A Boater's Guide to VHF Hailing Channels for Dock & Dine
What is a VHF hailing channel, which channels do restaurants use, and how do you actually use your radio to call ahead? Everything a boater needs to know before their first dock-and-dine trip.
One of the most useful things you can do before arriving at a dock-and-dine restaurant is pick up your VHF radio and call ahead. It takes thirty seconds, it tells you whether slips are available, and it signals to the marina or restaurant that you're a competent boater who won't need their dock hands to untangle a mess.
But for many recreational boaters — especially those newer to the water — the VHF radio sits in the console largely unused except for weather broadcasts. Hailing channels feel mysterious. The protocol seems formal. The fear of saying the wrong thing keeps the mic in the holder.
This guide will fix that.
What Is a VHF Radio and Why Does It Matter?
VHF stands for Very High Frequency, and marine VHF radios operate on a band of frequencies specifically allocated for maritime use. Unlike a cell phone, which routes calls through a carrier network, a VHF transmission goes out over the air directly to anyone within range who is monitoring that channel — typically 5 to 25 miles offshore depending on conditions.
Every recreational vessel with a VHF radio is required by the FCC to monitor Channel 16 while underway. Most commercial vessels, marinas, and Coast Guard stations monitor it continuously. This makes it the backbone of on-the-water communication — the shared frequency that connects everyone on the water to each other.
VHF is also free to use (no per-call charges), extremely reliable in coastal and near-offshore conditions, and instant. When you need to reach a marina from the helm without looking up a phone number, there's nothing faster.
The Three Channels You Need to Know
Channel 16 — Distress, Safety, and Calling
Channel 16 is the most important channel on your radio. It is monitored by:
Its primary purposes are: 1. Emergency and distress calls — "MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY" always goes out on Channel 16 2. Initial hailing — Making first contact with another vessel, marina, or shore station
The critical rule: Channel 16 is for contact only, not for extended conversation. Once contact is established, both parties agree to switch to a working channel. If you try to have a long conversation on 16, other mariners will not be happy, and rightly so.
Channel 9 — Recreational Boater Calling Channel
In U.S. waters, Channel 9 has been designated as the non-commercial calling channel for recreational boaters. Think of it as Channel 16's less formal cousin — you can make initial contact on 9, and in many areas it's also used as a working channel for short exchanges.
Most dock-and-dine restaurants and recreational marinas in New York and Connecticut that monitor VHF use Channel 9 as their primary hailing frequency. When you see a restaurant listing on On The Water that says "Hail VHF 9," that's the channel they're listening to during service hours.
Why 9 instead of 16? Because 16 should stay clear for emergencies and official maritime communication. Channel 9 allows the boating community to coordinate without cluttering the distress channel.
Channel 68 — Common Working Channel
Channel 68 is one of several channels (others include 69, 71, 72, and 78A) designated for non-commercial, ship-to-ship or ship-to-shore communication. After making contact on Channel 9 or 16, you might be asked to switch to 68 for the actual conversation. Marinas often use working channels to keep their hailing frequency clear for new contacts.
How to Hail a Restaurant or Marina
The protocol sounds formal but follows a simple pattern. Here's the structure:
"[Destination name] [destination name], this is [vessel name] [vessel name], [your request], over."
You repeat the destination name and your vessel name twice each. This ensures clarity and confirms both parties heard correctly. The word "over" indicates you're done transmitting and waiting for a response.
Example — calling a marina for a slip:
"Danfords Marina, Danfords Marina, this is motor vessel Blue Note, Blue Note, we are a 32-foot sloop approximately two miles west, looking for a transient slip for this evening, over."
Example — calling a restaurant dock:
"Gosman's, Gosman's, this is motor vessel Reel Time, Reel Time, we're approaching from the west with four aboard, wondering if you have dock space available for lunch, over."
If you get no response after two attempts on Channel 9, try Channel 16. If still no response, try calling by phone — some smaller restaurants don't maintain continuous VHF monitoring during service.
VHF Radio Etiquette: The Unwritten Rules
Don't broadcast personal information. VHF is heard by anyone monitoring that channel in range. Don't share credit card numbers, addresses, or anything you wouldn't want a stranger to hear.
Keep transmissions brief. Say what you need to say and release the button. VHF is half-duplex — only one person can transmit at a time on a given channel.
Listen before you transmit. Hold the mic, wait a few seconds, and confirm the channel is clear before you key up. Transmitting over an ongoing conversation is poor form.
Use phonetic alphabet for names when needed. If your vessel name is ambiguous or could be misheard, spell it using the NATO phonetic alphabet: Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, etc.
Don't use slang or CB radio jargon. You're not on a CB radio. "Copy that," "10-4," and "break break" have no place on marine VHF. Keep it plain and clear.
End transmissions correctly. Use "over" when you expect a reply. Use "out" when the conversation is complete and you're signing off. Don't use both — "over and out" is technically contradictory and marks you as someone who learned radio from a movie.
What Dock-and-Dine Restaurants Actually Expect
Most restaurant dock staff are not sailors. They monitor VHF because it's useful for knowing when boats are approaching, but they're not going to grade you on your radio protocol. A simple hail stating who you are, how many people are in your party, what kind of vessel you have, and whether you need a slip — that's all they need.
The information that actually matters:
If a restaurant doesn't respond on VHF, it doesn't necessarily mean they don't have dock space — it might mean the host stand is busy or the channel isn't monitored that moment. A follow-up call by phone is always appropriate.
A Quick Reference Summary
| Channel | Primary Use | Who Monitors It |
| 16 | Emergency, initial hailing | All vessels, USCG, bridges |
| 9 | Recreational boater calling | Most marinas, dock-and-dine restaurants |
| 22A | USCG working channel | Coast Guard (call 16 first) |
| 68 | Working channel | Marinas, vessels by agreement |
| WX1-WX9 | NOAA weather broadcasts | Broadcast only, receive-only |
The VHF radio is one of the most useful tools on any boat. Using it to call ahead to a dock-and-dine restaurant is one of the most practical applications of it. Once you've done it a few times, it becomes second nature — just another part of arriving well and enjoying the experience of coming in from the water.
Hail away.
