Handy VHF Reference

Waterproof VHF Radio Reference Card for All Boaters

The Handy VHF Reference is a waterproof, six-panel tri-fold cheat sheet designed to be used right at the radio — covering every reason you'd pick up the mic, from mayday calls and bridge tenders to squelch settings and the spelling alphabet. No memorizing. No fumbling with a manual. The answers are right there when you need them.

Most boaters know they should use the radio more confidently — but in the moment, it's easy to freeze: wrong channel, wrong procedure, wrong words. This reference puts everything in one place, in large print, organized for a quick glance mid-call.

What It Covers

Six full panels cover the situations that actually come up on the water:

• Emergency and distress calls: step-by-step mayday procedure, pan-pan, and securité calls
• Channel usage: which channel to use for bridges, locks, Coast Guard, commercial traffic, marinas, and working channels
• Calling a vessel when you don't know the boat's name
• Safety calls: how to report a hazard to other boaters
• Spelling alphabet (phonetics): Alpha through Zulu, ready to use
• Radio checks: how to confirm your radio is working
• Weather radio: how to access NOAA weather broadcasts
• Hi/low power: when to use each and why
• Squelch: what it is and how to set it
• Best practices for clear, professional communication

Built for Use at the Radio

The format is deliberate. At 11" × 17" unfolded, there's no tiny print to squint at mid-call. Folded to 11" × 5.7", it's easy to tuck in next to the radio, lies flat in a chart table drawer, or can be held in one hand while you hold the mic in the other. Bright colors and bold section headings make it fast to find the right panel under pressure.

• Waterproof synthetic paper: impervious to rain, spray, fuel, oil, and sunscreen
• Matte finish: reduces glare in direct sunlight
• Tear- and crumple-resistant: built to last years aboard
• Large print throughout: readable at a glance, no squinting required

Designed and printed in the USA on American-made recyclable synthetic paper, using soy-based inks, at a facility that runs entirely on wind power.

Details

• Format: six-panel tri-fold card
• Folded size: 11" × 5.7"
• Open size: 11" × 17"
• Material: waterproof, tear-resistant recyclable synthetic paper
• Finish: matte, glare-reducing
• Weight: 0.2 lb
• Made in USA