Recreational VHF Operator

For boaties, their vessel’s radio is their main lifeline to land.

We are proud to have been sharing our boating adventures with visitors to the Wanaka region for over 50 years. Following this experience and our core value around safety, we have decided to share our knowledge from years on the water to make your boating experience not only safe now; but something you can continue to do for years with your friends and family. While there are no actual boat licences in New Zealand there are some pretty hefty fines and consequences for failing to know Maritime Laws and not following them.

Recreational VHF Operator

This course is a guide for vessel radios, including operators of VHF and SSB radios. It provides information about: distress, urgency and safety calls, including appropriate use of cellphones, radio-telephone procedures and coverage.

  • Covers the introduction of a marine radio, the different types and how they work.

  • Learn about distress calls and the procedures for making a distress call.

  • Look into radio and cellphone coverage and services

  • Learn how to operate a marine radio correctly

Course Overview

  • 1

    Radio

    • Operating your marine radio overview

    • Maritime Radio

    • How search and rescue is managed in New Zealand

    • How Radio Works

    • Distress Calls

    • Emergency position-indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs)

    • Summary – Procedures for distress, urgency and safety communications

    • Using cellphones for distress and urgency calls

    • Radio-Telephone Procedure

    • SSB frequencies and VHF channels

    • Using callsigns and IDs

    • Operating procedure

    • Coverage and Service

    • Other Information

    • Useful Contacts

    • Upper Clutha Radio Users