It is well worth everyone’s time to read the Boating Article about VHF radios, Digital Selective Calling and MMSI numbers. Captain Pickett is right that the radio is the most important piece of safety equipment on board. If you don’t have an MMSI number, just go to the boatus.com site and register for one.
In my many years of boating, I haver never had to issue a Mayday call, but having an MMSI number with a DSC equipped radio gives me some peace of mind, just in case.
Safe boating everyone.
Sammie