Before reading on, please pause for a moment to take this week’s survey so we can share the results with the Cruising Compass family.
If you were making the choice between carrying either an HF radio (SSB or Ham) or a SatPhone on your cruising boat –but not both–which would you chose and why?
Thanks to all readers who filled out last week’s survey on couple’s watch systems. The most popular in order are: 1. three-on, three-off at night and free-form during the day; 2. Four-on, four-off at night and free form during the day; 3 two-on, two-off at night and free form during the day. Very few readers like to have a strict 24 hour system but everyone noted that it’s best to have a fairly set system at night. Here are some interesting comments:
“Daytime 5 + 5, Evening 4+4, Night 3 + 3. (7-12,12-5,5-9,9-1,1-4,4-7)”
“Four on, four off during the day, and three-on and three-off at night.”
“Person with less experience does not do the 2am to 4/5am watch, because that usually to time when thing go wrong. The Captain should do that watch.”
“The night owl stays on as long as they’re alert while the other sleeps. Then 4 on 4 off.”
“I usually let my captain sleep 6 hours at night. We are free form the rest of the time.”
