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CHAPTER 4
PA OPERATION REQUIREMENTS, NAVIGATION, AND COMMUNICATIONS |
| VHF Radiotelephone/Aids to Navigation |
| VHF RADIOTELEPHONE
A VHF (very high frequency) radiotelephone is used to communicate
with other boaters, the Coast Guard, commercial vessels, draw bridge tenders, and lock operators. A
VHF is not required to be U.S. Coast Guard approved. Recreational boaters are not required
to carry VHF radios, but they are highly recommended on larger waters, such as Lake Erie. The Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) regulates their use. The FCC office is in Gettysburg, PA (1-888-CALL-FCC). Recreational
boats less than 20 meters in length are NOT required to have a station license to operate a VHF radio
unless they travel to foreign ports or transmit to foreign stations. Use of a VHF radio is enforced by the
U.S. Coast Guard.
There are many channels on the VHF, but recreational boaters are given access only
to a few. |
| 6 |
intership safety communications only |
| 9 |
commercial and non-commercial intership, ship to coast and alternate calling channel |
| 13 |
ocean-going vessels, bridge tenders, tugs while towing, locks |
| 16 |
distress safety and calling, call Coast Guard, establish general contact |
| 24-28, 84-88 |
public telephone calls (to call the marine operator) |
| 68, 69, 71 and 78 |
non-commercial intership and ship to coast (recreational boat working channels) |
| 72 |
non-commercial intership only |
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| Marine weather (WX-1, WX-2, WX-3) stations broadcast the latest available weather
information from the National Weather Service continually. Forecasts are updated every six hours, or more
often as conditions require. |
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| AIDS TO NAVIGATION (ATON)
The closest things to signs on the water are aids to
navigation. The purpose of ATON is to help boaters avoid problems on the water, and for navigation when
used in combination with a nautical chart. ATON includes buoys and daymarks (or dayboards). The U.S. Aids To Navigation
System has been adopted by the Commission for use on all Commonwealth waters. Boaters should learn this system and
presume nothing. Navigational aids are often moved by the Coast Guard, the Fish & Boat Commission, storms, heavy currents, or vandals.
In
the U.S. Aids To Navigation System, markers designate the edges of a channel and the direction of open
water. The colors of these markers are important. Red markers indicate that boaters should navigate
with the markers on their starboard (right) side when traveling upstream. Remember the slogan “Red, Right Return,” to
find your way home to port. Green markers indicate that boaters should navigate with the markers on their port (left)
side when traveling upstream. Red markers have even numbers and green markers have odd numbers.
Information and Regulatory
Markers are used to alert boaters of various warnings and regulatory matters. These regulatory markers
are white can buoys with orange shapes and black lettering. |
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