Marine

Safe Boating Essentials: Preparing for the Water

From ships to paddle boats, water safety is number one. While the U.S. Coast Guard has different requirements for different vessels, the concepts behind all safety basics are the same.

VHF Radios vs. Cell Phones on a Boat

Avid boaters and those who love to fish know never to go out on the water without their cell phones and a VHF Radio. But there is a big difference between how you use a cell phone, and how and when you use your VHF radio. Every year we hear more people at tradeshows and events say that they don’t need a VHF Radio because they have a cell phone. We would like to share with everyone what the Coast Guard and experts in the field know: this is not a smart or safe idea.

“Mayday!”: A Rescue on the Potomac

A beautiful, calm day on the water can change to a dangerous situation in an instant. On December 20, 2015, Brad Stemocosky and a friend went fishing on Potomac River, near Chesapeake Bay. The two men were well-prepared for the trip, however a fierce turn in the weather as they tried to return home was too much for the 16-foot boat. As 3 1/2-foot waves swamped their vessel, Stemocosky was able to quickly send out a mayday with his handheld VHF radio.