Using the VHF marine radio

Having a marine (VHF) radio aboard your boat can be a lifesaver.  VHF radios are the handiest and fastest way to contact other boaters or to ask for help on the water.  In an emergency, when you use a radio, anyone with a radio can hear you and can come to your aid, perhaps sooner than first responders.  Or you may be the boater who rescues someone because you heard their radio call.  VHF radios also have channels for weather information, other boat traffic, and can be used to relay information about hazards to navigation. 

When underway, boats with radios are required to have their radios on and be monitoring CH 16.

Many boaters in our waters do not think they need a radio because they can just use their cell phones.  Cell phones should be used as secondary, or back-up, communications.  Think about these things:

When a VHF marine radio is used, push the button and start talking; any boater, including first responders on the water, with a radio will hear the call, other boaters will likely be closer than first responders; first responders hear the call immediately; conclusion: much faster and more efficient to use.

When a cell phone is used, it takes time to find the number desired before communication starts; only one person hears the call; person will then have to contact someone to aid the boater; conclusion: less efficient to use with slower response time.

There are many types of marine radios in various price ranges:

Built-in radios have more power and can have more features than handhelds.

Hand-held radios are very reasonably priced now.  Consider ones that float.

DSC radios are becoming more popular.  The Digital Selective Calling feature allows accurate information to be transmitted instantly during an emergency.  But a DSC radio will not work in an emergency if the owner hadn't register the radio and gotten an MMSI number and the owner didn't connect it to the GPS unit in the boat.