September 29th, 2011
As everyone knows, cruising along on your sailboat isn’t just a hobby but an experience that should be enjoyed to the greatest extent. While no one wants to think of what might happen while sailing out in the water, it should always be a precautionary measure to have the most up to date radio available in case of an emergency. As many of you know, most radios are used on sailboats as a way to call for help. The type of radio that is perfect for your sailing needs will depend on how far out you go in the water and what type of boat you are using.
For most sailors, a VHF radio should do the trick for any of your radio needs. They are perfect and really a must for any emergency that you might experience. VHF radios are monitored at all times by the Coast Guard. There are other types of radios that can get the job done, but almost all of them are a branch of the VHF radio. If you’re planning on not going far out into the water, a small handheld two-way radio can work, but the range is extremely limited and should only be used for short trips.
You may already have a radio that you trust your life with when sailing, but for those who don’t, please don’t take that risk. You never know when something might happen to leave you stranded.