VHF Radios: Everything You Need To Know

This course includes clear instructions, real-world examples, and multimedia tools to ensure you can confidently use your VHF radio:

• VHF Basics: Understand radio types, channels, range, and how to clearly communicate.
• Making Routine Calls: Step-by-step guides for calling known and unknown boats, hailing drawbridges and locks, and switching to working channels.
• Channel Guide: Learn which channels to use for specific purposes and which to avoid.
• Radio Lingo: Speak the language of the water with proper terms, spelling protocols, and radio etiquette.
• Emergency Calls: Differentiate between mayday, pan-pan, and sécurité calls, and know exactly what to say in a crisis.
• Advanced Features: Unlock the power of DSC, AIS, and dual watch to enhance safety and situational awareness.
• Cruiser’s Nets: Join and benefit from cruiser’s nets for local knowledge and community updates.
• Weather Radio: Get detailed, location-specific forecasts and stay ahead of changing conditions.
• Practical Tips and Tools: Includes audio clips, videos, printable guides, and quizzes to reinforce learning.

This course is tailored for real-world boating, focusing on practical, hands-on skills you’ll use every day:

✔ Real-World Scenarios: Practice with examples like hailing unknown boats and navigating congested airwaves.
✔ Multimedia Tools: Audio clips and videos provide context and reinforce learning for every situation.
✔ Advanced Features Made Simple: Step-by-step instructions to set up and use DSC, AIS, and more.
✔ Printable Guides: Handy resources for quick reference at your radio.
✔ Beginner-Friendly: Designed for boaters of all experience levels, with clear explanations of technical concepts.

✔ Immediate access: Login details appear on the purchase confirmation screen and are emailed to you.
✔ Lifetime access: Revisit the course as often as you need, and receive all future updates at no extra cost.
✔ Learn at your pace: No schedules, no pressure—complete the course when it works for you.
✔ Practical for boaters: Entirely text- and photo-based with videos and audio, so you can learn even with limited internet connectivity.

John Herlig has spent years mastering the VHF radio, both as a cruiser aboard his 1967 Rawson 30 and as a delivery captain. His extensive experience includes cruising the East Coast, Bahamas, and the Caribbean, where he learned the real-world challenges and benefits of using the VHF effectively.

As an instructor at Cruisers University and a frequent writer for leading boating publications, John brings a practical, approachable teaching style that demystifies even the most advanced radio features. Whether you’re a new boater or an experienced cruiser, John’s expertise will empower you to use your VHF with confidence.