With and without Digital Selective Calling û(DSC), this current batch of fixed-mount ûradios exhibits a variety of body designs. ûPictured is our top pick: Icom IC-502.

The VHF radio has been and probably will remain a boater's primary means of communication in an emergency. While cellular phones can be extremely valuable when you're in trouble, they don't provide a simple, reliable, direct and instantaneous link with the Coast Guard and other boaters within line-of-sight of your antenna.

VHF radio technology has recently improved with the advent of DSC (Digital Selective Calling), which allows you to send digitally encoded information—including your boat’s ID number and coordinates—to other DSC-equipped vessels. This distress signal automatically activates an alarm on other DSC radios within range. In addition, both sending and receiving radios automatically turn to Channel 16 so communication can begin. …