Boat U.S. - March 2008 - (Page 13)

Rescue 21 Covers North Florida Coast The northeast coast of Florida is the next region to benefit from the U.S. Coast Guard’s Rescue 21 rollout. Sector Jacksonville was set to go live in January, although final acceptance of the system by the Coast Guard is not necessarily immediate. The new distress communications system will cover 40,000 square miles of ocean and inland waters, along 190 miles of coastline from King’s Bay, GA, to Port Malabar, FL, including 10 inlets. Also covered are 248 miles of the ICW in Florida and 161 miles of the St. John’s River. Rescue 21 is a huge improvement to the Coast Guard’s search and rescue capability with stronger VHF marine radio signals, direction-finding capabilities, tracking of ships and aircraft and better communications with state and local first-responders. For boaters, the new system gives the Coast Guard the ability to pinpoint the location of a distress call from a DSC-VHF marine radio connected to a GPS receiver. Coast Guard watch standers will receive a DSC distress call with an encoded signal showing the identity of the caller and their position, which will also serve to reduce hoax mayday calls. Other sectors already using Rescue 21 include New York, Long Island Sound, Delaware Bay, Seattle-Port Angeles, WA, New Orleans, Clearwater, FL, to Mobile, AL, and Atlantic City, NJ-Eastern Shore, VA (see map). Scheduled to be finished next are Miami, Hampton Roads, VA, Baltimore, Portland, OR, and Houston in 2008. Boaters can get ready for Rescue 21 by upgrading to a DSC-capable VHF marine radio and obtaining a free identity number, called an MMSI, and entering it into their radio, as well as connecting the radio to a GPS receiver. For boaters staying within U.S. boundaries, an MMSI is free from BoatU.S. Go to BoatUS.com/MMSI for an online registration or to download the form. Also on the site is a free tutorial, “Can You Hear Me?” to familiarize boaters on the use of DSC radios. Working in cooperation and as a sheries partner with government and private organizations The Best Release You Will Ever Have. 2006 IGFA ConservationAward Boater’s World & Cabela’s Copyright © 2008 Aquatic Release Conservation Florida Sea Grant/Novak/Venting Tool U.S. PATENT NO. 4,914,853 U.S. DESIGN PATENT NO. 382,628 PATENT NO. 10/712,731 INTERNATIONAL PATENTS NO. PCT/US2003/036233 Now Available at: The ARC Dehooker is a truly innovative device that no sherman should be without. With its patented design, you can release your sh unharmed without even taking it out of the water. It is the most important tool to have on your boat and in your tackle. So, whether it’s a striped bass, yellow n tuna or a tiger shark, don’t get caught without your ARC Dehooker. Sea Grant/Novak For More Information visit our website Venting Tool Kit at www.arcdehooker.com or call 1-877-411-4arc (4272) 070962_march_aprilboat.indd 1 1/10/08 8:41:30 AM BoatU.S. Magazine March 2008 13 http://www.midlakesnav.com http://www.BoatUS.com/MMSI http://www.arcdehooker.com http://www.arcdehooker.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Boat U.S. - March 2008

Boat U.S. - March 2008 Contents Behind the Buoy BoatU.S. Reports Member Forum Cap'n Drew Sailing the Sidewalk Aviators Ahoy Docking and Duffing Waterfront Living: Charleston Waterfront Marketplace Grady Right 2nd Time Around DIY: Keeping the Water Out Hot Tips Boat Smart Ask Chuck Foundation Findings Tangled Line At Your Service Good Foundations BoatU.S. Exchange Behind the Boat Where Our Flags Fly

Boat U.S. - March 2008

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