The 9 Best Marine VHF radios For boat (2023 reviews)

The standard horizon great radio is capable of outshining several other radio featured in this list in overall features. It works well and has quite a few features. It has two metal prongs that are about 3/4 inches long that are mounted on a small stand. It has a GREAT radio for boating safety, and it will transmit your coordinates when you transmit. It could be smaller, the battery is good, 3 kilometers with a mountain between and it has good reception. The speaker sound is very clear. It takes 5-AAA alkaline batteries, not included. It features are awesome though it takes patience and reading to fully appreciate this radio. It is a very nice radio that should last a very longtime.

Why We Like This:

Battery life is just incredible, very little drainage when shut off
Everything is setup, easy to add your mmsi
Looks bulky but fits on hand and very light
Excellent choice for a hand-held vhf

Best For deer woods: Cobra VHF Marine Radio

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The cobra vhf marine radio gives the top-tier radio a run for their money by offering flagship specs at a much more affordable price. This floating radio has an orange core for higher visibility and is easy to retrieve if dropped overboard. It features in a compact unit that fits in a shirt pocket. It can be charged with the 110V AC charge cradle that is included with the model. It features 6 watts of power for longer range communications, full access to noaa weather channels and alarm tones for emergencies, jis7/ipx7 rated submersible, tri-watch, memory channels and burp. It is backlit and has an easy-to-read orange display for higher visibility in all conditions.

The sound is so clear and a long range. It is great for fishing out on a boat.

Why We Like This:

Included car charger is very convenient
Perfect companion for trips out to sea
Thoroughly waterproof & can handle a fall from a hunting tree stand

Best For kayak: Uniden Marine VHF Radio For boat

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The uniden marine vhf radio for boat is suitable and reliable and fits well with your daily usage. For small-craft and casual boaters, this is all the VHF radio you need. It is a marine VHF radio. It offers a triple weather alert. There is a sturdy, small opening built into the back edge of the case. It is light but has a quality feel. It is easy to use and the back light is a good lighting level. It can also run on tripple batteries which is a plus.

The battery charge lasts for several days.

Why We Like This:

Reception is clear & conversation is clear
Works very well on the lakes
You can make distress calls to the coast guard

Best For The money: Standard Horizon Marine VHF Radio For boat

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Standard Horizon offers a variety of radio for personal choice and yet maintaining quality in all the variants. This is a vhf marine radio and the vhf marine band lies between 156 and 158 mhz. It features smooth and easy and also it is easy to operate menu system. It allows dsc calls to be received even when listening to communications. The digital channel display is easy to read as you scroll through the channels. There is a aux speaker wire on the wire harness.

It comes with an internal 66 channel gps built into the front panel, so there is no need to hassle with wiring the radio to a gps for dsc. It has the wires to add an external speaker. The sound is plenty loud.

Why We Like This:

Built-in 66 channel waas gps receiver
Very good layer of safety for very easy install and cost
Very nice has a volume adjustment on it
You can hook up external speakers

Best For Marine Use of any size boat: Cobra Marine VHF Radio For boat

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Not everyone likes to purchase radio for their daily usage, but the cobra marine vhf radio for boat would be an anomoly. This radio comes with the capability to operate in usa, canada and other international destinations. Whether its short range or long distance, the selectable 3-watt vhf options can reach a wide range of distances with quality connection. The sound quality is quite good and the unit is very easy to charge from a cigarette lighter. It offers a compatible speaker/mic accessory on the cobra website.

It is a great small cobra vhf for general use aboard a ship or in harbour. The unit has an excellent battery charger. It is equipped with rechargeable batteries, so you can avoid purchasing batteries frequently.

Why We Like This:

24 hours per day, you will have accurate and live information
Great radio and compact, perfect for pwcs, kayaks etc
Produces 1, 3 or 6 watts of output power for near or distant calling

Best sized Marine Radio: Standard Marine VHF Radio For boat

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Standard is known for creating pragmatic and minimalist radio for people on the go, and its line of standard marine vhf radio for boat definitely falls in line with that reputation. The DSC DISTRESS function when activated transmits a digital MAYDAY including vessel identification, Latitude / Longitude and time (with GPS connected), to facilitate prompt response. It works great, requires set up with a code from your local coast guard, which is labor intensive to get. It is easy to operate menu system. It allows DSC calls to be received even when listening to communications. It has a bunch of features you’ll probably never use, however high quality and clarity.

Why We Like This:

Affordable ultra compact class d fixed mount vhf radio
Nice marine radio with gps and emergency distress button
Very compact vhf, loud works good
Looks nice and distress button is a plus

Best Quality Radio: Standard Great Radio

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A good marine radio is a necessity for ocean or freshwater. It is easy to get and enter into the radio. It has a standard 1/4” mono out for an external speaker. It can wear the extra large, extra bright high resolution dot matrix display that makes operating this radio easy and efficient. It has nema 2000 support additionally has noaa weather with alerts.

This radio is so simple to install, definitely get the mounting hardware and cover. It is a full functioning class d dsc radio, including dsc distress calling, individual calling, group calling, all ships calling and position sharing.

Why We Like This:

Integrated 66 channel waas gps receiver second station ram mic compatible ultra compact
Depth for ease of mounting large, bright high resolution dot matrix displayipx8 waterproof design
One of the new comers and featured product

Best With NEMA: Lowrance Marine VHF Radio For boat

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The lowrance marine vhf radio for boat is suitable and reliable and fits well with your regular usage.

Why We Like This:

One of the new comers and featured product
New and hot release

Best Feature: Easy To install: Yaesu Marine VHF Radio For boat

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We would, of course, be remiss if we didn't mention yaesu marine vhf radio for boat for regular usage. It's a great radio, small and light. It allows dsc calls to be received even when listening to communications. It is easy to install and you have the choice to pick a place. The external speaker is for amplifying the signal coming through to hear over the wind or outside noises or for a clearer receiving voice which is most common because it can be hard to understand.

This radio will NOT operate as a stand alone transceiver. This has an auto volume feature. The mounting bracket can be attached facing up for overhead mounting. It will work on any 12v dc supply.

Why We Like This: