Discover the expert in you.
Discover the expert in you.
When you want to tell someone your boat is out of gas, on fire or sinking, you may be in an area without cell phone coverage. The U.S. Coast Guard recommends that all vessels, whether they are required to carry a marine radio or not, have one on board, saying that they "do not advocate cellular phones" as a substitute for a marine radio. When -- not if -- you install a marine radio on your boat, doing it right can prevent future problems and may even save lives.
The romantic image of the well-dressed, swash buckling pirate of yesteryear is a far cry from the AK47-toting gangs that plague sailors primarily in the Indian Ocean near the Horn of Africa. Pirates typically attack from smaller skiffs launched from a larger mother ship, though they may also use previously hijacked vessels. Sailors can help prevent piracy by avoiding certain areas and reporting any signs of pirates.
A working VHF (Very High Frequency) radio is one of the most important pieces of safety equipment you carry with you on your boat. The VHF is used to monitor the weather via National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather stations, communicate with other boats and call for assistance on the water, if needed. To check that the antenna of the VHF is working properly, you will need to test it with a VHF radio unit.
When you need to replace the coax, or coaxial cable, connecting your VHF marine radio to your boat's Shakespeare fiberglass whip antenna, the process is straightforward. You should remember that Shakespeare's VHF marine radio antennas, just like the marine VHF radio sitting on your boat's dash, require a coaxial cable tipped on both ends with a PL-259 connector, the same kind of connector your marine VHF radio uses. One-third of the job is complete once you ensure the replacement cable has the right connectors.
Our family has fond memories of several sailing ventures between Florida and the Bahamas. My father, a Navy man and the 'old salt' in the family, is a wealth of information and would testify that good weather and a healthy respect for the ocean are perhaps the two most important factors in determining a pleasant voyage across the Gulf Stream. This passage is approximately 265 nautical miles (nm), from Marsh Harbor in the Abacos to Cape Canaveral. This takes about 53 hours of sailing at an average speed of five knots, or 38 hours at seven knots, without factoring in…
Marine VHF radio is the standard means of communication for boaters. These electronic units have the ability to transmit and receive messages with other devices, allowing for easy conversation among ship captains. Marine VHF radios can be owned and operated by anyone, and are important tools for maintaining safety. These radios are the first line of defense for those in dire need of assistance. If a problem arises onboard a boat, other ship operators--and the coast guard--are ready to reply.
The second most annoying thing about a boat is a dead battery -- the first being the cost of maintenance. With some attention to the needs of your boat's electrical system, as you add toys, you can minimize part of the aggravation of the cost of maintenance. As your boat's electrical needs begin to grow, the boat's electrical panel should be evaluated to ensure that the power distribution system -- the electrical panel isn't overpowered. A walk through your boat and some simple arithmetic can help alleviate that second annoyance.
VHF (very high frequency) radios function at frequencies under 300MHz. You are likely to come across this type of radio most often in a marine environment. Boaters use VHF. UHF (ultra high frequency) radios are used in walkie-talkie applications like the FRS (Family Service Radios) that groups use to communicate with each other. As with all radios, most problems are due to power supply and to RF (radio frequency) interference.
Uniden's Very High Frequency (VHF) radios are for marine applications. Uniden also make non-marine, two-way radios for General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) and Family Radio Service (FRS) but they are considered Ultra High Frequency (UHF) radios because they operate on frequencies higher than 300 MHz---the cutoff for VHF. Uniden's marine application VHF radios are supplied in hand-held and fixed-mount variants.
The value of your boat's VHF marine radio as a piece of safety equipment depends on your attitude toward safety. "The VHF," as professional seamen call it, provides the lifeline between your boat and rescue, acts as your boat's "turn signal" and, if used properly, may lead you to others in peril of the sea. The FCC regulations are few.
VHF radio is most commonly used for boating. VHF transceivers can be fixed-mounted or hand-held, and they give boaters two-way, vessel-to-vessel communications, as well as ship-to-shore. Its main use is for safety, but it is also used for navigation and operational purposes, for example to communicate with a tender. You can listen to the weather forecast and also make global radio-telephone calls through an operator.
If you have a marine vehicle, one of the important items you should consider is an MMSI (Maritime Mobile Service Identity) number. An MMSI number is a safety precaution that can be beneficial if you ever need assistance while you are out on the water. The MMSI won't only allow you to contact the U.S. Coast Guard for emergency assistance, but you can also transmit signals to other boaters who may be nearby.
A VHF radio is your communications lifeline in crossing situations, meeting situations and passing situations. If you need to contact local law enforcement or if you find yourself stranded and need to call for a boat to tow you into the marina, your VHF radio is the best, and sometimes only, way to make contact.
Locks are often used on waterways to allow boaters to navigate around areas, such as rapids, a waterfall or dam, which would otherwise make navigation impossible. In essence, a lock is like a bathtub with gates at each end. The gate opens at one end, the boat goes in, and the gates close. Then, depending on the direction of travel, water is simply let in, or removed, from the lock. Once the level of the lock is equal with the water in the direction of travel, the gate at that end opens and boat is allowed to proceed.
Here is how to properly use your marine VHF radio.
High frequency or VHF radio is your lifeline to the U.S. Coast Guard during a boating emergency. When contacting the Coast Guard via VHF radio, you must follow a very specific protocol. Using the wrong phrase while calling for help could cost you a large fine and not knowing your location could cost you your life.
The VHF, or very high frequency, radio is one of the most important safety tools on a boat. VHF is a reliable communication device and its airwaves are constantly monitored by other boaters and by maritime authorities. Whether you are in an emergency or just have something mundane to ask another vessel, follow these steps to use a VHF radio.
You never know when you'll need to communicate and on a boat it's done with a VHF (very high frequency) radio.
