Off shore raido

[PatSea]

Most if not all of the new VHF radios will have DSC mode. This is the button behind the little red door on the front of the unit that you push in an emergency that will send a notice to the Coast guard. If you have set it up properly with a connection to a GPS they will know instantly where you are located and they will know exactly where to send help. Eliminates the "search" in "search and rescue". Not only will they know your location but they will have a description of the boat and more. Unfortunately many people with VHF radios have not set them up properly with an MMSI number.

[Dr.Ed]

My advice here is know where you are on Lake Erie at all times so when the rescue guys ask you where you are you can tell them. I carry a second GPS portable Magellen as a backup. If you go wandering aimlessly around the reefs, sooner or later, one of them will come up suddenly and bite you in the #?*#. I also carry a Portable Cobra VHS radio to cover all the bases. It's my Gemini spirit.