| Communicating on a boat is done by using a VHF radio or "Ship to Shore". Most of these radios have several weather bands on them as well. The Coast Guard and most boaters monitor channel 16. Channel 16 is a "hailing channel". You would contact the person or boat you want to talk to and then go to another channel for the conversation. Most VHF radios have two power settings, one a low setting to talk to nearby boats and another setting for long range communications. You can place telephone calls from your boat by contacting a marine operator on their channel and they make the call and then patch you in. Unless you are in a heavily traveled area, your VHF may be your only means of summoning help in an emergency. |
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