Best VHF Marine Radios UK
Best VHF Marine Radios UK — Fixed and Handheld Top Picks
I have used both fixed and handheld VHF radios offshore and on yachts. I have also dropped two handhelds into the water. Both gone, sad times and loss of money – boats are expensive. Buy a waterproof one and use the lanyard. Here is my honest guide to the best options in the UK right now.
Fixed vs Handheld — Which Do You Need?
Fixed VHF radio — wired to the vessel, connects to GPS chartplotter, full DSC capability, 25 watts output. The primary radio for any serious coastal or offshore sailing. The DSC distress button sends your position automatically at the press of one button.
Handheld VHF — portable, battery powered, 5 to 6 watts output. Useful as backup, for communication in the cockpit, hailing marinas. Waterproof models float which is essential.
My recommendation: have both. A fixed DSC radio as your primary and a waterproof handheld as backup. Between the two you are covered if the fixed radio fails or you need to communicate away from the chart table.
What to Look For
DSC with GPS connection — non-negotiable for a fixed radio. Connects to your chartplotter and sends your position automatically in a distress call.
MMSI programmed — your Maritime Mobile Service Identity number must be programmed into any DSC radio before the distress button works correctly. Get your Ship Radio Licence from OFCOM.
Output power — fixed radios transmit at 25 watts. Handhelds transmit at 5 to 6 watts. For a handheld, 6 watts is significantly better than 1 or 2 watt budget sets.
Waterproofing — for handhelds, look for IPX7 or IPX8 rating meaning submersible to at least 1 metre. IPX4 is only splash-proof — not good enough if it goes overboard.
Buoyancy — some handhelds float face up with the antenna vertical, which means they continue transmitting even if dropped overboard. This is a genuinely useful feature.
AIS receiver — some fixed radios include an integrated AIS receiver displaying vessel traffic on your chartplotter without a separate AIS unit.
Our Recommended Fixed VHF Radios
Icom IC-M330GE Fixed DSC Radio
Icom are one of the most trusted names in marine electronics. The M330GE includes built-in GPS, full Class D DSC, and the clarity of audio that Icom are known for. A step up from the Standard Horizon in terms of build quality.
Garmin VHF 215 AIS, Slate Gray
Easy to install and use, just plug and play to compatible Garmin chartplotters and MFDs via the NMEA 2000® network. VHF 215i AIS provides standard Class D DSC functionality (distress calling and direct calling with user-programmed MMSI). The marine radio is preprogrammed with international marine channels. It’s also NMEA 0183
Our Recommended Handheld VHF Radios
Standard Horizon HX320E VHF Radio
The best waterproof handheld I would recommend for a backup radio. Submersible to 1.5 metres, floats face up, built-in GPS and DSC, 6W output. Everything you need in a handheld format.
Icom IC-M37E Handheld
Compact, submersible, and very straightforward to use. The Icom build quality makes this one of the most durable handhelds on the market. Buy the lanyard attachment and use it every time.
Do Not Forget the Licence
Operating a marine VHF radio in UK waters requires a Ship Radio Licence for the vessel from OFCOM and a Short Range Certificate for the operator from the RYA. Both are straightforward to obtain. The SRC is a one-day course — worth doing properly to understand DSC, distress procedures, and radio etiquette.
FAQs
What is the range of a marine VHF radio?
Fixed radios with a masthead antenna — typically 20 to 25 nautical miles to another vessel, further to a coastguard station. Handhelds — typically 5 to 8 nautical miles surface to surface. Range varies significantly with antenna height and conditions.
Do I need a separate AIS unit if my VHF has AIS?
Some fixed VHF radios include an AIS receiver built in — this means you can see other vessels on your chartplotter without a separate AIS unit. However most VHF-integrated AIS is receive-only. To transmit your own position to other vessels you typically need a separate Class B AIS transponder.
What channel should I monitor at sea?
Channel 16 at all times. This is the international distress and calling channel monitored continuously by HM Coastguard. Modern fixed radios monitor Channel 16 and your working channel simultaneously.
Always verify current radio licensing requirements at ofcom.org.uk and rya.org.uk.
