Many newcomers to the world of coastal and offshore sailing place too much faith in their cell phones as a means of calling for help in case of an emergency. These well-intentioned individuals believe all they need to do is call 911 and hope is on its way. Within roughly 15 miles of the coast, you should be able to communicate with the Coast Guard, the local harbor patrol or a tow service, such as Sea Tow, BoatUS or TowBoatUS, to come to your aid.
Having the capacity to summon an emergency service by phone near shore is certainly better than nothing, but how would you state your location? Do you also have a GPS unit, even an iPhone, to verify your latitude and longitude? How about a handheld compass to determine your angle off some easily identifiable landmark?
As you venture farther offshore, you will need a VHF radio capable of communicating with surrounding vessels and emergency services. With a masthead antenna on a sailboat or a long whip antenna on a motorboat, a permanent-mount VHF radio has a range of up to roughly 60 miles, giving you a much better chance of calling for help in an emergency. Though many coastal sailors feel safe with only a handheld VHF onboard, the greater power, range and versatility of a permanently installed VHF/DSC/GPS/AIS base station offers a greater degree of safety and certainty in communications with other vessels. Closer to shore, you can use a handheld VHF to communicate with other vessels while standing out on deck.
Just to clarify, there’s no legal requirement for vessels under 65 feet in length to carry a VHF radio. This is rather ironic, however, since most of the vessels needing help on the high seas are generally much smaller, ranging roughly 25 to 50 feet long.
Permanent-Mount VHF Radios
If you’ve recently purchased a previously-owned yacht that hasn’t had its electronics upgraded since the ’90s, the first item on your shopping list needs to be a new, permanent-mount VHF radio — one fully capable of receiving AIS and GPS data and permitting DSC calls with other vessels. Installed within easy reach in your nav station, the VHF needs to have enough power and transmission range to communicate with vessels at greater distances offshore.
The ICOM IC-M506 fixed-mount VHF with AIS and internal GPS is a robust, compact system offering ease of use and durable construction. The IC-M506 is capable of receiving and transmitting GPS position, along with course and speed, on the radio network. Adding to its versatility, the IC-M506 converts NMEA 0183 GPS data to NMEA 2000 data for use in other equipment in the navigation array.
For communication between nav station and deck, ICOM also offers its optional SP-37 hailer speaker to be mounted out on deck or on the mast. This powerful, 25W two-way hailer allows crew to communicate clearly while the wind howls and seas break over the deck. This is a lot of value, especially when considering the price of around $400.
Standard Horizon’s GX2200 MATRIX VHF/AIS/GPS radio is another competitor on the short list of integrated AIS/GPS-enabled VHF radios on the market. To start, this is a VHF serving as a full-function GPS receiver, allowing 100 waypoints to be stored. I’m not sure I’d dispense with a separate GPS and chartplotter, but it’s nice to know there’s a back-up nav device in case the main GPS bellies up.
As with its competitors, the GX2200 allows you to contact AIS-enabled vessels in your area using the DSC feature of the VHF radio. The unit graphically portrays your position relative to AIS targets and lets you know when an AIS target is approaching too close to your vessel via the Closest Point of Approach (CPA) alarm. The screen also shows your GPS position as well those of AIS targets in your area. And when stuck in a fog bank, you can depend on Standard Horizon’s 30W Loud Hailer with fog signals, which may be activated by the GX2200’s collision avoidance alarm feature.
The Lowrance Link-9 offers the same main features of the ICOM IC-M506 and Standard Horizon GX2200, including a built-in GPS antenna and AIS target mapping on an LED screen or on a separate chartplotter. The Link-9 employs NMEA 0183 for its chartplotter GPS and NMEA 2000 for its network antenna connection.
For those moments we most fear, the Link-9 also features a Man Overboard (MOB) function. By pressing the NAV/MOB button, the unit marks the GPS position and displays distance and direction to the MOB point.
The Lowrance Link-9 is priced in the same general range as the IC-M506 and the GX2200, and all three are well-constructed and relatively compact. Try them out at your local chandlery, and take advantage of a radio that doubles as a key navigation device.
Handheld VHF Radios
A good choice for a handheld VHF radio is a floating, submersible unit with NOAA Weather alerts and at least a 10-hour battery. The Uniden Atlantis 155 checks all these boxes, offering both 1W and 3W transmit power and a large LED screen with white background in daylight and an orange backlight for night. The unit offers 16 channels and a nine-mile speaking range, which should be at least minimally sufficient for emergency communications near shore.
The Uniden Atlantis 155 is rated waterproof IPX8, floats and easily clears its speaker of water after being submerged. Four rechargeable AAA batteries and a DC charging cable enable you to keep this radio ready with your vessel’s DC/AC power inverter. For around $80, this is a great value for the dependable service this radio provides.
For a submersible VHF with greater power and range, consider the Cobra MH600 submersible, Bluetooth-capable VHF handheld offering DSC calling capability that automatically transmits your GPS coordinates, which you can read on the LED screen. You can select 1, 3 or 6 watts of power, allowing you to save power with short-range contacts. Six watts of transmit power provides you with a maximum range of 15 miles. Available for roughly $200, this radio is a bit pricier but well worth the extra bucks for this valuable communication device.
The ICOM M94D VHF with DSC/GPS/AIS capability and 6 watts of power is near or at the top of the line for handheld VHF radios, given the technology currently available to us. This unit permits you to receive automatic identification system (AIS) data, informing you of AIS-transmitting vessels in your area. This feature aids in keeping your vessel safe from collision, particularly in dense, coastal fog. At $350, this radio is a bit pricey but well worth the expense, given the added protection it provides.
Your choice of a VHF base station and handheld VHF radio adds a great amount of security for you and your crew, whether you stick close to home or venture offshore. Having both ensures you have the capability to communicate with crew while they are ashore, no matter where you anchor on the planet. Keep your crew safe by choosing a high-quality VHF/GPS/DSC/AIS base station and handheld VHF before your next ocean voyage.
