Nobody remembers the MAY DAY words with their heart pounding. Type your boat in once, and the script below reads itself back with your name, size and color already in it. Print it, tape it next to the radio, and paper still works when the phone is dead.
Your boat
Asks once; the spot stays on this page and is never saved or sent.
Saved in this browser only, so the card is ready next time. Nothing leaves your phone.
What to say on channel 16
VHF CARD
Channels in plain English
16
Distress, safety and calling. The Coast Guard listens around the clock. Hail someone here, then move to a working channel. Never chat on 16.
9
Boaters' calling channel. Raise your friends, marinas and Florida drawbridge tenders here so 16 stays clear.
13
Ship to ship, navigation only. Freighters and tugs work out passing here, on low power. Not sure a big ship sees you? Call it here.
22A
Coast Guard working channel. They'll tell you to "switch two-two alpha." Shows only when the radio is set to USA mode.
68 69 71 72
Your working channels. Boat-to-boat talk goes here. 72 is boat to boat only. Pick an open one and say which before you switch.
70
Digital DSC only. No voice, ever. Your radio uses it for the red-button distress alert.
6
Ship-to-ship safety. Search crews use it. Stay off unless they ask.
HI/LO
Power. Use 1 watt (LO) for anyone close; 25 watts (HI) when you need range or it's an emergency.
NOAA weather channels
Listen only. Flip through WX1 to WX7 and keep the clearest one: it's your local forecast on a loop, and new warnings cut in.
WX1162.550 MHz
WX2162.400 MHz
WX3162.475 MHz
WX4162.425 MHz
WX5162.450 MHz
WX6162.500 MHz
WX7162.525 MHz
Calling another boat
On 9 (or 16 if they only monitor 16): "Blue Heron, Blue Heron, this is Reel Therapy. Over." When they answer: "Switch six-eight." Then talk on 68. Done? "Reel Therapy, out."
Radio check: not on 16. Ask a buddy on 9, or use an automated radio check if your area has one (many run on channels 24 to 28; your local towing company knows which).
Say "over" when you want an answer and "out" when you're finished, never both.
The red DISTRESS button
On a DSC radio, lift the red cover and hold DISTRESS for 5 seconds. If an MMSI is programmed in and the radio has GPS (most new handhelds have it built in), it sends your boat's ID and position to the Coast Guard and every DSC radio in range. Then make the voice MAY DAY call on 16.
No MMSI yet? Boating groups such as BoatUS hand them out free for US waters. Going to the Bahamas or any foreign port, get it through an FCC ship station license instead.
Do I need a license?
Not for a recreational boat in US waters: the FCC dropped that in 1996 for VHF, DSC, radar and EPIRBs.
Crossing to the Bahamas or another country? You need a ship station license and a Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit. Running a charter? Study for the Marine Radio Operator Permit (free practice test).