How to Use Marine VHF Radio
Having a Marine radio can be critical when operating a boat on any type of water. There are many uses for a Marine radio, but the most important is to send a distress signal -- here's how to do it.
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You Will Need
- Boat
- Marine radio
- Nautical chart
- General information about your boat and passengers
- Call sign and registration number (optional)
- Compass (optional)
Steps
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Step 1
Call distress signal
Tune your marine radio to channel 16 and call out the word "mayday" three times in a row. This is the international hailing and distress frequency.
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Collect as much information as you can about your vessel, your condition, and your location before making a distress call.
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Step 2
Name your vessel
Call out the name of your vessel by saying "This is" and then repeating the name of your vessel three times in a row.
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Call out your call sign and registration number once each if you know them.
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Step 3
Repeat mayday and name
Repeat "mayday" and the name of the vessel once more.
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Step 4
Give position
Give the position of your vessel finding your latitude and longitude on a nautical chart, and approximate distance to a known landmark or island.
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Give your bearing information by describing the direction you're heading using your compass.
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Step 5
Describe your condition
Describe the nature of your distress by saying something like, "struck a submerged object," "taking on water," or "fire on board."
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Step 6
Describe what you need
Describe any specific assistance you might need, like medical attention for someone on board, or pumps needed to remove water.
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Step 7
Describe number of people on board
Describe how many people are on board, their age if pertinent, and their condition.
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Step 8
Give other information
Give any other pieces of information that may further assist the rescuer. Then end the call with the word "over."
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Step 9
Switch channels
Switch to a mutually decided on, free channel once you have established contact with a rescuer. Simply call out a switch to a numbered channel and then tune to that channel to continue communicating with the rescuer.
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The distress signal "mayday" was created in 1923 by Fredrick Stanley Mockford, based on the French word m'aider, which means "come help me."
