What’s the Best Communication Device for your Boat? Watch This!!!

[@huntsail3727]

Great video, glad I found your channel!

[@SailingTipsCa]

Glad you found the channel AND liked the video!!!

[@omahaL98]

Good overall information, thanks

[@SailingTipsCa]

Glad you found it helpful!

[@adamatch9624]

My opinion both. If your going out to sea close to shore both, hiking in a quite area both, if your going out to see more then a couple miles you should have a longer radio vhf radio. Not to mention the more modern phones have satellite texting and sos

[@SailingTipsCa]

Yes both definitely covers all bases especially with some of the new technology in phones!

[@Jyock]

If your sailor and go to sea. There is no comparison bring the Radio.... phone still works for navigation if you have downloaded maps but does nothing for communication if your 5 miles off shore. Great radio im buying one.

[@SailingTipsCa]

You’re absolutely right! My only complaint with the ICOM AIS handheld is that it uses more battery power than my ICOM non-AIS handheld.

[@Jyock]

@@SailingTipsCa I'm going to install the 12 volt charger. With this radio and I bought a Garmin Inreach to communicate with the wife when I'm out at sea I should be good to go. The AIS function was the main reason I was considering the M94D

[@Jyock]

@@SailingTipsCa I know I need to take the RYA VHF course. Do I need that license to receive a MMSI number and register it?

[@SailingTipsCa]

@@Jyock Good idea to install the 12 volt charger on your boat! Note that this radio only receives but does not transmit AIS - I’m not aware of any handheld that does. I’ve never needed my VHF certification to apply for an MMSI here in Canada but maybe other countries are different?

[@Jyock]

@@SailingTipsCa I'm buying it as a AIS receiver only. I live in Spain so there's rules for everything about boating. EU requires me to have a VHF license for my radio. Just didn't know if I could apply for a MMSI number before.

[@chloébayne-i6q]

Merci beaucoup Bro! very useful video

[@SailingTipsCa]

Thanks glad you liked it!

[@philiptorrens2052]

Thanks for all these "quick hit" videos. Like you, I carry both a cellphone and a VHF. Pro tip: in Canada (though not the US) it's actually a legal requirement for even recreational boaters to have their Restricted Operator's Certificate (Maritime) to operate a marine VHF. Taking the course for the ROC (M) will let you communicate more quickly and clearly even for routine calls - and especially in emergency calls. The Big Red Distress Button for sending out a digital distress call is great, but you're often sending a voice Mayday in addition to/instead of a digital call. Interest to declare: I teach and test for the ROC (M).

[@SailingTipsCa]

Yes ROC-M is required in Canada! I’m not sure about the rules in other countries. The voice capability is nice to tell them what the emergency actually is!

[@philiptorrens2052]

@@SailingTipsCa So simply mashing the Big Red Distress Button for 3 to 5 seconds will send out a "generic" distress call with your position and MMSI number. But if you have time, DSC radios actually have a drop-down menu that will let you specify the nature of the problem on the digital distress (choose from: fire, flooding, collision, grounding, capsizing, sinking, adrift, abandoning, piracy or MOB). But, yes, still useful to know proper voice protocols to have nuanced and two-way communication in addition to the digital distress.

[@fritsified5952]

AIS stands for Automatic identification System, not Information System. Still nice they put this feature in a handheld VHF.

[@SailingTipsCa]

You’re right!

[@RobertdeVries-trimaran-sailing]

Nice video. Very informative.

[@SailingTipsCa]

Thanks so much Robert - glad you liked it!!!

[@garthharrington9683]

Garry can you still make a telephone call with vhf?

[@SailingTipsCa]

I've never actually tried it but there are some instructions here: boating.ncf.ca/vhfphone.html

[@garthharrington9683]

@@SailingTipsCa radiotelephone used to use it a lot before cell and satellite. Operator this is SV Unleaded

[@iviewthetube]

In many places you can. However, be ready to pay about $70 for a 3 minute phone call.

[@Dazdigo]

Phones may be waterpoof, but that aren't waterproof from salt water.

[@SailingTipsCa]

I’d be mostly concerned with the impact of salt water on the contacts in the lightning / USB C connector port. If you can quickly retrieve the phone and rinse in fresh water it might be okay…but if you don’t there could well be a corrosion problem…

[@robertlee8042]

Your icom doesn’t have a camera! Also you don’t get to say, “Over,” with an iPhone.

[@SailingTipsCa]

LOL you’re right! I guess you could say “Over” on an iPhone but people might look at you kind of weird…

[@AnthonyHigham6414001080]

To put a global perspective on this a handheld VHF will actually work anywhere on the planet whereas an Iphone will work almost nowhere in comparison. The world is a very big place. If you never travel more than 25 miles from the coast of a developed country then have fun with your cell phone.

[@SailingTipsCa]

Exactly!!!