Wanaflatsfish Posted September 5, 2019 Report Share Posted September 5, 2019 Rubble's post on best VHF...BTW, I have a ICOM with a USB charger which I can charge on the skiff....GOT ME THINKING A BIT I'm thinking of buying a SAT phone again as I want to spend alot of time deep in the back of the glades now that I have the FMT. WHAT SAT PHONE ARE YOU ALL USING? Pros / cons? If not carrying one, or have a better alternative, chime in I do have a Delorme and it works...but, nothing like, the famous line from the movie, "ET PHONE HOME " DC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bamaskeet Posted September 5, 2019 Report Share Posted September 5, 2019 I carry a EPIRB and a Garmin Inreach. If I have a serious problem, I’m using the EPIRB. If I breakdown I’m using the Inreach. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HewesYourDaddy Posted September 5, 2019 Report Share Posted September 5, 2019 I have a .45, a stick, and a string. The .45 keeps me safe, and the string/stick helps me make smoke signals to communicate over long distances. 😆 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JnamJnam Posted September 5, 2019 Report Share Posted September 5, 2019 I've wanted to buy a SAT phone for a while... However I couldn't bite the bullet on a $500-700 phone with a monthly subscription that costs more than my regular cell phone service. I ended up with a Spot X. I can send and receive text messages. In case of emergency I have the SOS option. The reviews on this product were not favorable however I have had great success down in ENP. Texts go through within minutes. Haven't had to use the SOS option yet.... THANKFULLY! The phone is $200 and the monthly subscription is only $10 a month for 20 texts a month... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt. Troy Posted September 5, 2019 Report Share Posted September 5, 2019 2 hours ago, Bamaskeet said: I carry a EPIRB and a Garmin Inreach. If I have a serious problem, I’m using the EPIRB. If I breakdown I’m using the Inreach. Perfect combination for the Glades. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JakeK Posted September 5, 2019 Report Share Posted September 5, 2019 I agree on the EPIRB. No monthly fees and reliable. I carry an ACR ResQLink every trip out. I used to race small sailboats offshore and I've seen other teams have to use them and they were very effective. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THE OUTLAW Posted September 6, 2019 Report Share Posted September 6, 2019 Been going deep for years . Old school Gladesmen did not have FMT. Should be willing to sleep on the deck of your boat . If you breakdown away from the red and green markers , help , back home , will probably come and save you , in the morning . I always bring everything I need to do the long haul . Be prepared to spend the night . Plenty of water Whiskey MREs Thermacells Bugsuit Tarp for keeping dew off of you Light Jacket More whiskey The complete Led Zeppelin collection . FLOAT PLAN Last but not least Spot X ACR Epirb . Catch em up ! 🇺🇸☠️ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason p Posted September 6, 2019 Report Share Posted September 6, 2019 “Be prepared to spend the night”... sums it up perfectly. Never been a fan of sat phones from a value standpoint. With today’s satellite messengers and EPIRBs I think your covered. Besides all you really need to tell (or text with a SAT messenger) someone is your status and location. If it goes really bad fire off an EPIRB signal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conocean Posted September 7, 2019 Report Share Posted September 7, 2019 It's hard to justify the cost of a Sat phone. Epirb & Spot are the perfect combo IMO. I've had a Spot device since the 1st month they were launched. Real Gladesman only need their faith and a bottle of Bibb & Tucker for an overnighter in the backcountry. 😜 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
finbully Posted September 7, 2019 Report Share Posted September 7, 2019 PLB, 2 VHFs (handheld & in dash AIS), cell phone, flares for me. If I were a true offshore guy (if I could afford a $M sportfishing yacht) highly likely I'd have a sat phone. Just don't feel the need when most of the time I could stand in the water I fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wanaflatsfish Posted September 7, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2019 12 hours ago, conocean said: Bibb & Tucker yep dc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason p Posted September 8, 2019 Report Share Posted September 8, 2019 21 hours ago, conocean said: It's hard to justify the cost of a Sat phone. Epirb & Spot are the perfect combo IMO. I've had a Spot device since the 1st month they were launched. Real Gladesman only need their faith and a bottle of Bibb & Tucker for an overnighter in the backcountry. 😜 I’ve only been a Gladesman full-time for 4 years but I always have a piece of Austrian plastic as well. