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In most places, boats are required to have a VHF radio on board. For cruising sailors, VHF radio is nearly ubiquitous. Even if you are near shore and have a smartphone, VHF radio is still important equipment. Marine bulletins, weather broadcasts, ship traffic information, DSC emergency calling, and the ability to broadcast information to many people at a once are a few reasons.  ...

With more and more leisure boats venturing further from their local shores, safety is paramount. Leisure boat users may be sailing in the same waters as large commercial vessels and will need to have their position and information noted to avoid any collision. This is what AIS (Automatic Identification System) does.  ...

Communication. It’s essential.  You wouldn’t take a long car ride without your cell phone and you shouldn’t be without a VHF radio when out on the water. A hand-held VHF radio is something all boaters should have.  When looking for a VHF radio, there are however several key features you want your radio to have.  ...

One of the biggest newbies is whether they should buy UHF or VHF radios. UHF and VHF refer to the frequencies these radios transmit. Which radio type is right for you depends on your individual circumstances and UHF and VHF radios provide differing advantages.  ...

Whether you’re cruising a lake or out at sea, a marine radio is an essential piece of equipment, navigation, and safety equipment that might just save your life in an emergency. Part of an international system of two-way radio transceivers, marine radios let you communicate with the Coast Guard, other watercraft, or people onshore.  ...

Retevis powerful VHF RA27 marine radios have been designed for both OEM and aftermarket applications. Featuring an updated industrial design and sleek aesthetics. The RA27 is Retevis’s entry-level radio, offering 25W of transmit power and Class D Digital Selective Calling (DSC) compatibility via NMEA 2000.  ...

In the past, the Sea Tow automatic radio inspection system could be used in the U.S.A to detect the VHF marine radio, this system can be used on VHF channels 24 to 28. But now, this system is no longer available and was terminated on October 2, 2020. How can we continue to test our VHF marine radio for free? The answer is Rescue 21 coastal stations.  ...

No matter what type of sailor you are, no matter what boat you sail, an essential piece of kit is a good VHF marine radio. Not only does a marine radio serve as a vital safety tool in case something should go wrong onboard, but it is also a crucial communications tool more generally. With the development of time, VHF marine radios are not only used for communication purposes. Over the years. Many advances have been made in increasing functionality.  ...

Ship to paddle boats, safety is NO.1. So the boating essentials are important. First, we need to prepare in advance. Start with the safety checklist before departure or on the ship to check that all systems and required safety equipment are in working condition and onboard. Do not forget to plan ahead and check the weather report. Bad weather can make for an unpleasant or dangerous day at sea. Know what to expect before departing and avoid potential weather hazards  ...

The AIS system is using the MMSI, not the IMO number, to identify a vessel. The IMO number is part of the static AIS information provided by the vessel crew and can be transmitted additionally. So it could happen if you are searching a vessel in the vessel database by its IMO number that you find more than one entry because the vessel had different MMSI numbers in the past.  ...