We Paddled To An Island, Fired Up 600 Watts, And Worked The World
The tide doesn’t care about your logbook—and that’s exactly why we chased it. We loaded radios, batteries, and a vertical dipole into kayaks, paddled two miles on a rising tide, and landed on a slippery sliver of grass called Eagle Island. The result? A sustained, three-hour pileup on 10 meters that reached across Europe, South America, and 20 U.S. states, with park-to-park contacts stacking like driftwood.
Our guest, Keith (AC1RH), is a relentless Parks on the Air activator with nearly six figures of QSOs and a knack for turning tough parks into routine wins. He walks us through the exact route from Cashman Park, explaining why timing the tides is crucial, and how a simple tarp and sandbags kept a 600-watt station running as the river crept around our boots. We break down his go-to radios (FT-991A and FT-891), the five-band vertical dipole that shines on saltwater, battery choices that balance duty cycle and carry weight, and the logging workflow that keeps pace with chaos. If you’ve ever wondered how saltwater really boosts verticals, you’ll hear it in the reports.
We also dig into etiquette and efficiency: how to manage a wall of callers, reward patient QRP operators, and push past contest-style bulldozers without losing your cool. You’ll hear how familiar hunter voices cut through the noise, how call stacking and smart spotting with Ham2K or Hammers helps, and why amplification only solves half the problem—quiet receive and clean locations are the real force multipliers. Along the way, Keith shares genuinely useful intel on rare-park strategy, why Eagle Island stays rare, and the practical safety habits that matter when your exit depends on the tide.
Underneath the stats sits something deeper. Field radio can be therapy. The planning, the paddle, the rhythm of calling and logging—done well, it lowers the noise in your head while you raise your signal on the band. Whether you’re eyeing a Rhode Island sweep, a 48-state road plan, or just a better lunch-hour activation, this story gives you the map, the kit, and the mindset to make it work.
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