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wanaflatsfish Posted September 8, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 8, 2019 2 hours ago, jason p said: Austrian plastic as well. I prefer Chez steel who can "Shadow" me around dc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F1sh0n Posted September 9, 2019 Report Share Posted September 9, 2019 Sat phone in vacuum bag, and 2 batteries in vacuum bags, a 12 volt charger in a vacuum bag. I will periodically charge the batteries and reseal them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F1sh0n Posted September 9, 2019 Report Share Posted September 9, 2019 I lost a tide while netting bait. I slept in the water with my head just above for 11 hours or so till the tide came in. It was.... un-comfortable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wanaflatsfish Posted September 9, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2019 13 hours ago, F1sh0n said: I lost a tide while netting bait. I slept in the water with my head just above for 11 hours or so till the tide came in. It was.... un-comfortable. I'm assuming in the boat? DC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THE OUTLAW Posted September 9, 2019 Report Share Posted September 9, 2019 Enough of dat Bib n Tuck n da oysterbar will feel just like a pillow top . 🇺🇸☠️ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrayAngelfish Posted September 11, 2019 Report Share Posted September 11, 2019 Living in the keys its pretty rare for me to be far enough from other boaters that within a few hours someone will be close enough to easily see a flare. I recently broke down and got the ACR resQlink and the wife like having that peace of mind. Either I'm floating and will be found fairly shortly or I'm in the water and will set off the resQlink so I cant really justify a sat phone subscription. Small side note is if you do decide on any ACR product make sure you buy it from a dealer that stands behind what they sell because ACR is absolutely useless for customer service. My brand new ResQlink failed the self test out of the box, after 3 days of trying to contact them via both phone and email and getting zero response I finally just exchanged it through amazon where I had bought it. BTW that was almost a month ago now and still no response from ACR so it isn't like it just took them a while to get back to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrayAngelfish Posted September 11, 2019 Report Share Posted September 11, 2019 Also not really sure about how far you are from the nearest radio but a good VHF antenna goes a long way too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flatsdoctor Posted September 11, 2019 Report Share Posted September 11, 2019 On 9/5/2019 at 9:26 PM, THE OUTLAW said: Been going deep for years . Old school Gladesmen did not have FMT. Should be willing to sleep on the deck of your boat . If you breakdown away from the red and green markers , help , back home , will probably come and save you , in the morning . I always bring everything I need to do the long haul . Be prepared to spend the night . Plenty of water Whiskey MREs Thermacells Bugsuit Tarp for keeping dew off of you Light Jacket More whiskey The complete Led Zeppelin collection . FLOAT PLAN Last but not least Spot X ACR Epirb . Catch em up ! 🇺🇸☠️ How are you going to play The Led??☺️ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THE OUTLAW Posted September 11, 2019 Report Share Posted September 11, 2019 Three Odyssey 1200’s JL 400 amp with two JL8.8s should be plenty . Will never have all go down . But in that rare event , my Iphone would suffice . 🇺🇸☠️ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wanaflatsfish Posted September 11, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2019 I love this forum....we go from SAT phones for security to insuring you have enough battery power, and Bib and Tucker in da bote, when you break down to plan Led Zep as you wait for a rescue...at least we have our priorities straight dc 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coto Posted September 11, 2019 Report Share Posted September 11, 2019 Forget the SAT phone, that money could by a lot of Bib and Tucker...and Led Zeppelin playing makes it a good day. I do prefer Judas Priest though! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THE OUTLAW Posted September 11, 2019 Report Share Posted September 11, 2019 Priorities skrait ! Oh ! I forgot ... Uncrustables 👍🏻 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubble Posted September 11, 2019 Report Share Posted September 11, 2019 I’ve rented a Sat Phone from https://www.outfittersatellite.com/ in the past. Easy to work with. Ship to your door and ship right back. Can get prepaid cards. They have phones for purchase. Just spoke with them a week ago and they recommended the Iridium 9555 for what I described as strictly backup/rescue communication from coastal fishing areas. If I were on the water a lot, it would be well worth the investment in a Sat phone, IMHO. But then again, I get on the water to get away. Only want communications in the event that there is an absolute emergency. I can say I have never had Bibb and Tucker. That’s like running a sparkle boat with carpet in the salt. Why would a KY Gladesman (in training) drink that stuff when we live on the real stuff; KY Bourbon! Makes no sense. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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