VHF Radio Safety: What Every Sailor Needs to Know Before a Mayday

Every boater—from kayaker to yacht captain—should know how to use a VHF radio before an emergency happens.

By
Marc Robic
-
7
Sailors should always monitor Channel 16 while underway—it's the frequency most likely to connect a distress call with nearby boaters and rescue teams within minutes. (Photo/ Marc Robic)

One of the most important rules while out on the water is to always lend a hand if possible—without risking your own crew and boat, of course. It is a kind of Good Samaritan rule. Over the last 40 years, I’ve lent a hand countless times. From a serious situation, where a power boat hit rocks in the dark of night and began sinking with six people on board, to simply towing boats to safe harbor after running out of gas or having engine trouble, to pulling a few boats off rocks, etc.

To continue reading this article or issue you must be a paid member.
JOIN NOW

Join Practical Sailor

Get full access to Practical-Sailor.com – more than 4,000 articles – for just $34.
Join today and save 42% off our full price.
Already a member?
| Forgot your password? | Activate Web Access
Marc Robic
Marc Robic
Marc caught his love of sailing and all things water from his father from a very young age. He has owned many sailboats in his 40+ years of sailing. An avid do-it-yourselfer and handyman, he builds, modifies, improves and executes all his own repairs. He also enjoys testing, documenting & sharing products and how-to methods with other sailors and boaters. Posting many how to videos on his YouTube channel and Facebook page. He is a member of the Canadian Power and Sail Squadron. Currently, he sails his Catalina 270, Aquaholic 3, out of the Ile-Perrot Yacht Club in Montreal, where Marc spent 16 years as Harbour Master. He is also a regular bareboat yacht charterer, having sailed most of the Caribbean islands. In the winter months, Marc regularly hand builds exact scale models of friends’ boats to give them away in the spring.
Facebook Youtube

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

7 COMMENTS

  1. Readers: please note that *16 is for Canada.

    In the US, unfortunately, you must dial the Command Center Phone: 833-662-8724 (833-MOB-USCG). I guess you need to save it on your phone and/or post it somewhere on the boat.

    For other countries, check with your coast guard services for any direct cell number.

    Apologies for not adding this information in the article.

  2. A small correction: 833-662-8724 (833-MOB-USCG) appears to be the number for the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Mobile Command Center in Mobile, Alabama, rather than a nationwide Coast Guard emergency number.

  3. In France, the nation-wide phone number for reaching MRCCs is 196.
    In summer, channel 16 is often so crowded with emergency or distress calls that the MRCC VHF operator sometimes requests people in trouble (not distress) to switch over to a phone call and dial 196.

  4. In Italian waters you have to dial 1530, and you’ll be automatically connected to the “Capitaneria di Porto” (Harbour master / Coast guard Office) responsible for the geographical area you are calling from. Good luck with the lingo ….. even if things are slowly improving in comparison to 1990 when I made my compulsory military service there.