What Exactly Is A Marine VHF Radio?

VHF in the marine VHF radios stands for very high frequency. This simply means that your marine radio is able to establish a communication over long distances with no issues. Many boats and ships used different models, like the fixed or the portable radio units. The fixed radio units may be able to offer a strong single and it has the constant electricity going to it for guaranteed use. There are some boats, like rescue boats, who can only use the portable radio units due to the fact there is no power source on board their vessels. Fishing boats and ships will typically be the ones using the fixed units, while casual boaters will be seen using the portable ones.

If you are unfamiliar with what a marine radio is, you may not be an everyday boater. In a nut shell these radios are a way for boats to communicate with each other over a frequency, much like a walky talky. These radios may be used for emergencies, to establish communication with ports and also to avoid any damaging collisions between ships and boats on the water.

A key thing to remember about the marine VHF radio is that the communication you establish should not be for gossip or personal use. Use the radios only to establish need to know information or emergency contact with the Coast Guard. Believe it or not, if the Coast Guard overhears you use profanity or rambling on about gossip they could intercept the connection and even press charges!

For emergencies, you always want to remember channel 16 because this is the international distress channel worldwide. Any local Coast Guard will be able to pick up your mayday. Be sure to give them important information like your location, names, type of boat and if you or anyone else is hurt.