New online course for boaters - All about Marine Radio

by BoatUS on 7 Jul 2015 If you put 10 boaters in a room with a working marine VHF radio, how many could call for help, call a friend, or share a navigational hazard with nearby boaters?

Chances are the most important piece of safety gear aboard a boat is the least understood. A partnership with the US Power Squadrons and BoatUS Foundation aims to improve boaters’ knowledge with the new online course, All About Marine Radio, offered at BoatUS.org/courses. The course shows how to use standard VHF radios as well as newer Digital Selective Calling (DSC) VHF radios and is great for novices and experienced boaters. Taken from the comfort of home, the course is $24.95.

“From calling a mayday to requesting a marina slip, it’s the boater’s VHF radio that is the most reliable way to communicate and it is the only piece of equipment that can get those closest to a boat in distress to respond quickly,” said BoatUS Foundation Director of Education Amanda Suttles Pérez.

All About Marine Radio teaches how to choose the best radio for your boating lifestyle and how to get the most use out of it. The online course will show some simple rules to follow when you’re using a marine VHF radio plus how to:

Determine which features you want in a marine radio for your type of boating
Make and receive radio calls, including what channels to use
Obtain and use an Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) number for your boat
Call for help in all kinds of emergencies
Ensure that your transmissions are understandable
Simple rules to follow when using your radio

Joining BoatUS for $24 annually lowers the course’s price to $19.96 – the same price offered to US Power Squadrons, Canadian Power Squadrons, US Coast Guard Auxiliary, and Great Lakes Cruising Club members. More information on BoatUS membership benefits can be found at BoatUS.com/membership.