Meeting other C-Dory/C-BRATS on the water

[hardee]

This thread is intentionally placed in this forum so it is open only to Registered C-BRATS.

After spending a couple of weeks in the Broughtons earlier this month, I am still wishing I could have run across at least one other C-Dory. I did see two others up there, one very unloved, and one that was strictly a fishing boat but no one was around it. I did have the occasion to fill fuel at Lagoon Cove where James said they had had a blue stripe 22 there for the night. I was less than an hour behind their leaving. I tried several VHF calls for them by boat name, and later for the “Any C-BRAT” call, again on multiple channels. No response. (That could be for several reasons – I’ll get into some of that later.)

Now I realize several things:
1. We often go to places like the Broughtons, or even just out on the water to “Get away from it all” so maybe we don’t want to have company.
2. We may have an agenda or schedule and it may not allow for taking the time out for an on the water visit, or sharing an impromptu anchorage.
3. We may be traveling with other friends on a different boat and have a meet up place already set, with reservations at a dock somewhere. (See #2).
4. We may have the VHF radio turned way down so it doesn’t interfere with the tunes on the stereo, so we don’t hear any calls from another C-BRAT or the Coast Guard.
5. We just don’t want to meet anyone we don’t already know.

Since almost all of my boating is single handing, and since I really enjoy looking for good photo opportunities, (check out the C-BRAT calendars for examples), with C-Dorys in the photo, I really look for chances to meet other boats on the water. Some of the best times on the water have been shared trips, some planned, some spontaneous. And some of the best photos have been on these shared trips too.

The C-Dory profile on the water is distinctive, and thus quite recognizable from some distance. On occasion, I have spotted one from a couple of miles away, and turned in its direction, often seeing a reciprocal turn and that often results in an on the water meeting, actually more often in person than on the radio. Maybe this hails back to when I was a kid and my dad had the 3rd VW bug in North Dakota. You never passed one without stopping and visiting, checking under both hoods (Yup, no engine there either), and sharing stories for a bit. Times were less harried and hurried back then. Being the VW of the water, the C-Dorys often do the same.

But in the islands, you could be anchored a couple hundred feet from another C-BRAT and not even know it. Might be someone you know, have seen on the site, or haven’t any idea of who they are. Could be your new best friend, or could be from across the country.

On several threads there have been discussions of “Communicating on the Water”
http://www.c-brats.com/viewtopic.php?t=24129

Sharing MMSI numbers and a CBRAT Group MMSI
http://www.c-brats.com/viewtopic.php?t= ... ber+cbrats

and suggestions of using a generic call as suggested here:

“I only vaguely recall what MMSI is about. I guess I will need to review that. But what is wrong with simply making a call on channel 68 for "any C-Dory"? Why is MMSI even necessary for communication among C-Brats cruising in the same area?
_________________

DAYDREAM - CD25 Cruiser
CRABBY LOU - CD16 Angler
Pat & Patty Anderson, and Baxter! C-Brat # 62!

On my 2018 Broughtons trip this year I have tried the generic calls, both “Any C-Dory” and “Any C-BRAT” trying to do that at 08, 12-1300, and 18-1900 local time, and also did at least one DSC C-BRAT group call per day to no avail.

I believe, technically, that a group call or a non-specific call on vhf 16 is not allowed except for the “Secur-i-tay” or "Pan-pan" calls, so I did not always do the calls on high power but at least once a day I did the high power calls, hoping for a C-BRAT response.

I know there is no official C-Dory VHF channel but 68 seems to be a commonly used one. I don’t usually monitor 68 because it is usually full of chatter, but certainly could, at least for a while each day. I would like to see some discussion about having a “C-BRAT net" type of arrangement where it is a common practice to switch to VHF 68, (or maybe VHF channel 9, since it is an alternative calling channel), say at noon for at least a half hour, and make a “Any C-BRAT” call, then monitor for a response for a while. My preference would be for 08, 12-1300, and 18-1900 local times on 09. And, on high power, if that is not to “illegal”.

I know that there are ham nets that are at specific times, and are very used, useful and worth while, and I think if this could become a practice it would be found to be useful as well.

Discussion ….. Questions ??????

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

 

[hardee]

I messed up and started to threads the same. Not sure how, but have asked the Admin guys to deleted the other thread.
Sure hope that works and that the discussion for this topic continues on this thread.

Thanks and looking forward to some good discussion.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

 

[ssobol]

IME, not everyone who owns a C-Dory participates on this website. The regular participants on this website are actually a fairly small percentage of all C-Dory owners.

I too have seen other C-Dorys on the water or at the ramp. I would say that less than 50% were interested in engaging us in any sort of interaction (but maybe that's just us).

The guy I bought mine from only posted here when he decided to sell his boat.

Personally, if someone we come across chooses not to engage, that's perfectly fine with me.

 

[hardee]

IME, not everyone who owns a C-Dory participates on this website. The regular participants on this website are actually a fairly small percentage of all C-Dory owners.

I too have seen other C-Dorys on the water or at the ramp. I would say that less than 50% were interested in engaging us in any sort of interaction (but maybe that's just us).

The guy I bought mine from only posted here when he decided to sell his boat.

