handheld VHF

[papapaul]

Hi everybody, I've just registered so this is my first post.
I am in USA so I'm not familiar with the lows in Europe. I know that this is a British website but I think the lows for recreational boating are the same for all EU countries, I hope. The question I have is: do you have to have a license to have a handheld VHF for emergency in general and if it has weather channels to monitor the weather?
Thank you
Paul

[hobnob]

Laws for recreational boating vary greatly within the EU. Enforcement varies greatly too.

In the UK a VHF licence is required.

Some Coastguard stations issue local forecasts at particular times, but we don't have dedicated channels for weather as you do in the USA.

[jyasaki]

In the US, you need no license to use a VHF (either fixed or handheld) from a vessel while on the water. Most radios (both fixed and handheld) come with the weather band channels, I think (certainly every one I've seen has...)

Note that, in the case of a real emergency, nobody really cares who's licensed for what: yell for help and get everyone safe, then worry about consequences.

If you are new to boating, Chapman Piloting is a great reference for most things you should know. Available through Amazon, West Marine, and probably most larger boating stores.

jky

[SPR]

If your [planning to bring VHF Radio over to EU from USA remember we use different channels frequencys.

Some allow you to switch over to the international frequencys some dont.

S.

[m chappelow]

For the uk a certificate of competance is needed usually a one day course that covers how to send out and recieve maydays/pans and the correct usage and the way to do things and there is also a free licence needed for the radio set itself wether or not its a base unit or a handheld/ transportable,

[papapaul]

Thank you "lads" ( this should be "guys" here) just having fun and exploring the endless variations of the English language.
Thank you again
Paul