If you are the skipper of a large yacht, you are keenly aware of the need to have immediate communication capability with all crew and passengers at all times. The quickest, easiest way to make announcements to all onboard, particularly in the event of an emergency, is with a hailer, which is usually nothing more than a large, conical speaker mounted on the mast or other elevated surface. Until recently, hailers have been connected to an intercom system via a long pair of wires, which can be run down inside the mast, through the coach roof and then tacked to…

A stand-alone AIS transceiver is a must for both coastal and offshore sailing craft, especially around large harbors with lots of ship traffic and sometimes dense fog. AIS-equipped VHF radios are generally limited to receiving AIS transmissions and displaying them either on a small screen or a separate chartplotter.  To alert another vessel, the operator can either call by VHF radio or activate the DSC (digital select calling) function, which transmits the vessel’s name and position with the vessel’s Maritime Mobile Service Identities code. The advantage of a self-contained AIS transceiver is obvious: Every AIS-equipped vessel in your area is…