Before you key the mike, think about what you want to say. Speaking into a microphone, even on a VHF radio, makes many people nervous. For a routine transmission, such as asking another boat when it will rendezvous with yours, if you jot down a rough outline first, you can make your message a lot smoother–and easier to understand. It's a good idea to keep a pen and paper near your radio anyway.
GLEN JUSTICEMost hand-held VHF radios output one to six watts of power and transmit four to five miles. They are useful as a backup to a mounted radio, and as portable units for use in a dinghy or ditch bag.
Also, make sure no one else is speaking before you press the button to transmit your own message, or you will blur both messages. On a marine radio, only one person can use a channel at a time. When you've finished using the microphone, make sure you don't leave the mike key in the "on" position. If it is, you'll keep transmitting inadvertently, and prevent others from using that channel.
EVERYONE CAN HEAR YOU
Remember that, unlike a telephone, a marine radio makes everything you do public. When you want to call another boat, everyone within radio range knows you're trying to reach that vessel. Everything you say can be heard by anyone who has his radio on. And as long as you talk on a particular channel, you're preventing anyone else from using it. So there's a strict protocol for using a marine radio.
Here's the way it works: each channel on your radio has been designated for a specific use. Channel 16 is reserved for reporting emergencies and for initial contacts with other vessels or radio users. Whenever your radio is on, you should be monitoring 16. If you want to call another vessel or radio user, you can "hail" it on Channel 16. But you don't want to tie up channel 16 for long, so as soon as you get an answer, you need to the party you are calling to switch to a working channel, such as Channels 68, 69, 71, 72 or 78, and carry on your conversation there.
Note that, in some regions of the United States, the Coast Guard has asked recreational boaters to use Channel 9 as a hailing channel, to keep Channel 16 free for emergency use and for larger vessels. Check with your local Coast Guard station on what the practice is for your area.
Many channels have some dedicated use. For example, Channels 21A, 23A, 81A and 83A are set aside for use by the Coast Guard. You shouldn't be on these channels. If you have an emergency, call the Coast Guard on Channel 16, and the Coast Guard watch stander will answer you. If you need to talk with Coast Guard personnel at length–say, to provide details of your situation or describe your boat–they'll probably ask you to switch to channel 22A, the Coast Guard's working channel. But don't use that one until they ask you to do so.
Other channels to keep in mind: Channel 13 is for "bridge-to-bridge" traffic, to talk directly with large merchant vessels or drawbridge operators. You can call them directly on Channel 13 without having to hail them first on 16. And channels 1, 2 and 3 have been designated as weather channels, to carry government-provided local weather forecasts. Press the WX button on your radio, and you'll be switched to one of those channels. Try them out to see which one you can receive most clearly in your area. You can only listen on those channels; you cannot transmit.
Because using a marine radio is so public, there are other rules. First, of course, is don't use foul language on the radio, and don't transmit a false mayday (emergency) call. Both are violations of federal law. Second, there are time limits on the use of Channel 16 as a hailing channel. Once you've hailed another boat, you must wait 30 seconds before trying it again. After that, you must wait two minutes, and then 15 minutes. Also, never use Channel 16 for radio checks. The idea behind all these rules is to keep Channel 16 free so everyone can have a chance to use it.
Finally, there are certain phrases, called "pro words," that savvy radio operators employ, and you ought to learn them to help keep your transmissions understandable. Here are a few that every boater ought to learn:
This is means "this message is from____." Over means "I'm finished talking and now it is your turn." Out means "I'm hanging up and this conversation is finished." Roger means "I understand."
Notice the difference between Over and Out. In the movies, when someone says "Over-and-out," it may sound dramatic. But on the water, it is silly. He's saying, "Now it's your turn to talk. Goodbye."
SAMPLE CONVERSATIONS
Here's how a transmission should sound. When you start hailing another vessel, say the name of the boat you're calling three times, then give your own boat's name three times. Next, tell the recipient what channel you're on; if he has set his radio on SCAN, it may be difficult for him to tell.
