How far offshore for a two-way radio

I had a friend ask me a question and I do not know the answer.  He is new to NC and wants to take his boat out to the wrecks off Atlantic Beach.  He asked how far offshore can he go without a two-way radio.  I don't know the answer and thought I would ask you guys.  He has a 19-foot boat.  I went to the Coast Guard Auxiliary website, but could not find the answer.  If you have a weblink for this information, please pass it along.  Thanks.

10 - 25 miles, but it depends... Main factors are Line of sight  from antenna to antenna plus power of transmitter along with some other minor factors that can be significant when you need comms the most.  Below is more information than you probably want, but it explains it very well.

Out of Atlantic Beach, Sea Tow runs an automated radio check on channel 27. 

You transmit a radio check request and, if received, you'll get a comeback with a ditty about SeaTow's radio check service and then will rebroadcast your transmission so you can get a feeling of what your transmission sounded like to the receiving party. 

Always use this before leaving the dock in the Morehead.  No need to request radio check on 68 or 16

He asked how far WITHOUT a VHF. My answer would be not at all but if real brave within cell phone range. I believe if going outside more than a very short distance one needs 2 VHF, one mounted and another handheld along with a PLB. Flares and other safety equipment are required.

trigger22 wrote: A fixed mount and antenna can be bought for about the same money as a good hand held for what it's worth. Much easier to deal with, no batteries to charge/replace. That said, a hand held is a nice addition to a ditch bag.

ncflatfish wrote: That's good information.  I would never have known to register the number.

Even if you can see the beach and possibly swim to it please buy a radio for your sake.

The Coast Guard, other military aircraft and boats plus a lot of merchant ships can home in on a VHF transmission. They cannot home in on a cellphone.

Crabby Captain John wrote:   Maybe things have changed but is a handheld 5 watts output and mounted 25???

Good point.  Handheld 5/1, fixed 25/1


Edited by BaitWaster - 06 January 2015 at 10:30am

I agree.  This is like taking a class in beginner off-shore radio 101.  Anyone thinking about venturing offshore for the first time needs to know all this information.  As we all know, things happen on the water that you don't expect and being properly prepared is very important.

Wonder how he will explain location without lat/lon.....

mudtoad wrote: The same things happen on the water that happens on land you live and die. If either scares you should do something else. 8f I go in the water I am relying on the epirb not a dam hand held radio prayer would be a better choice. I have been going in the ocean for over fifty years in the beginning you had to rely on yourself

I am a retired Coast Guard helicopter pilot. Here is the way that it is going to work without a VHF or EPIRB. You or someone on your boat is in trouble ie. injured, overboard, fire, lost, disabled, sinking, etc. Nothing happens because nobody knows it. Eventually (hopefully) someone will report you "overdue". A lot of time is then wasted trying to find out if you are really overdue or if you are just late or didn't let anybody know you are back, etc. After this research, a search, if the assets are available and not on a more urgent mission, will start. The response time for a small boat to get underway is 30 minutes, the response time for a helicopter crew (closest one is in E City) is 30 minutes. Add the flight time to a place that you may or may not be since they don't know. Remember that this initial search is going to be at night and it is unlikely that they will find you. Best case scenario is that you are found shortly after first light the next day - alive. Fire, man overboard, heart attack, serious bleeding, etc. someone is probably going to die. Activate an EPIRB and/or scream MAYDAY on your VHF and things happen almost immediately, and most important, they know where you are. Simple math: VHF radio with antenna about $300, PEPIRB about $250. By the way, bad things happen in shore also.
PS: If he fishes by himself, he should always use the "kill switch" and wear inflatable suspenders.

Just my $.02 worth, I always liked finding survivors and hated bringing home bodies.

My cell works or did at NW Places,radio picks up chatter as well and theres no boats in sight same area,anywhere from Knuckle in its been good.