VHF Radio and Signalling Techniques, or
A Bluenose Blueblood Missive from the Quarterdeck of Maid
Meriel
Listening to marine radio traffic I sometimes miss the days of yore when calling someone on the radio meant tapping on a key and listening for the dahdidah of the reply. Effective use of radio communications is a sign of good seamanship, one that appears all too infrequently with today’s boaters. It need not be that way, though. A few straightforward guidelines to the use of the VHF marine radio and other signaling techniques will help not only the parties trying to communicate but everyone else who happens to be in range.
Marine radios are intended for communication amongst boats or between boats and appropriate shore stations where the nature of the communication relates to marine activities. Typical uses involve hailing a harbormaster for assistance, calling a marina for a mooring or slip, or calling a yacht club to request launch service. Marine radios should not be used to discuss Aunt Patty’s new hat or the horrible week you had at work. Cell phones perform adequately for that role.
Cell phones do not, however, work well for contacting the Club from your boat, particularly when requesting assistance. Many of us remember an unfortunate request for emergency assistance that was left on the Club’s answering machine a few years ago. (The callers in question have long since left the Club and boating in general.) It was picked up in due course several days later. Fortunately the Coast Guard does answer their phone 7x24 and the vessel was able to get assistance.
Under most conditions you do not need an FCC license to operate a VHF marine radio from your pleasure craft unless your craft is greater than 65’ in length. Commercial, for-hire and fishing vessels have different regulations, so check with the Coast Guard if you are unsure. You do need a marine radio license to operate a shore radio station, known in the regulations as a private coast station.
Marine radio frequencies are reserved for particular uses. Most important of these is channel 16, which is reserved for hailing and emergency traffic only. It is neither appropriate nor legal to have a casual conversation or ask for a radio check on channel 16. Use it to make contact with another vessel if needed, but then immediately move to a working channel. Because of the increased use of channel 16, channel 9 has been designated as an alternative hailing frequency. Like 16, it should be used to make initial contact only, not for extended conversations. Unlike 16, however, it is not monitored by the Coast Guard and should not be used for emergencies.
Working channels reserved for recreational boaters, where longer conversations are permissible (but not necessarily desirable), include channels 68, 69, 71, 72 and 78. Avoid using other channels unless your purpose is in keeping with the intent of the channel. Your VHF radio manual, Chapman’s, or any number of web sites contain a list of each channel and its reserved use.
Channel 14 is reserved for port operations, which usually
include harbormaster working channels, Cape Cod Canal Control, and similar
functions. The Club uses this channel
for its own version of port operations, but it should not be used for extended
contact since that use interferes with shipping traffic in the
Marine mobile radios usually have a 5 watt (low) and a 25 watt (high) setting. Marine handhelds are usually 1 watt on low power and 3-5 watts on high power. In general, the higher the power setting, the greater the range of the radio.
It is painful to sit in Potter Cove or the
A note on radio transmitting power: though an increase in power does yield longer range, a good antenna mounted correctly is a much larger contributor to the effectiveness of a marine radio than an increase in transmit power. A handheld unit using 5 watts does not work nearly as well as a 5 watt radio connected to a masthead antenna. Likewise, a masthead antenna with frayed coax and a loose connector is probably ok for a mile or so but beyond that will not perform correctly and will eventually damage your radio.
The technically correct way to call another station on the radio is to repeat the name of the vessel or station you wish to contact three times, followed by “this is” and your vessel or station name three times. “EYC, EYC, EYC this is Maid Meriel, Maid Meriel, Maid Meriel.” In practice, this repetition is usually not necessary and quickly becomes pedantic. A couple of repetitions of the station names are usually sufficient. “EYC, EYC, this is Maid Meriel” will usually do. For clarification, the transmitting station may also indicate the type of vessel, as in “Maid Meriel, Maid Meriel, this is the sailing vessel Lark.”
An oft-used but sloppy and inefficient practice is to repeat the name of the station you wish to contact while failing to give your own station name. Hailing “EYC Launch, EYC Launch” without the name of the boat CALLING the launch is not helpful and should be discouraged. “Maid Meriel to EYC” is also incorrect and easily misunderstood by the intended recipient.
When responding to a hail, be sure to give the name of your vessel as well. This assures the originating party that he’s actually reached the right boat. This is particularly important for launch drivers, who would always acknowledge the name of the originating boat when responding. You can also acknowledge that you have received the message by using the word “Roger.” (Not “roger that” as is sometimes used.)
Station #1: “EYC, EYC, this is Jerry Todd”
EYC: “Jerry Todd, this is EYC”
Station #1: “Ready for a pick-ip”
EYC: “Roger, Jerry Todd. I’ll be right out”
If you’re using a hailing channel such as 16 or 9 to contact the other vessel, switch to a working channel as soon as contact is established.
Station #1: “Sea Hawk, Sea Hawk, this is Maid Meriel.”
Station #2: “Maid Meriel, this is Sea Hawk. Switch and answer on channel 78, channel 78”
Station #1: “Roger, switching to 78.”
Contact is re-established and the conversation continues on channel 78.
If you’re calling the Club for assistance with dock lines, wait until you’re relatively close to initiate the call. If you hail the Club and ask for someone to help you when you still have 10 minutes of motoring to get there, you needlessly tie up the dockhand from assisting other members. It is far more courteous to wait until you’re within a few minutes of the dock. If no one is available when you call, you can always circle once or twice.
Three short blasts on a horn is an alternative to calling for a launch ride using the radio. Remember, though, that it is three short blasts, no more and no less. If you honk your horn once or twice, don’t be angry when you look on in vain as the launch visits every boat but your own.
If you’re in a crowded mooring field (
Think before you talk. Use the radio efficiently and effectively. Keep conversations short and to the point. Avoid needless chatter, particularly when using a reserved-use channel like 14. It is frustrating to be involved in complicated maneuvers or work requiring communications and be distracted by idle banter between boats.
It is important to teach kids the proper use of a marine radio, particularly in case of an emergency. It is equally important, though, to prevent the marine radio from becoming a children’s toy. If you want your kids to be able to talk to each other or to you while on board, consider an inexpensive set of FRS radios. They are available at many retailers and are perfectly adequate for short-range chatter.
Channel 13 is a particularly good channel to remember and to monitor while underway. It is used by larger commercial vessels for bridge-to-bridge communication regarding navigation. Normally these vessels will periodically announce their locations and intentions on channel 13, making it a convenient channel to monitor if you’re trying to avoid commercial shipping. Avoid transmitting on channel 13 unless you have a genuine need to contact one of the commercial vessels regarding navigational issues.
The proper use of code flags is a pleasure to experience or watch and a fun skill to acquire. Once you get the hang of it you’ll be amazed at how much information can be conveyed using a very concise form of communication.
Bluenose promises an article in an upcoming Offwatch about code flags and their use. In the mean time, remember that none of the code flags used in the international signaling code or the NYYC signal code have a martini glass on them.