First, the Don't's:
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DO NOT EVER TRANSMIT A FALSE DISTRESS SIGNAL It is dangerous and very illegal. |
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Do not transmit profane or obscene language. Transmit nothing you would not want your grandmother to hear. |
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Do not broadcast without expecting a reply. The VHF radio is for two-way, ship to ship communication only. The only exception is a call to 'all ships' or 'all stations.' |
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Do not make unnecessary transmissions. All communications should be concerned with ship's business. |
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Do not operate a VHF radio without permission of the ship's Captain. |
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Do not broadcast music. |
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Do not use your name in lieu of your vessel's name. |
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Do not use channels for other than their designated use. Channel 16, for instance, is for hailing and distress ONLY. Once you have made contact, switch immediately to an agreed upon working channel. |
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Do not operate on a channel which is in use. Listen on the hailing channel for a moment before you begin your transmission and listen to the channel to which you intend to switch once communications have been established. |
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Do not ramble, mumble, or yell over the radio. Keep your transmissions brief and to the point. |
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Do not talk as you might on a CB radio. There is no "Ten four, good buddy, got yer ears on? What's yer handle?" Talk like that and you will, at best, be ignored. Or more likely chastised. |
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Do not gossip on the radio. There will be people listening. |
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Do NOT transmit over your radio during a Mayday distress situation. If you hear the Coast Guard announce - See-lonce Mayday' or another station broadcast 'See-lonce dis-tress' it means 'Silence: someone is calling in a Mayday.' Monitor but stay off the radio unless you are in a postion to assist. See Emergencies, above. |
| • | Read your VHF radio's operation manual. Be familiar with the controls, where they are and what they do. If you aren't familiar with VHF, find someone who is and ask all the questions you need to ask. If you don't know the answer, there are no silly questions. |
| • | If your mentor or operations manual has not explained the use of a VHF microphone, read this: First, hold the microphone 2 or 3 inches from your mouth and second, slightly to one side. (The first will help eliminate that echo sound you hear from some radio users and the second will help eliminate the breathy noises from words with sibilant letters like S and popping noises from words with letters like P.) When you press the PTT button, hold it a fraction of a second before you start to speak. Most radios seem to have a bit of a delay and if you start speaking as you press the button, your first syllable will often not be transmitted. Speak clearly, and not quickly. Don't run your words together. This is especially true if you have a strong regional or foreign accent. Think about what you want to say before you pick up the microphone so you can keep your conversation brief and to the point. If you are nervous speaking in public, write down what you want to say. |
Before using your VHF radio for the first time:
Channel 9 which is designated as a hailing channel - but few use it as such. More customarily, it is used in some states to hail bridges.
Channel 13 which we use to hail bridges only in states which designate 13 as the channel for hailing bridges. As you enter a state with bascule bridges, look up what channel that state uses in your cruisers guide. Or hail on channel 16 for local knowledge.
Channel 16 which is for hailing and distress only. This is the channel most boats keep tuned to when the radio is not in use. You will hear when you (or others) are being hailed, and you will hear the Coast Guard when they make weather warnings and safety announcements.
Channel 17 which, though it is designated 'State Control', is used for conversations between boaters after establishing contact on 16. (You will hear the phrase 'Up One' - which indicates go up one channel from 16 to 17.)
Channels 68, 69, 71 and 72 which are the other four channels we can use for conversations. Notice 70 is missing - it is DSC only.
There is a complete list of all the U.S. channels and their designated uses shown On our Channels USA Page. Please be aware that if your VHF radio has settings for International and U.S. Make sure your radio is set according to your location. (See International Channels and Canadian Channels.)
Channel 13 which we use to hail bridges only in states which designate 13 as the channel for hailing bridges. As you enter a state with bascule bridges, look up what channel that state uses in your cruisers guide. Or hail on channel 16 for local knowledge.
Channel 16 which is for hailing and distress only. This is the channel most boats keep tuned to when the radio is not in use. You will hear when you (or others) are being hailed, and you will hear the Coast Guard when they make weather warnings and safety announcements.
Channel 17 which, though it is designated 'State Control', is used for conversations between boaters after establishing contact on 16. (You will hear the phrase 'Up One' - which indicates go up one channel from 16 to 17.)
Channels 68, 69, 71 and 72 which are the other four channels we can use for conversations. Notice 70 is missing - it is DSC only.
There is a complete list of all the U.S. channels and their designated uses shown On our Channels USA Page. Please be aware that if your VHF radio has settings for International and U.S. Make sure your radio is set according to your location. (See International Channels and Canadian Channels.)
Over means you have reached the end of what you needed to say and will release the PTT button to hear a reply.
Roger means Yes or Okay. Or that you have received and understood the message.
Out means you are finished with the transmission.
