[Rhodes22-list] R22 Instrumentation

[DCLewis1 at aol.com]

PT,
 
Thanks for suggesting a radio and EPRIB as baseline instrumentation.   I 
agree.  I hadn't thought of an EPRIB w GPS, but it seems like an  excellent idea.  
 
Regarding a radio, when I inquired about insurance the rep asked  whether we’
d have a VHF radio - and I instinctively understood the correct  answer.  I 
suspect we’ll save much of the cost of a radio in the insurance  premium.  She 
didn't ask about any other instrumentation.
 
For the near term I thought I’d go with a hand held radio as opposed to a  
larger unit. There’s less power and the effective antenna height is low which  
will limit range.  On the other hand, it’s battery powered and portable so  if 
we were swamped, turtled, or whatever, it would be there and work.
 
Over the long term I think a mast mounted antenna is the way to go.   From my 
perspective, for communications range forget the stern.  You may  pick up a 
few dB with a larger antenna on the stern, but you will lose a couple  of dB in 
the transitions and cabling to the stern.  You’ll be ahead, but  your big hit 
is the line of sight issue - for example in the trawler accident  the antenna 
could be substantially masked by the waves at least part of the  time.  If 
you can get the antenna high (e.g. mast mounted) I think you’ll  be better off - 
until you have to inspect or service the beaste. 
 
Dave