Marine Communication Device

The most important electronic device to carry aboard is some sort of communications device. It’s a handy way to find where the fish are biting or which beach the sundown rendezvous is planned for. It’s also useful when you want to talk with the harbormaster in a new port to learn which slip he wants you in, and even to call the waterfront restaurant and reserve a corner table. And if things ever go really bad—sinking boat, life-threatening injury, heart attack—you need dependable contact with the world ashore, in the crack.

Reach Out and Touch Somebody For lakes and inshore areas, you can’t beat a cellular phone. It’s immediate, easy to use, dependable, and something that most families already own. Just be sure to put the phone in a waterproof container, and keep the battery charged—a connector to the 12-volt system is a great plus. However, most cell phones won’t work when they get too far from the nearest tower—many won’t function more than 25 miles offshore.

Anglers like the cell phone because it doesn’t broadcast information on where the fish are biting—they can share secret spots with their pals and not find a fleet bearing down on them. On the other hand, in an emergency the “party line” aspect of an open radio channel can sometimes bring help from another nearby boater.

VHF stands for Very High Frequency, the most useful of marine radio communications gear. VHF works where cell phones won’t, many miles at sea, to allow you to reach out and touch nearby boats or passing ships even if you don’t have their telephone number. And you can call as often as you like, at no charge whatsoever!

Most people monitor a single channel, channel 16, so any time you need to make contact, you can simply broadcast a hailing call and all nearby boats will hear it. The Coast Guard and many marinas also monitor channel 16, so that’s where you go if you ever need to broadcast the dreaded MAYDAY call. (Channel 9 is also used as a hailing channel, but it’s not monitored by the Coast Guard.) Channel 16 was the hailing channel for many years, and most boaters still use it that way, but it is now supposed to be used only for emergency hailing. Channel 9 is now the hailing channel for recreational boating. Use it for initial contact, and then jump to a “working” channel, typically 68, 69, 71, 72, and 78. For details, visit http://wireless.fcc.gov/marine/vhfchanl.html.

VHF radios cost $160 to $300. It’s a good idea to buy waterproof models for small, open boats. The system requires an antenna about six to eight feet long for good performance, another $75 to $100 or more. Even with a good antenna properly mounted, the range is limited to about 25 miles max. But along the coasts of the United States, it’s rare to be more than 25 miles from another VHF-equipped boat these days, so you can usually reach someone when you need to. VHF radios are small—about half the size of a fax machine—and fit easily inside even the smaller consoles on open boats. They’re built to withstand the rigors of life afloat. Some are completely sealed and will operate totally submerged. (Unfortunately, you won’t—so call for help early if you have problems.)

The factors that most affect VHF transmission are the “gain,” or amplifying ability of the antenna, and its height. A 6-dB gain model or higher is needed for good range (provided the antenna remains approximately vertical). And an antenna atop a flying bridge or on a sailboat mast can reach out miles farther than one on a center console. However, for best performance from a sailboat at a high angle of heel, a lower gain antenna is preferable, because it doesn’t concentrate the signal into such a narrow horizontal disc. On small fishing boats, the tall antenna of a VHF gets in the way of the backcast. On these rigs, it’s better to opt for a low-profile “whip” style antenna that’s only three feet long, yet rated for 6 dB. It won’t match a full-size antenna over a long reach, but it’s adequate most of the time and a lot less likely to snag your lures.

Handheld VHFs are not a whole lot bigger than a cell phone. They have built-in batteries and can be carried with you from boat to boat. They’re great in small boats that have no permanent radio system. They’re not significantly cheaper than 25-watt units, with prices ranging from $100 to about $200. However, they put out only 5 watts, versus the 25 watts of a fixed system, and the antennas are only about six inches long, so the range is limited to about five miles. Also, they can’t be left on continuously because their batteries soon run down, so they’re not the best “first” radio for your boat. However, most have rechargeable batteries—just plug them into a charger attached to an AC outlet, and they’re back to full power overnight. Rechargeable batteries in handheld VHF radios tend to lose a lot of reliability as they age, especially battery types that have a “memory” and must be fully depleted before being fully recharged. Rechargeable also have poor shelf life when away from the charger. For these reasons, many boaters who don’t have an on-board charging system for their VHF have a strong preference for disposable batteries instead of rechargeable. That way, all you have to do is carry a spare set of alkalines, and you’ll always have radio power in an emergency. Also keep in mind that VHF radios use very little power on receive, so you can listen all day and hardly make a dent in the battery condition.