Over and Out means nothing. It makes no sense - because Over means you expect a reply and out means you do not expect a reply. Do not use it.
There are many other standard words or phrases used more formally by Commercial Traffic, the Coast Guard and the Military. Most is self explanatory and as cruisers or weekend boaters most of us don't get that formal. If you wish to learn them consult your copy of Chapman's Seamanship and Piloting or
Roger means Yes or Okay. Or that you have received and understood the message.
Out means you are finished with the transmission.
Over and Out means nothing. It makes no sense - because Over means you expect a reply and out means you do not expect a reply. Do not use it.
There are many other standard words or phrases used more formally by Commercial Traffic, the Coast Guard and the Military. Most is self explanatory and as cruisers or weekend boaters most of us don't get that formal. If you wish to learn them consult your copy of Chapman's Seamanship and Piloting or
Hailing Another Boat
- The usual procedure for hailing another boat on your VHF radio:
And your conversation will progress from there. Even though the protocol is formally for 'ship's business', in actual practice, once you have switched to the working channel, the custom in use is less strict and few will complain as long as you remain civil and polite and don't hog the channel. Make whatever social arrangements need to be made and hold the actual socializing to when you are sipping and snacking in somebody's cockpit.
At cruising destination anchorages or mooring fields, such as Georgetown, in the Bahamas, or Boot Key Harbor, in the Florida Keys, it is customary to have daily 'Cruiser's Nets' at specified times, usually around 8:00 A.M. or so.
Someone designated as the 'control' will come on at the prescribed time and list the procedures used. This will often include such things as general announcements of events, social gatherings including such things as diverse as 'meet and greet' to prayer meetings, 'buy, sell, trade, giveaway', 'who's new in the harbor,' and more. General protocol is explained at the beginning by the 'net controller,' and when you wish to speak you usually need to announce your boat name and wait to be recognized.
Often, you will be 'walked on' or 'stepped on' meaning that someone else was transmitting at the same time you were. Try to be patient and polite. Try again, later when the controller calls for anyone to speak on a certain topic, say your boat's name and wait to be recognized. We often like to just 'lurk', that is listen for a day or two before getting involved just to get a feel for what the local net is about.
At cruising destination anchorages or mooring fields, such as Georgetown, in the Bahamas, or Boot Key Harbor, in the Florida Keys, it is customary to have daily 'Cruiser's Nets' at specified times, usually around 8:00 A.M. or so.
Someone designated as the 'control' will come on at the prescribed time and list the procedures used. This will often include such things as general announcements of events, social gatherings including such things as diverse as 'meet and greet' to prayer meetings, 'buy, sell, trade, giveaway', 'who's new in the harbor,' and more. General protocol is explained at the beginning by the 'net controller,' and when you wish to speak you usually need to announce your boat name and wait to be recognized.
Often, you will be 'walked on' or 'stepped on' meaning that someone else was transmitting at the same time you were. Try to be patient and polite. Try again, later when the controller calls for anyone to speak on a certain topic, say your boat's name and wait to be recognized. We often like to just 'lurk', that is listen for a day or two before getting involved just to get a feel for what the local net is about.
Hailing a Marina
On this page: (click to Jump)
Using your radio for the first time
The Jargon
Hailing another boat
Hailing a Marina
Hailing a Bridge
Commonly Used Channels
Information to post by your radio
Using your radio for the first time
The Jargon
Hailing another boat
Hailing a Marina
Hailing a Bridge
Commonly Used Channels
Information to post by your radio
You will need the following information:
| • | The Marina's Name (available from a local cruising guide or request local knowledge on your VHF Radio.) |
| • | The Marina's working Channel (available as above) |
You will need to provide the marina with the following information:
| • | Your boat's Name |
| • | The reason you are calling (to request a slip, fuel, pump out, etc. |
| • | Your vessel's statistics: length (overall), beam, draft, and type (multihull, power, etc.) |
| • | They may request your shore power requirements, (one or two thirty amp, fifty amp, 100 amp.) |
Put the marina's working channel into memory. Switch to low power, when you are near the marina, and hail the marina:
For example:
For example:
(you) City Marina, City Marina, City Marina, this is the sailing vessel Drifter on 16. Over.
(Wait for a response. Please be patient. Many times the employees in marinas are busy tending to other boaters. They can't be in two places at once and for a marina to staff so that they could take care of every boater's needs immediately would mean that many of the workers would be doing nothing a majority of the time. If they do not answer your hail, wait two or three minutes and try again.)
(them)This is the City Marina back to the vessel calling. Please acknowledge and switch and answer channel 69 - Channel six niner. Over.
(you) Roger, City Marina, switching to Channel 69. Over.
(you) Roger, City Marina, switching to Channel 69. Over.
