For the offshore boater, the modern marine radiotelephone is one of the most important items of safety equipment available for recreational craft.  A two-way radio becomes as essential as a compass.  For this reason, the U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary urges the purchase of an efficient radiotelephone, if the well-advised skipper who dotes on distant cruises has not already done so.

Many boaters regard two-way radio as something of a mystery.  Some feel these instruments are too complicated, too sophisticated for the smaller boats.  Actually, marine radio sets manufactured today are nearly as simple to operate as the home telephone.

While a radiotelephone often can be a convenience in the sense of communicating with other vessels, or with shore, its principal purpose is safety and for emergency use.  If you encounter difficulties while underway, there are many radio stations on shore and afloat listening on assigned frequencies for distress calls from mariners in trouble.

These include Coast Guard stations and vessels, merchant ships, coastal commercial stations and many small craft. If your radiotelephone is operating properly, your call for help is almost certain to be heard.

As a pleasure craft, not carrying paying passengers, your boat is not legally required to have a marine radio aboard.  If you chose voluntarily to so equip your vessel, you are obliged to comply with federal rules and regulations.

Marine radiotelephones used today are of three different types, namely, Very High Frequency FM (VHF-FM), Double Sideband AM (DSB-AM), and Single Sideband AM (SSB).

Most popular among pleasure boaters are VHF-FM sets which are designed for short-range communications of less than 40 miles.  They are well adapted to fishermen and pleasure boaters, and come in a wide variety of models at relatively modest prices.

Notable advantages of VHF-FM are minimum interference from other stations and considerably reduced noise levels.  However, VHF radio waves travel in a straight line and will not "bend" over the horizon which prevents long-range communication.

The double sideband marine radios, an early type, are now being phased out.  The SSB-type radiotelephone is designed for long-range communication, where VHF-FM would not be practical, i.e., ocean-going commercial vessels.