The Waterway Radio and Cruising Club is an association of amateur
radio operators who also share an interest in recreational boating.
The Waterway Net, which is sponsored by the Waterway Radio and
Cruising Club, meets on the air every morning of the year for about
an hour starting at 0745 ET on a frequency of 7.268 MHz LSB. The main
purpose of the Waterway Net is to encourage amateur radio
communications to and from boats with an emphasis on safety and
weather information. Position Reports help
keep live-aboards and cruising boats in touch with families and
friends and Float
Plans provide a strong measure of safety for off-shore passage
makers.
Begun in the early sixties, the Waterway Net is one of the oldest, continuously operating nets in amateur radio.
Today the WRCC has around four hundred dues paying members and
anyone holding an Amateur Radio License of any class is eligible to
join. Membership in the WRCC is not a
prerequisite for participation in the Waterway Net, but a general
class or higher license is required.
The Waterway Net is a controlled net. It is recommended that one
listen for a while to learn the Net
Procedures, but anyone with a general class license or above is
invited to check in at the appropriate time or to join in on the
special interest nets that often follow.
In an emergency, FCC rules permit anyone, licensed or not, to use
any frequency to summon help. All boaters with high frequency SSB
radios aboard should know that the 20 meter amateur frequency of 14.300 MHz is active for about
eighteen hours a day and is always available for emergency
assistance.
Announcements
SEE NEWS &
EVENTS PAGE FOR ADDITIONAL NEWS AND INFORMATION
NOTICE - Club dues have increased slightly!
Due to increased operating costs, our club dues have increased. New dues are $20 for U.S. and Canada mailing addresses, $25 elsewhere.
Congrats to our new 2024 Officers!
Commodore: Steve Rutledge, N4JQQ
Vice Commodore: Mike White, N4OBR
Rear Commodore: Bob Sikora, KJ4ZVE
BOATWATCH BoatWatch is a free, all-volunteer service, run by Cruisers. BoatWatch has become recognized as the authority and repository for information on Overdue, Missing and Stolen Vessels throughout the world. BoatWatch.org works closely with the USCG Rescue Coordination Centers around the country and the world.
New Coastal Boating Laws Take Effect in Georgia
The new law mainly affects waste discharge from vessels with marine sanitation devices (MSDs) and overnight anchoring in coastal waters. Check the Georgia DNR siteHERE for more information.
A very nice honor bestowed upon our club by Bobby Graves, KB5HAV and the Hurricane Watch Net. As always, we are glad to help when needed.
BoatUS App
BoatUS has published their smartphone app which has a lot of new features including tide charts, weather, and a fun photo sharing tool. BoatUS Members, show your digital Member card for discounts at over 1,000 participating marinas and boating businesses nationwide! For more information, visit BoatUS.com/app.
New Vendor for Clubs Monogrammed Items: New arrangements for WRCC logo-marked clothing are in place. We have established an easy to use page online that allows members to order clothing and outerwear with the Waterway Net logo and monogramming. For more info and photos, go to WRCC Store page, above-left or click HERE.
Alternate Operations Plan
In order to provide guidance for continued Waterway Net operations in the face of disruptions to service - either because of atmospheric interference or persistent interference from terrestrial sources beyond the reach of regulatory actions - this alternate plan for daily net operations has been formulated. This plan would be activated ONLY if necessary. For more important information about this plan, click HERE.
Updated Florida Anchoring Information For the latest Florida Anchoring Information, check Florida Anchoring Information Tip Sheet More info on News & Events page.
Club Related Gear: WRCC
members should fly the club's burgees whenever possible. This
lets other members know if you're in their anchorage, marina,
etc. Flying the burgee also is a means of showing others that
you are a member of a very special group of boaters/ham radio
operators.
Burgees, embroidred shirts, caps and other club merchandise can be found on our WRCC Store page.
How and Where to Check in to Customs: For those of you who are returning to the states from the Bahamas, etc., here's information of how and where to check in if you're departing from or returning to Florida. This also includes the Small Vessel Reporting System (SVRS).
Drowning Doesn't Look Like Drowning: A person who is drowning doesn't usually look like the typical 'drowning victim' that you see on TV. A crew member who falls overboard and appears to be OK, could actually be drowning! An excellent article by Mario Vittone that explains this can be found here.
Now this just isn't right!
USCG CFL Lamp Warning: The US Coast Guard has issued a Marine Safety Alert on the newer CFL fluorescent lamps, saying that they could cause RF interference with certain communication and navigation equipment. The USCG alert is not clear, whether it refers to the AC or 12v DC type of lamp (or both). The type of lamp in question should have the following statement printed somewhere on the packaging: "This product may cause interference to radio communications and should not be installed near maritime safety communications equipment or other critical navigation or communication equipment operating between 0.45-30 MHz."
New Florida Anchoring Provision Is Now Law!:
House Bill #1423 and other related information can be found HERE.
Lake Okeechobee Water Levels: You may still want to check with lockmasters, etc., to determine local conditions.
WRCC Recruitment Flyer: Download this flyer (right), print it out, and post it at your nearest marina, marine supply store (West Marine, Boat U.S., etc.,) even Radio Shack. You could also use it as a handout at your local ham radio club. The Waterway Radio & Cruising Club is conducting a recruitment campaign for new members and this flyer is just another way to get the word out. With the recent dropping of the morse code requirement, more and more boaters will be getting their licenses; we need to let them know what services the Club
provides. You will need Acrobat Reader to view and print this flyer. Download pdf flyer (236kb).
Join the fun! The Waterway
Radio & Cruising Club is holding a membership
recruitment campaign. If you, or someone you know,
would like to become a member, please go to the Club Info page and
download a membership form. Only requirement is that you hold a
valid amateur radio operator's license. Of course, to
participate on the Net, you must have a General class or above,
license. Owning a boat is not required; only the love of
boating. Waterway Net members are known for their love of the
water, boating and ham radio. For the cruising boater, the Net
is also a great way of keeping in touch with other boaters
while offering a safer transit, through our daily weather
reporting and position reports. Also, every fall, we hold a
combination picnic/flea market in Melbourne, FL.
Notes from the Webmaster -
N4UMS
Members: Your input is necessary to keep our web site current
and interesting - please feel free to send news items, articles
for the Technical Corner, corrections, updates, suggestions,
problems and complaints to the