Marine radios

Thanks to a generous gift from a friend, I now have a VHF marine radio to use for the PrayerPaddle. A VHF radio is an important safety item for an extended coastal kayaking trip for a variety of reasons. Probably the most common use is for routine weather updates from the weather radio channels. It is also an important tool to avoid collisions in areas with significant shipping. A good example would be around the ferry between Caribou, NS and Woods Island, PEI. And in the unlikely event of an emergency, the radio is the best chance for summoning assistance in a timely manner.

Unfortunately I'm relatively limited in opportunities to try out the radio since I don't live in a coastal area. I have been able to tune in the weather channels here, but will have to wait until a trip down to the Coast next week to work with the other channels.

My other problem has to deal with licensing. Within the United States, I am exempted from license requirements. However that apparently changes once I take the radio out of the country. As best I can decipher the regulations, I will be required to obtain both a station license (about $150) and an operator's license (around $50) for international use. The station license is just paperwork and money, while the operator's license actually requires a written exam at a certified testing center. So that's a few more headaches to have to deal with.