This group of pelicans have their own "net."
One unusual aspect of living on a boat in Boot Key Harbor is that we can benefit from a daily “radio net”. For any non-boaters reading this, let me first explain that everyone who travels by boat has at least one radio aboard – one called a VHF radio This is a two-way radio that allows boaters to communicate with one another relative to safety issues, information or merely to share a greeting. We can contact bridge tenders on the ICW to let it be known that we seek an opening. Radios also are used to contact marinas when seeking a slip, a mooring or needing to get fuel. In an emergency, they are used to contact the Coast Guard. Specific stations broadcast weather information continually 24-7. And because it is a radio and not a telephone, anyone listening on the same channel will hear the conversation.
In Boot Key Harbor each morning at 9AM, boaters can tune to channel 68 for the “cruisers net”. It's like a daily gathering of boaters, but we can all enjoy our morning coffee in our PJs on our own boats while we “meet” on the radio. New boats are welcomed; those planning to leave say their good-byes; boaters with problems with their engines, their refrigerators or computers seek and often get help. Activities in the community are promoted as well. We learned about the annual health fair at the hospital and the seafood festival on the morning net. We heard that Relay for Life for cancer could gain funding if they got enough cruisers to volunteer to help at the festival, so we joined about 30 other volunteers and really enjoyed the festival. And speaking of volunteers, a group of seven volunteers work at leading the net each morning – a different one for each day of the week.
Social gatherings are announced regularly. Ham operators get together for lunch once a week as do members of the Seven Seas Cruising Association. Those planning to head over to the Bahamas get together to form plans and compare notes on weather reports to know when it might be safe to cross the Gulf Stream.
On a typical morning, a boater will check in looking for a ride to Miami, and someone else will come on in response saying that he is headed that way tomorrow and has room for an extra passenger. Another has just installed a radar unit and doesn't know too much about how it works. In response, another boater with the same brand offers to come over to provide some tutoring. Someone else just installed a new radio and wants to sell the old one at a great price. A potential buyer was on the radio next seeking a meeting with the seller.
In each of these cases, the two who connected on the radio had probably never met in person, but now they will. This net provides a great way to maximize the resources and knowledge of all the boaters in the harbor without anyone feeling awkward about seeking or offering help. Additionally, it appears to set a tone in Marathon of friendliness and helpfulness that shows up in other settings here.
Now if there was a way to translate this morning net to other settings. What are the chances that you could convince your neighbors to all get VHF radios to start such a net? OK, perhaps the cruising life is pretty unique.
Captain Bob
Carpe Diem
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