And of course, at this point you switch to channel 69 and stand by. Most, not all, employees of marinas have radio experience and will hail you. Wait a few moments for them to respond on 69. If they do not respond in a reasonable amount of time, say 10 or 15 seconds, press your PTT button and say:
(you) City Marina, this is sailing vessel Drifter standing by on channel 69. Over.
(sometimes they are waiting for you to respond while you are waiting for them to respond - kind of a stand-off.)
(them) Sailing Vessel Drifter, this is the City Marina. How can we help you? Over.
(you) City Marina, We are requesting diesel fuel and a slip for the night. Over.
(them) Sailing Vessel Drifter, what are your boat's dimensions? Over.
(you) City Marina, We are 37 feet long overall, our beam is 11 feet 2 inches and we draw about five feet. Over.
(them) Sailing vessel Drifter, you are 37 feet length, 11 foot 2 inch beam and five foot draft. Is that correct? Over.
(you) City Marina, that's a Roger. Over.
(them) Sailing Vessel Drifter. Thank you, please stand by on channel 69. Over.
(you) This is Drifter Standing by on channel 69. Over.
(them) Sailing Vessel Drifter, what are your boat's dimensions? Over.
(you) City Marina, We are 37 feet long overall, our beam is 11 feet 2 inches and we draw about five feet. Over.
(them) Sailing vessel Drifter, you are 37 feet length, 11 foot 2 inch beam and five foot draft. Is that correct? Over.
(you) City Marina, that's a Roger. Over.
(them) Sailing Vessel Drifter. Thank you, please stand by on channel 69. Over.
(you) This is Drifter Standing by on channel 69. Over.
And the conversation continues from there. Three things to note:
1. Always repeat back to them what you think you hear. You don't want to be heading to slip P34 when they said D34.
2. Make no assumptions. For instance, ask if you need to prepare docklines or if the fuel dock has them available. Ask if you will need fenders out (and whether it is a floating dock or not so you know at what height to suspend them.) If there is current ask for any special instructions or information you may need regarding which side to the pier, other boats already tied up which you need to avoid. Ask if there are any hazards of which you need to be aware.
3. Do not bother asking over the radio what their fuel prices are or their slip charges are. They cannot, by law, tell you this information over the radio. If you need to know, and you have a cell
phone, get their phone number and call them. Otherwise, wait until you are at the dock and can ask in person..
1. Always repeat back to them what you think you hear. You don't want to be heading to slip P34 when they said D34.
2. Make no assumptions. For instance, ask if you need to prepare docklines or if the fuel dock has them available. Ask if you will need fenders out (and whether it is a floating dock or not so you know at what height to suspend them.) If there is current ask for any special instructions or information you may need regarding which side to the pier, other boats already tied up which you need to avoid. Ask if there are any hazards of which you need to be aware.
3. Do not bother asking over the radio what their fuel prices are or their slip charges are. They cannot, by law, tell you this information over the radio. If you need to know, and you have a cell
phone, get their phone number and call them. Otherwise, wait until you are at the dock and can ask in person..
Information to post next to your VHF Radio
It would be a good idea to type this information so it is legible and in a typeface large enough so that in an emergency someone could read it without their eyeglasses. It would also be a good idea to laminate it. Often on a boat in an emergency things are going to be wet - if only from the sweating palms! If you haven't already done this, make a note to yourself to do it. If you are one who doesn't get around to doing things, please ask someone else more reliable to do it for you. It could save a life.
Select and print out this chart and fill it out legibly, laminate it and post it next to your VHF Radio.
Select and print out this chart and fill it out legibly, laminate it and post it next to your VHF Radio.
| Boat's Name | |
| Phonetic Spelling of Name | |
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Description of Boat |
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| Length of boat | |
| Beam of Boat | |
| Draft of Boat | |
| Hailing Port | |
| MMSI Number |
VHF Radio Ettiquette
Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, Hotel, India, Juliet, Kilo, Lima, Mike, November, Oscar, Papa, Quebec, Romeo, Sierra, Tango, Uniform, Victor, Whiskey, X-ray, Yankee, Zulu
International Phonetic Spelling Alphabet - English
The VHF Channels and their respective uses. The ones available for our use in the USA are:
The Jargon
- You should be familiar with this.Hailing a Bridge
When you are hailing a bridge to request an opening, you should always wait until you are in sight of the bridge and most bridge tenders like you to be within about a quarter of a mile.
Make very sure you are hailing using the correct name for the bridge. And hail the bridge to indicate your intention even if you are waiting with two dozen other boats. (We almost had a bridge close on us because only ten boats had hailed and we were the eleventh.)
Don't bother hailing a fixed bridge - this may seem obvious but we've seen it done much to our, I mean someone's embarrassment. (That's one of the problems with old charts and old cruising guides.)
