Sailboats USA 🇺🇸

Critical Channels — Know These First

Coast Guard & Emergency Channels

Working Channels — Recreational

Commercial & Special Use

USCG — Complete US VHF Channel Information | FCC Marine VHF Channel Chart (PDF)

The Core Rules

• Monitor Ch 16 at all times when underway — this is both a legal requirement and basic seamanship. Never turn off or leave Ch 16 unmonitored while at the helm.
• Use the lowest effective power — 1 watt for short-range communications within a marina or anchorage; 25 watts for offshore or longer-range calls. Over-powering congests the channel and provides no benefit.
• Call on 16, talk on a working channel — make initial contact on Ch 16 (or Ch 09), then immediately switch to a working channel (68, 69, 71, 72, or 78A) for your conversation.
• Keep transmissions brief — FCC rules limit most transmissions to 5 minutes or less on working channels. Never "chat" on Ch 16.
• Listen before transmitting — hold the PTT button down for 2–3 seconds before speaking to ensure the channel is clear.
• Speak slowly and clearly — marine radio is not a telephone; enunciate; use the NATO phonetic alphabet for letters and numbers when clarity is needed.
• Identify yourself — always state your vessel name and/or MMSI number at the start of every transmission.

What NOT to Do

NATO Phonetic Alphabet

Ending a Call

• "Over" — I've finished speaking, your turn
• "Out" — I'm ending this communication; no response needed
• "Roger" — I've received and understood your last transmission
• "Wilco" — I understand and will comply
• Never say "Over and Out" — these are contradictory; use one or the other

MAYDAY Relay

If you hear a MAYDAY call that receives no reply from the Coast Guard, any vessel may relay the call:

MAYDAY Acknowledgement

If you receive a MAYDAY and the Coast Guard does not acknowledge, respond:

MMSI Number — Register Before You Need It

• MMSI (Maritime Mobile Service Identity) is a 9-digit number unique to your vessel — like a phone number for your radio
• Register your MMSI for free at BoatUS or Sea Tow; or through the FCC with your ship station license
• Program your MMSI into your DSC radio — without it, the DSC distress button sends no position and no identification
• Connect your GPS to your DSC radio (NMEA 0183 connection) so position is transmitted automatically when the distress button is pressed

How DSC Distress Works

• Lift the cover and press the red DSC Distress button — hold for 5 seconds
• The radio transmits a digital signal on Ch 70 with your MMSI, position, time, and nature of distress
• Every DSC-equipped vessel within range receives an alarm; the USCG receives an alert immediately
• After transmitting, switch to Channel 16 and wait — the Coast Guard will acknowledge on Ch 16 and Ch 70
• The DSC call is a supplement to — not a replacement for — a voice MAYDAY call

DSC Individual Calling

• Look up the MMSI of the vessel you want to call
• Enter their MMSI in the radio's DSC menu and transmit a digital call request
• Their radio sounds an alarm and displays the call; they respond on the channel you specified
• Much more reliable than voice calling in busy anchorages

Washington State Specific Notes

• VTS Puget Sound — Official USCG Page — current procedures, reporting requirements, and contact information
• VTS Puget Sound User's Manual 2024 (PDF) — the definitive guide; download and keep aboard
• Fidalgo Yacht Club — WA & BC VHF Channel Guide — local knowledge from Anacortes
• Seattle Yacht Club — VHF Radio Guide
• Puget Sound is a No Discharge Zone — VHF is used by USCG and harbor patrols to enforce this; know your sanitation system status

Canadian Border Crossing

• When crossing into Canadian waters, you are required to clear Canadian Customs — call CBSA at 1-888-226-7277 before or upon arrival
• In Canadian waters, monitor Ch 16 (same internationally) and Ch 5A in the Cooperative VTS area
• Victoria Traffic and Tofino Traffic monitor Ch 5A in BC waters
• "Victoria Traffic" — Strait of Juan de Fuca east of Race Rocks; Gulf Islands
• "Tofino Traffic" — Strait of Juan de Fuca west of Race Rocks
• BC working channels: Ch 68, 69, 72 (same as US)
• Canadian VHF rules are nearly identical to US rules; key differences involve distress procedures and calling conventions

Fixed-Mount vs. Handheld

• Fixed-mount (25W) — the primary radio; connected to a properly installed antenna at the masthead; maximum range 20–40 miles; required for DSC distress calling with GPS integration; standard on any cruising sailboat
• Handheld (5–6W) — essential backup carried in the abandon-ship bag; waterproof; 5–6 mile range; insufficient for passage-making as a primary radio but critical when the vessel's power fails or if crew goes in the water

Leading VHF Radio Brands

• Standard Horizon — excellent DSC radios at all price points; GX2400 and GX2200 popular on sailboats
• ICOM — M506 and M510 are premium fixed-mount DSC radios; excellent build quality
• Garmin — VHF 215i and 215 with GPS integration; connects to Garmin chartplotter network
• Cobra, Uniden — budget-friendly handheld options

Antenna Installation — Critical for Range

• VHF is line-of-sight — the higher the antenna, the greater the range
• Masthead antenna is standard on sailboats — 40–60 ft height gives 20–35 mile range to shore stations
• A deck-level or pushpit antenna on the same radio will give only 5–8 miles — adequate for harbor use only
• Use RG-8X or LMR-400 coax for the antenna feed line; never use standard RG-58 for runs over 15 ft — signal loss is significant
• PL-259 connectors must be properly waterproofed with self-amalgamating tape where they exit the mast
• The antenna gain for a masthead sailboat installation should be 3 dBi (unity gain) — do not use high-gain antennas on a masthead; they beam the signal too low and reduce range as the boat heels

Resources

• USCG — Radio Information for Boaters
• BoatUS Foundation — Marine Communications Guide
• Boater Education Courses — all NASBLA-approved courses cover VHF radio use in depth
• FCC — Ship Station License
• BoatUS — Free MMSI Registration