T&T: " radio checks" was USCG Radio Procedure

[Charles & Pat Culotta]

On our recent sojourn thru Florida to the Chessy Bay we could not help but
notice that ch 16 was jammed with "radio checks" the worst times , by far,
were the weekends and mornings. It seemed that every outboard boat on up felt
compelled to get a "radio check".
Compounding the problem are SEATOW and TOWBOAT US who ans. each in an obvious
attempt to curry favor with the potential customer!!!!!!  ( Lestening to some
of the calls for assistance no wonder the Coasties have gotten out of the day
to day assistance field. One guy ran out of gas less than a half mile from the
boat launch on his way OUT.!!!!!)

Pat, THE WIFE , thought the towing people must suggest it in their signup
procedures. I  asked several just why so many  did this. I was surprised that
even "big boat" operators think that they should get a "radio check" everytime
they leave the dock even if it was yesterday or last week.

Think about it, if your radio worked the last time out and you receive today
it is safe to assume that the transmission side works.

We noticed, real quick, that once we left Fla. the number of "radio checks"
plummeted to practically none and remained that way all the way thru the
Chessy.

In the spirit of full disclosure I asked for a radio check, on low power,  one
time on the trip. This was after the boat was hit by lightening that blew out
one radio. I did a  check on the other.

Just our observation.

CCC

Charles C., Jr. & Pat Culotta
M/V CCRIDER
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS
PATTERSON, LA.
http://www.geocities.com/charlesculotta/