Personally, if someone we come across chooses not to engage, that's perfectly fine with me.

I understand that "...if someone we come across chooses not to engage, that's perfectly fine with me." and I agree. I would also bet that the participation here is far lower than 50% of C-Dory owners, and that's OK, it's a personal choice. But for those who want to connect, it would be nice to have an agreed upon system AFAIAC.

Not everyone who ones a C-Dory wants to be part of the "family", some of us are joiners, and some not so. What I am proposing is an option, and not even necessary for those who do participate to do it all the time.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

 

[thataway]

I would agree that participation is way under 50% of the ownership. However, I do meet owners who read the forum, but don't post. I am amazed at the number of first time posters are selling their boats. I think of how much they miss out on by not being part of the forum or the family. But then we have members of the forum, who are not members of the family--and don't participate in the gatherings, etc.

If I am near a gathering--both physically or temporally, I will give a shout on Chanel 16/68 to "any C Brats". Occasionally there is an answer.

The schedule may work in the PNW where there is a concentration of C Brats. But not for most places in the US, unless there is a gathering.

 

[Hunkydory]

Harvey, I think you’re still missing the number one reason for lack of sighting or communicating with other C-Dory owners when in the hinterlands & that’s simply very few are out there. During the 16 year boating seasons from 2003 to 2018, we have accumulated well over a year on the water cruising just under 12,000 miles in the area between Prince Rupert, BC & Skagway, Alaska. During all these miles & time, we have just seen one CD 22, one CD 25 & one Tomcat 25.5 that was not out on a day trip fishing & further then 10 miles to the nearest Marina when observed. The CD 22 was Sam Landsman on Retriever, who we met in Tracy Arm Cove, 2012. The CD 25 was DoriDaze from South Carolina, whom we met in Petersburg, then anchored by us in Thomas Bay, when cruising with the Discovery & Brent & Dixie in 2015. Brent & Dixie’s 25.5 was the only Tomcat we have seen away from a Marina or Port.

I don’t think many C-Brats realize how few of us actually make extended long distances cruises in our little boats & of those who do, it’s more often done in the populated areas unlike the PNW north of Vancouver Island, where it’s very rare to see a boat of any make, other than a sailboat, less than 35 feet, that isn’t charter fishing & under 25 feet even much more rare, that isn’t out fishing or crabbing from a near by port, instead of on a lengthly cruise.

Of the boats other then sailboats under 30 feet, the majority though still a very small amount are the various aluminum boats & gaining in the last few years the Ranger Tugs. They are distinct & this year alone, we saw at least 8 of them. We met three of them together as we were exiting Chaplin Bay, Admiralty Island. I radioed them saying they were looking good , but then suggested it took three of them to go where only one little CD 22 would go all alone. Don’t know if they appreciated my humor or not, but at least they didn’t react negatively.

With the small number of C-Dory boats out & about its surprises me how many other cruisers, charters & other aluminum boat owners recognize & are very positive about their sea worthiness.

Jay

 

[hardee]

Bringing back an old thread on the "That's Life" forum.

About C-BRAT communication on the water.

Since it is getting to be the "season" again I would like to renew this discussion, maybe for the benefit of some newer members here. For some of us, the C-Brats is more than a website, and especially on the water, it is fun to meet other boaters on a C-Dory. There are times and places where we often frequent yet may not actually see another C-Dory, yet it would be fun to chat, on the radio or in person, if we knew there was another "Brat" in the area. So, at the begining of this thread, I proposed something of a schedule. I will copy that here:

"I believe, technically, that a group call or a non-specific call on vhf 16 is not allowed except for the “Secur-i-tay” or "Pan-pan" calls, so I did not always do the calls on high power but at least once a day I did the high power calls, hoping for a C-BRAT response.

I know there is no official C-Dory VHF channel but 68 seems to be a commonly used one. I don’t usually monitor 68 because it is usually full of chatter, but certainly could, at least for a while each day. I would like to see some discussion about having a “C-BRAT net" type of arrangement where it is a common practice to switch to VHF 68, (or maybe VHF channel 9, since it is an alternative calling channel), say at noon for at least a half hour, and make a “Any C-BRAT” call, then monitor for a response for a while. My preference would be for 08, 12-1300, and 18-1900 local times on 09. And, on high power, if that is not to “illegal”.

I know that there are ham nets that are at specific times, and are very used, useful and worth while, and I think if this could become a practice it would be found to be useful as well."

Since the original post, I have continued to use a high power call on VHF Chn 16, for "Any C-BRAT". Maybe it is just me, but that does sound like a "generalized call" which technically is not appropriate use. So for me, shortening that call to "C-BRAT, C-BRAT, C-BRAT" works better, as it sounds more like a boat name and therefor more acceptable on 16. That also eliminates the usefulness of have designated times.

I know the "Offical" C-BRAT MMSI number and have that in my radios, but even with using that multiple times over the years, I have never had a response on that unless it was pre arranged.

And, that number is 036697831 "Offical" C-BRAT Group Call MMSI.

There are several threads here on the site about that number, use and origin.

Happy Chatting,

Harvey
SleepyC:moon