpslusser]

Re: Has anyone used CB's on a boat?

Question just entered my mind.
With the above quote, does this mean you are new to boating?
If so, I would strongly suggest you take a boating safety course.

O good God no, LOL. Ive been boating since im out of the womb. A month after, actually!!! LOL

 

[dpslusser]

Re: Has anyone used CB's on a boat?

I do alot of river fishing with my dad in a flat bottom john boat. We do some fishing in Lake Wallenpaupack in PA, in a 2050 crestliner. And we do alot of fishing in are 22ft Renken WA Cuddy, in the great lakes, and the Ocean. "I was raised on the water."

Well, I would like to thank all you guys for the responses. Im defenetly going to get a VHF radio installed. Theres an antenna already installed, just need the radio. Whats a good site for VHF radios and accessories? Can anyone suggest a good CB antenna, I already have the radios. Mind you the boat is Fiber Glass. So it does need to produce its own SWR.

 

[dpslusser]

Re: Has anyone used CB's on a boat?

I've used them, for years. One hand held and one permanent mount. As mentioned, they won't call the authorities.

If your boat is fiberglass, you need an antenna that sets up it's own SWR.

Can you suggest any antennas? I do have a fiber glass boat

 

[dpslusser]

Re: Has anyone used CB's on a boat?

Ive done some research and found some shakespeare antenna. I have a VHF shakes on there now. I do and a few questions. Why would they sell a tuneable and non tuneable model? If I rememebr correctly the last time I set a CB up, A CB antenna has to be tunable becasue of different lengths of wire attached to the antenna. The non tunable shakes you cant cut the wire. Am I rite?

Here are the two Links

Non tunable

Tunable