Murder most foul, an important question, and in the “out with the old and in with the new” department…
I’m sick and tired of the phrase “It’s complicated” especially where boats and suchlike are concerned. If there’s one overreaching fact with boats and cruising it is that 99% of the answers are simple.
Dead simple.
Boat and cruising questions boil down to a a yes/maybe/no answer.
Should I buy a boat that’s seaworthy? In the current political climate can I cruise in Venezuela? Should I buy a boat I can’t afford? Is AIS something I need to have?
All yes/maybe/no answerable questions. So, why the need to over-complicate? The answers are simple.
Ask those questions on a sailing forum you’d mostly get answers that were anything but yes, maybe, or no. Folks love to share opinions and pontificate at the drop of a hat. Forum members will greet your questions with arguments ranging from their definition of seaworthiness, related price of boats, and hundreds of other things, including anchors and proper attire.
Here’s a question I recently worked through.
Is AIS is something I should have?
My answer was yes, an AIS receiver was something one should have. I was a maybe on having an AIS transceiver partly because of the affordability issue. However, since some countries are requiring AIS transceivers within their waters, the answer is now yes. They’re too expensive but, with other countries making noises of requiring AIS, it’s now a “must have” system.
A related question currently on my “Deal With” is…
Can I find an affordable AIS Transceiver?
The current solution to that one is still a maybe. I keep an eye on the current pricing of transceivers, and possible sales. I also monitor alternatives. Being time sensitive I’ll make a choice soon.
Theres people programming “fishing net markers” which can be had for under $100 as a transciever.
I bought a second hand reciever of the NASA brand, as ANY warning of a fast ship approching within 2nm will let me sleep better. The issue with the separate transceiver, apparently, is the NASA will see it as a target and so the alarm will be on always……. something of an issue.
Once you have been on the bow wave of a bulk carrier and looking at a steel wall, you look differently at this stuff, dare i say not negotiable for a single hander.
A combined unit with chartplotter from ONWA, can even be had up here in Sweden for $400. Even a tight-wad can see that is pretty good value, and cheap insurance.