Boaters of all types share the same waters and effective communications are a key to safe boating. Boaters can communicate with each other in a number of different ways.
Boaters can communicate with each other using very high frequency (VHF) marine radios and visual or sound signals. Maintaining contact with fellow boaters greatly enhances your safety on the water. It is always important to communicate your intentions to others that share the water with you. This includes kayaks, power and sailboats. Situations that warrant a call to another boater include approaches to blind corners, overtaking other vessels, meeting or crossing the approach of another vessel, and operations in conditions of reduced visibility. Knowing and learning how to make an emergency call is in the best personal interest of any boater.
Sound Signals - Coast Guard regulations require larger vessels to carry a sound producing device in order to comply with collision avoidance regulations. Paddleboats should carry a horn in their own self-defense. Small compressed air horns are readily available at marine supply stores and are amazingly loud. The following are some basic sound signals. Learning them will improve your understanding of vessel movements occurring around you.
- One (1) short blast of the horn: I am altering my course to the right
- Two (2) short blasts of the horn: I am altering my course to the left
- One (1) prolonged blast every two (2) minutes: I am a power vessel underway in conditions of reduced visibility
- Five (5) short blasts: There is a dangerous condition
- Power boats turning into a blind corner should sound one (1) prolonged blast of the horn
Using a VHF Radio - Practice using your VHF radio prior to actually needing it. Read the owner's manual. Really. Manufacturers are producing some very capable handheld VHF radios that are also water resistant and quite small. You will need to carry spare batteries for your handheld radio. VHF radio signals propagate "line of sight," that is they will not bend around the curve of the earth or large objects. This means that depending on the power and antenna conditions unique to each radio, you will have an effective range of 5-30 miles.
VHF marine radios are channelized, that is each assigned frequency is given a channel number. The operator isn't required to enter a specific frequency like 158.600 Mhz to make a call. Boaters should monitor VHF channel 16, which is the standard hailing and distress channel for vessels in most areas. Some crowded regions have moved hailing traffic to another approved channel. There are only two acceptable calls that should be made on channel 16, distress and hailing calls.
Hailing To hail another vessel, first listen to the radio to ensure the channel isn't in use. You don't want to interfere with a distress call. Give the name or location of the boat you are trying to contact and keep the call short. If you don't contact the other boat immediately, wait a little while and try again. If you do contact the other boat, move your conversation to a "working channel" VHF radio channels are assigned specific uses and functions. Most VHF radios also have standard weather channels installed to monitor National Weather Service marine weather and safety broadcasts.
- Channel 6 - Intership safety communications
- Channel 9 - Communications between vessels. This channel is also used in some areas by the Coast Guard as a hailing channel
- Channel 13 - Navigational safety communications
- Channel 16 - Distress and hailing communications
- Channel 22 - Communications between the Coast Guard and the boating public. This channel is used by the Coast Guard to broadcast weather and warning messages
- Channels 68, 69, 71, 72 and 78 are used as working channels for recreational boats and communications with shore based stations. There are other channels available for particular geographic areas
Distress Calls If you experience an extreme or life threatening emergency, use your VHF radio to make a MAYDAY call to the Coast Guard and vessels nearby that may be able to help you. Running out of fuel or suffering a weather delay is not an emergency. You can still call the Coast Guard or other boaters for help, but don't use the phrase MAYDAY.
L, Publisher of the Boating on Lake Winnebago, Fox River and Wolf River of Wisconsin Blog forwarded a great tip on VHF radio use during emergencies. Marine VHF radios have two power output setting, one is five (5) watts and the other is twenty-five (25) watts. The low power setting is meant for close in communications with nearby boats. If you are issuing a MAYDAY call, be sure the power selector button is set to HIGH.
The Coast Guard recommends the following emergency radio call procedures.
- Ensure the radio is on
- Select channel 16
- Press the microphone transmit button
- Clearly say: MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY
- After calling MAYDAY, give your vessel name, location, nature of emergency and number of people on board
- Release the transmit button
- Wait for 10 seconds - if no response is heard, repeat your MAYDAY call
- Make sure everyone onboard is wearing a life jacket
The Coast Guard requires vessels over sixteen (16) feet in length the carry approved visual distress signals. Many states have more stringent legal requirements. There is a wide variety of distress signals on the market approved for use at day and night. There are also many actions or signals that can be made by a boater that are internationally recognized as distress signals. Read more about these signals in the Suite101 Boating & Sailing article entitled Visual Distress Signals
