All sea going boats of any size require some kind of device for communicating with other nearby boats and the harbor authorities in order to be safe on the water, as well as to fulfill your responsibilities to other boats in the event that they get into trouble in an emergency.
If you want to stay safe on the water, then it is important to be able to call other people in an emergency to ask for help, or to report your position if you get into trouble. While handheld radio systems are appropriate in smaller boats and for emergency use in a lifeboat, a fixed system with a dedicated radio antenna will give you a much better range, as well as offering superior sound quality on calls to other people.
A fully fitted marine radio system that includes a receiver and an aerial can be installed on a boat with a cabin or bridge, and will allow you to monitor radio communications as you pilot the boat.
As with any other kind of marine equipment, you can get a fixed mounted radio system in a huge variety of different budgets from basic low cost models through to multi function systems that have enough power to give you an excellent range and be able to track the position of callers in conjunction with your navigation system.
A good quality basic VHF radio system for a boat from a decent manufacturer will cost from less than $100. From time to time, you may see cheaper models available, but they are generally of a poorer quality, and will not offer such good reception as a well made radio from a good brand. The Uniden Solara DSC is an excellent entry level marine radio system that combines a good build quality with some features that are normally reserved for much more expensive products. Aside from a sturdy, waterproof construction, it will scan channels for any signals, and has a large backlit display that is designed to be easy to read at any time.
By spending a little more on your marine radio, you get a bit more in the way of features. The Cobra MR F-75 VHF-W will cost around $150 on special offer, and is a fantastic machine for general usage at sea. It features a large, easy to read LCD display that shows what channel you are on. It is also capable of tuning into 10 NOAA weather channels, and will give an audible warning if you are close to bad weather. For maximum power efficiency, the Cobra MR F-75 VHF can switch between 1 and 25 watt power levels in order to preserve charge on your boat batteries. The Cobra MR F-75 VHF uses the latest noise canceling technology microphone in order to ensure that whenever you are talking to other people, they are able to hear you more clearly than ever before. Another feature of the Cobra MR F-75 VHF is that when you connect an external speaker on board your boat, it will act as a public address system, allowing for clear communication between vessels when within range, as well as providing you with a convenient method to talk to your crew from the warmth of the bridge.
At the top end of the fixed mount marine radio system market; there are a number of great products to choose from that combine all the features of low end models with much higher build quality, and any number of additional tools to make communication at sea ever more convenient and reliable. For commercial boats, you need to ensure that you carry a radio set that is fully compliant with the licensing requirements for the class of boat you have. The Standard Horizon Quantum GX3500S is one of the latest commercial quality marine radio sets on the market, and features everything that you need to stay in touch including a public address system, access to NOAA weather channels. It even automates calling out in fog to allow you to concentrate on piloting the boat. It is fully programmable as a scanner, and compatible with two separate radio microphones at one time, to allow you to speak from other areas than the bridge rather than relying on a single handheld.
When choosing your marine VHF radio system, it is always a good idea to get the best model you can afford, speak to the experts at the sales centre, and use their expertise to fit the equipment if necessary, and always keep your radio fully maintained to maximize its use at all times.
