A marine VHF-FM radio is one of the most critical pieces of safety equipment a boater can own. Unlike personal flotation devices, the Coast Guard does not require mariners to have a VHF-FM radio on board, but they do encourage mariners “to invest in a VHF-FM radio as their primary means of distress alerting on the water.”
When you encounter a maritime distress, or you or a passenger become injured or ill, you can easily call the Coast Guard for rescue assistance. Consider a VHF-FM radio for your boating electronics package for the following reasons:
- A VHF-FM marine radio sends a broadcast message so assistance can be offered by not only the Coast Guard, but any boaters that may be nearby. Many times I was sent out on an emergency distress call, only to have the call canceled because another boater closer to the boat in distress was able to render assistance before we could arrive.
- Any call placed over a VHF-FM radio will transmit at least one line of bearing (LOB). This means the Coast Guard has a bearing on your location, which narrows the search area and increases the odds of a quick response.
- Newer VHF-FM radios have a special feature called Digital Selective Calling (DSC). With a press of a button, the radio sends a signal to the Coast Guard with your GPS location and vessel information if the radio is properly interfaced with a GPS and registered with Boat US.
Together, these features can mean the difference between life and death should an emergency arise.
