Marine VHF Radio Guide

Cell coverage dies fast past the beach — VHF doesn’t. Every inshore and nearshore angler should carry one: channel 16 is monitored by the Coast Guard 24/7, and help hears you even when your phone shows no bars.

US recreational channels

Channel	Use	Detail
16 · 156.800 MHz	Distress, safety & calling	Monitored by the US Coast Guard 24/7. Hail and emergencies only — move routine traffic to a working channel.
9	Recreational hailing	Alternate calling channel; many areas ask pleasure craft to hail here to keep 16 clear.
13	Bridge-to-bridge navigation safety	Ships, tugs and drawbridges; 1-watt low power.
22A	USCG working channel	Coast Guard safety broadcasts and follow-up after contact on 16.
68 · 69 · 71 · 72 · 78A	Recreational working channels	Ship-to-ship chatter — where you move after hailing.
70	DSC digital calls only	Digital selective calling only — never voice.
WX1–WX7	NOAA Weather Radio	Continuous marine forecasts. Receive-only.

Channels marked “A” are US-mode — make sure your radio is set to USA channel mode.

How to make a routine call

Listen first — Pause on the channel before you key up so you don’t talk over anyone.
Key up early — Press and hold the PTT button half a second before you start speaking, or your first word gets clipped.
Hail — Say the other vessel’s name twice, then “this is [your vessel name]” and your channel. End with “over”.
Switch — Once they answer, agree to move to a working channel — 68, 69, 71, 72 or 78A.
Talk there, keep it brief — Carry on the conversation on the working channel. Short and to the point.
Sign off — End with your vessel name and “out”.

Radio check etiquette

Use channel 9 or a working channel — never 16.
Say “radio check” plus your vessel name and location.
If you hear someone else’s check, reply “loud and clear”.

Plain speaking

Hold the mic 1–2 inches away and speak across it, not into it.
Normal voice — shouting just distorts.
Spell tricky names with the phonetic alphabet.
“Over” = I expect a reply. “Out” = conversation done. Never “over and out”.

Emergency calls

MAYDAY

Life-threatening emergencies only: sinking, fire, man overboard, medical emergency.

Channel 16 · high power

MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY
This is [vessel name], [vessel name], [vessel name]
MAYDAY, [vessel name]
My position is [lat/lon from GPS, or distance and bearing from a known point]
We are [nature of distress]
[Number] persons on board
[Vessel description: length, type, hull color]
Over

Then release the mic and LISTEN. If no answer, repeat. Stay on 16 unless the Coast Guard moves you.

DSC distress button

If your radio has DSC and is connected to GPS (and registered with an MMSI number): lift the red cover, press and hold DISTRESS for about 5 seconds. It digitally broadcasts your identity and position on channel 70, then auto-switches to 16 for voice follow-up.

Recreational vessels can get a free MMSI from BoatUS or US Power Squadrons — the radio must be programmed with it for DSC to identify you.

PAN-PAN — say “pahn-pahn”, three times

Urgent but not immediately life-threatening — engine dead and drifting, lost navigation, minor injury. Same format as a MAYDAY, on channel 16.

SÉCURITÉ — say “say-cur-i-tay”, three times

Safety broadcasts — hazards to navigation, debris, severe weather. Usually announced on 16, with the message passed on 22A.

If you hear a MAYDAY

Stop transmitting and listen. Write down the position. If the Coast Guard doesn’t answer and you can assist, respond.

Before you launch

A radio check is one line of the pre-launch ritual — the same page carries the USCG required-equipment checklist for your boat length and state, and a float plan you can text ashore. Running in and out of the bay, channel markers & buoys covers which side to keep the reds on.

Educational quick reference for recreational boaters — not a substitute for USCG or FCC guidance. No license is required for recreational VHF use in US waters, but marine VHF is for boats: using it ashore is prohibited.