www.iFourWinns.com

So true, but I did not want to go down that road. It is the same way were I boat too. I carry both, if the boat GOD FORBID goes down. You still have the hand held! To take it a step father & this maybe over kill, I carry a PLB too. as do many boaters do were I am.

If I was an avid ocean boater or great lake boater I would just spring for a cat 1 EPIRB

_________________
1981 Columbia 8.7
2015 Yamaha FZR - 87mph - sold
2006 Yamaha GP1300R - sold
2003 Chaparral 215 SSI - sold
2009 Stingray 195CS - sold
2000 Four Winns H180 - sold
1976 O'day Daysailer II - sold
Rick's Four Winns H180 Mods/Upgrade Thread

For coastal, that would be over kill, but not for blue water.

they're getting cheap, for a non auto one they're in the 350 range

_________________
1981 Columbia 8.7
2015 Yamaha FZR - 87mph - sold
2006 Yamaha GP1300R - sold
2003 Chaparral 215 SSI - sold
2009 Stingray 195CS - sold
2000 Four Winns H180 - sold
1976 O'day Daysailer II - sold
Rick's Four Winns H180 Mods/Upgrade Thread

my bigger concern for you is the fact that your boat is 20'......the lower Hudson NYC area is very busy and can get very choppy and rough with all the traffic...not to mention the strong currents......my .02
I've heard of boaters taking 21 footers into NY Harbor from coastal CT where I live--about 40-50 mi. from Manhattan and have returned wishing they hadn't made the trip in such a small boat.......

_________________
"For My 50th"
1996 238 Vista
5.7VolvoGL DP
Previous boats; 91 Cobia 19' Cuddy, 87 Starcraft 16' BR,
67 Winner BR, 65 Arrow 14'

ooops! Sorry....just re-read your post and your boat is a 2005 Sundowner....I thought it said 205 Sundowner........still. What size is it?

_________________
"For My 50th"
1996 238 Vista
5.7VolvoGL DP
Previous boats; 91 Cobia 19' Cuddy, 87 Starcraft 16' BR,
67 Winner BR, 65 Arrow 14'

Thanks all for the great feedback. I'm feeling pretty comfortable going the handheld route - I'm not expecting that I'll need to use it very often, and my boating is mostly inland, or near-coastal in any big lakes, so range and distance isn't as high a priority as some of you who ply big water. Based on the Cap'ns recommendation (note to self - always respect his well-earned reputation), I went with Uniden. Here's what I picked up last night at WM:

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... sNum=50160

It tops out at 5 W, has most of the features I need (although there's no GPS...), and it's waterproof and floats! Now, I need to figure out how to actually use it!!



The 205 is 23' LOA (including the swim platform) - I always say it's a 21 footer, with a 2' platform. We're staying at Liberty Landing Marina for three days, and I must admit, I am just a little nervous about punting around NY Harbour with all the traffic and the inevitable chop, although we've certainly had this boat in similar water in busy ports (Toronto, Montreal) as well as on fairly heavy water at times on Georgian Bay and Lake Ontario. Before heading up the Hudson, we will be boating around the whole of Manhatten Island one afternoon, so I'm hoping that it's a calm day, but I'm not exactly sure of what to expect - except that it should be spectacular!

I'm open to any tips or advice on any precautions or suggestions!!

Thanks all!

_________________

2005 Sundowner
2008 Highlander V6

Technically it's a 21ft boat, but it's closed bow and taller then a bowrider. I wouldn't worry. You have the windshield wiper? Just verify the bilge pump works.

_________________
1981 Columbia 8.7
2015 Yamaha FZR - 87mph - sold
2006 Yamaha GP1300R - sold
2003 Chaparral 215 SSI - sold
2009 Stingray 195CS - sold
2000 Four Winns H180 - sold
1976 O'day Daysailer II - sold
Rick's Four Winns H180 Mods/Upgrade Thread

Good choice on that radio. It should do what you need just fine.
When you make your trip, make sure and take some pictures, we would love to see the
sights there !

_________________
One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Always monitor 16, if the U.S.C.G. hails you, expect to go up to 22. If the Harbor Master hails you, expect to go down to 06. Remember what 16 is used for, emergences & hailing, not for talking. Once contact is made, you move to the proper channel. The back of your new VHF manual, should have a list of channels & there usage.

Keep you speed down, they don't like small fast moving boats. When you get there, note whats on there bow on the 25' rigid inflatables. Defender Class. They might have one that looks like a Boston Whaler too. Bring back some pics of one.

I would not advise leaving your rradio only on 16. You will miss the CG traffic, and even some of the pleasure boater chat. Pick the channels you want to monitor (include 16 and 22) and set the radio to scan. That way you don't miss anything. I have mine set to about 5 different channels. The fisherman chat on 68, and often give good info on lake conditions, so that is one I have set.

_________________
One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Yes, thats why you have "Triple Watch". Every thing with the U.S.C.G.(at least here in Boston) is on 16. They will make an announcement as to the nature and advice you to go to 22. Than give the details of that, on 22. They do this for 2 reasons. Everyone monitors 16, and not to tie up 16. So you will not miss U.S.C.G. traffic/news by staying on 16. But I would monitor other channels as well.

Here, read this to before going into NY, more so on the use of channel 22. http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?A=2686&Q=322316

Plus this link is like a, VHF 101 class.

I would still be really careful with a boat that size. NY harbor has a lot of traffic, big boats, barges, water taxis, etc. Get some local charts, study em well, make sure your boat is in top shape engine/drive wise and your batteries and bilge pumps are up to snuff. I am considering buying a life raft (4 person ones are about $1100 or so) for my trips into Long Island Sound....
What about towing insurance? Not a bad idea either.

There is an area called Hells Gate with very fast moving currents, research this and find out how to handle it. You have both the Hudson and the East River dumping into lower NY harbor, plus the ocean tides....

http://atlanticsailors.com/NYHarbour.html

_________________
88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

Thanks for the advice - I think the boat's in pretty good shape, and I've been reading a bit about boating in the harbour. This site gives good advice as well:

http://www.iboatnyharbor.com/

I was wondering if I circumnavigate Manhatten, whether its better to go up the Hudson to Harlem River then back down through the East river, or the other way around - especially given the (unfortunately named) Hells Gate?

Here's hoping for nice weather, light winds, little traffic and the USCG is on a long coffee break.

_________________

2005 Sundowner
2008 Highlander V6

Just closing the loop on this post - the Uniden worked great, and was perfectly fine for our needs. I used it to monitor channels 16 and 13 in NY harbor and had no incidents. And it turns out that the locks and lift/swing bridges in the NY Canal system all use channel 13, which was essential as there really weren't any suitable places to tie-up on walls at locks to let the lockmaster know you're waiting to go up or down. The only way to communicate with them was VHF or to phone them with a cell (using a cell would have been awkward, hit-and-miss, and expensive).

For inland use, the handheld was perfect. Over and out.

_________________

2005 Sundowner
2008 Highlander V6