Marine Radios Review

The new boating season is coming and with it, a new set of both challenges and happy times.  I’m quite sure that I’m not the only one in the world that tends to get a bit “foggy” on what all those channels are for if you don’t use them on a daily basis.  So, let’s take a bit of a look at them and try to jog some of those memory cells so we can prepare ourselves for the new boating season.

Your VHF operates through standard, international frequencies known as channels.  VHF Marine Radios can both send and receive within the same unit.  Channel 16 is the international calling and distress channel and can be found at 156.8 MHz.  Channel 9 can also be used as a secondary call and distress channel.  Never use these frequencies for talking about plans for the weekend – meet on this channel and immediately go to another channel to chat so it doesn’t tie up these very important channels.  Larger vessels can communicate for up to 60 nautical miles where smaller boats with possibly a hand held VHF marine radio will probably be limited to about 5 nautical miles at sea level.  Antennas should be in a vertical position in order to achieve the best reception (called vertical polarization).  Those are the basics.  Of course, there are a lot more rules, but if you remember to only use channels 9 and 16 for hailing and emergencies only, then switch to another channel, you can’t be far wrong.  Remember – the US Coast Guard monitors channel 16 24/7 so let’s be courteous to the needs of others and keep those channels free for emergency weather advisories as well as distress calls from other vessels.  Happy Boater.