Seeking VHF Radio Advice

[LIMIT CHASER]

AS above, most marine radios are good. But the main thing to know is the signal is line of sight. A typical deep v boat may have an antenna about 5 ft off the water. That would give you a transmission of about 3-4 miles to a typically equipped boat. A taller boat with a taller antenna would transmit and receive at a further distance. If you are concerned more about safety recognition by the Coast Guard, then a radio that accepts a MMSI number is required. This is just a little information. I would suggest that you do research for what use you want it for.

[PatSea]

I've been fishing Erie for more than 50 years and I wouldn't leave the dock without a VHF radio! Good advice above. Most any brand radio will work ok. But get a fixed mount ra
dio which will be 25 watts transmit. Handhelds are only 5 watts and so the range is much less. The antenna is the most important component, more so than the radio itself. Shakespeare makes good antennas. And as said get a radio with MMSI, and hook it up to the GPS. Better yet, get a radio with built-in GPS. Push the red button and the Coast Guard knows exactly where you are. Takes the "search" out of "search and rescue".