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
- Any call placed over a VHF-FM radio will transmit at least one line of bearing (LOB).
- Newer VHF-FM radios have a special feature called Digital Selective Calling (DSC).
Together, these features can mean the difference between life and death should an emergency
arise.