Don't bother hailing a railroad bridge. They have no bridge tenders. They're usually open, except when a train is approaching or crossing - so you have to keep a sharp eye out. We've never heard one signal. Sometimes the train whistle will alert you, but usually not over the sound of your own engine.
So here's the protocol:
Make very sure you are hailing using the correct name for the bridge. And hail the bridge to indicate your intention even if you are waiting with two dozen other boats. (We almost had a bridge close on us because only ten boats had hailed and we were the eleventh.)
Don't bother hailing a fixed bridge - this may seem obvious but we've seen it done much to our, I mean someone's embarrassment. (That's one of the problems with old charts and old cruising guides.)
Don't bother hailing a railroad bridge. They have no bridge tenders. They're usually open, except when a train is approaching or crossing - so you have to keep a sharp eye out. We've never heard one signal. Sometimes the train whistle will alert you, but usually not over the sound of your own engine.
So here's the protocol:
Switch to the bridge's hailing channel - it's in your cruising guide book. It's usually either channel 9 or channel 13 and it's usually the same through an entire state on the Intra-Coastal Waterway. Set your transmit power to low.
Typical communication:
You: (Name of Bridge), (Name of Bridge), (Name of Bridge), this is the northbound sailing vessel Moondoggy, We would like to request an opening. Over.
Bridge Tender: North bound sailing vessel, we have you in sight. The bridge will open as soon as we clear some of this traffic. Please stand by. Over.
You: This is Sailing Vessel Moondoggy standing by on channel 13. Over.
You will move up close to the bridge and wait. (See Bridges on the Intra-Coastal Waterway on our Tips for Cruising the ICW page.) You will see the gates go down to stop the traffic - an indication that the bridge will be opening soon. Keep an eye for pedestrians crossing as they can take a long time - and you don't want to start prematurely. Usually the bridge tender will sound one long and one short and the bridge will start to open. Watch how quickly the bridge is opening and try to time your passage accordingly. You don't want to pass under until the bridge is fully opened, but you also do not want to keep the bridge tender waiting.
Obviously, if there is other boat traffic passing under the bridge, you will need to pay attention to that also. Fall in line at a prudent distance but not too far - depending , of course, on conditions. If there is current to contend with, generally, the boats on the side of the bridge who have the current with them will pass through first. Pass through one at a time.
When you have passed under and are exiting the other side of the bridge transmit to the bridge tender:
You: (Name of Bridge) This is Moondoggy; we are clear. Thank you very much for the opening (and include if you would some pleasantry - such as Have a nice Day or Happy Holidays - or whatever is appropriate.) Over.
Bridge Tender: Thank you, Moondoggy. The same to you.
You: This is Moondoggy, clear on Channel 13 standing by on channel 16. Out.
Typical communication:
You: (Name of Bridge), (Name of Bridge), (Name of Bridge), this is the northbound sailing vessel Moondoggy, We would like to request an opening. Over.
Bridge Tender: North bound sailing vessel, we have you in sight. The bridge will open as soon as we clear some of this traffic. Please stand by. Over.
You: This is Sailing Vessel Moondoggy standing by on channel 13. Over.
You will move up close to the bridge and wait. (See Bridges on the Intra-Coastal Waterway on our Tips for Cruising the ICW page.) You will see the gates go down to stop the traffic - an indication that the bridge will be opening soon. Keep an eye for pedestrians crossing as they can take a long time - and you don't want to start prematurely. Usually the bridge tender will sound one long and one short and the bridge will start to open. Watch how quickly the bridge is opening and try to time your passage accordingly. You don't want to pass under until the bridge is fully opened, but you also do not want to keep the bridge tender waiting.
Obviously, if there is other boat traffic passing under the bridge, you will need to pay attention to that also. Fall in line at a prudent distance but not too far - depending , of course, on conditions. If there is current to contend with, generally, the boats on the side of the bridge who have the current with them will pass through first. Pass through one at a time.
When you have passed under and are exiting the other side of the bridge transmit to the bridge tender:
You: (Name of Bridge) This is Moondoggy; we are clear. Thank you very much for the opening (and include if you would some pleasantry - such as Have a nice Day or Happy Holidays - or whatever is appropriate.) Over.
Bridge Tender: Thank you, Moondoggy. The same to you.
You: This is Moondoggy, clear on Channel 13 standing by on channel 16. Out.
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Notice: While we make every effort to ensure that the information provided on this website is accurate, we can not be held responsible for any mishaps which may occur as a result of your using information found in this website without verification through other, more authoritative sources such as the U.S. Coast Guard. |
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How to's, Information, Education & Fun Stuff about Boats, Sailboats, and Cruising
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