27MHz and VHF Marine radio
27MHz and VHF Marine radio
Marine radios are essential safety equipment and communicate with other boats or marine rescue groups as well as receive navigational warnings and weather updates. Skippers and all sailors should know how to operate marine radios onboard your boat, understand distress and safety frequencies, and how to properly format and transmit distress and safety messages. The two main frequencies used for marine radios are VHF and 27Mhz. Both have their own advantages over the other depending on where you’re located and the size of your vessel.
VHF
VHF is the preferred radio for short-range marine communications. VHF channel 16 is for emergencies or initial calls. All large vessels and smaller boats monitor VHF channel 16. Maritime Safety and volunteer marine rescue stations monitor VHF channel 16 along most of the Australian coast 24 hours/7 days and can respond to emergency calls. It should not be used for routine messages or chat. Most areas in Australia have a local chat or common use frequency. Your local marine rescue station can advise on this. The weather information is regularly broadcast on VHF channel 67. VHF Marine radios require users must have a Marine Radio Operator’s VHF Certificate (MROVCP) that covers both medium and high-frequency radios.
27Mhz
27MHz has a very limited range of around 10-15 nautical miles and is usually limited to "line of sight". Despite it's decreased range compared to VHF, 27Mhz is useful for short-range communication however you should check that a limited coast station is in your immediate vicinity before relying on it for your safety. Most marine rescue groups monitor channel 27.88MHz, but larger vessels at sea do not listen to this radio. If your boat is less than 65ft, you can use this channel and needn’t any qualifications or license to own, fit, or use this type of radio. An experienced sailor or coach will teach you the basic protocols of using a marine radio and how to get the most value from one – especially in an emergency.
