The Top 3 Forms of Communication on a Boat

I think everyone can agree that communication is important. Without it, people wouldn’t be able to enjoy each others’ company or work out problems. Communication is incredibly important out on the water since so many things are going on at once. This means that there is a lot of potential for things to go wrong. There are three essential forms of communication that boaters use, each of them with their own special purposes. One is for staying in touch with other boaters, another is for staying in touch with family and friends, and the last one is for staying in touch with the rest of the world.

The best way to stay in touch with other boaters is through VHF radio. VHF is the tried and true method of communication at sea. It has two channels for emergency use as well as other channels for non-emergencies. Whenever boaters need to ask each other questions, be it about navigation, weather or whatever else, they use one of the non-emergency channels. First, they hail each other on channel 16, which is a channel reserved for both hailing and emergencies. Then, they switch over to another channel.

The problem with VHF radio is that all channels are reserved for serious discussion. You are never to use it for idle chit-chat or for sharing your favorite Aerosmith songs with other boaters. Abuse of the VHF radio could result in severe penalties. So, if you really want to talk with someone for fun, you need to use another form of communication.

Once upon a time, single-sideband radios were almost exclusively used to communicate with the mainland. However, satellite phones have all but taken over. The great thing about satellite phones is that they can be used practically anywhere, on land or sea. You won’t be restricted on what you’re allowed to talk about either. Before you talk for too long though, be sure that you know how much your service provider will be charging you. You could be charged anywhere from $0.10 per minute to over $1.00 per minute. Though, if you find yourself in an emergency, a satellite phone is the next best thing to a VHF radio.

If you don’t wish to use a satellite phone to contact your loved ones, you could always use the Internet. You will still need a satellite service provider, but you will probably save money in comparison to a phone. Plus, with the Internet you can stay in touch with people that you normally wouldn’t call. You can also do some work if you work online, or post a video or pictures of your voyage to share with the whole world. However, the Internet isn’t a very good way to communicate if you are in an emergency. So, be sure to keep your VHF radio on and have your satellite phone handy.

Having multiple means of communication isn’t just a luxury, it’s a necessity. You have to have a VHF radio for hailing other boats and for emergencies. But you should also have a way to contact the outside world if you need to. That’s why it is best to have at least two of these methods of communication, though all three would be best.