When sailing, choosing between a VHF (Very High Frequency) radio and an HF (High Frequency) radio depends on your communication needs, sailing habits, and location. Here’s a quick comparison:

VHF Radios

• Range: Generally 5–25 nautical miles, depending on antenna height and conditions. Operates on a “line of sight” basis.
• Usage: Best for nearshore or coastal sailing. Used for:
  • Communicating with nearby vessels.
  • Contacting marinas, ports, and bridges.
  • Emergencies via Channel 16 (distress frequency).
  • Weather updates.
• Advantages:
  • Compact, affordable, and easy to use.
  • Mandatory on most boats, making it the standard for local marine communication.
• Limitations:
  • Requires a licence. However, it may be operated by a non-licensed individual under supervision.
  • Limited range, not suitable for offshore or long-distance communication.

HF Radios

• Range: Thousands of nautical miles, depending on atmospheric conditions and antenna setup. Operates by bouncing signals off the ionosphere.
• Usage: Ideal for offshore or bluewater sailing. Used for:
  • Long-distance communication with other vessels, shore stations, or networks.
  • Accessing weather information via broadcasts like NOAA or GRIB files.
  • Participating in marine HF nets for group safety and updates.
• Advantages:
  • Long-range communication.
  • Ability to connect to email or data services with additional equipment.
• Limitations:
  • Larger than a VHF radio, it will take up a lot of space around your nav station.
  • Large antenna often running the length of the backstay or triatic stay on a ketch. 
  • More complex to operate, tune and maintain.
  • Expensive compared to a VHF marine radio.
  • Requires a licence. However, it may be operated by a non-licensed individual under supervision.
  • Signal quality can be affected by atmospheric conditions.

Which Should You Choose?

• Coastal Cruising: VHF is sufficient. It is easier to use and meets most regulatory requirements for nearshore areas.
• Offshore/Long-Distance Sailing: HF is better for long-range communication, though many sailors supplement it with satellite phones or other technology for redundancy.

Many sailors opt for both, with VHF as the primary communication tool and HF (or a satellite communication device) as a backup for long-range situations.