Bruce in Alaska wrote:

They must be left OFF AND disconnected until there
is a real emergency.


The law only limits the power measured to the antenna, so unless the
silly amp is used no laws will be broken. This is a voluntary ship
station, it isn't CB so it is not illegal equipment to own or have
installed. It's only illegal to use other than in an emergency.

The real issue is what kind of idiot thinks transmitting in the blind on
VHF is better than an EPIRB to begin with. Nothing quite like saturating
the ether with panic stricken calls from some idiot who can't hear a
reply anyway. Would be better off letting the EPIRB do its thing and use
the time to deal with the emergency.

Sounds like a dilettante spending his sugar daddy's money by pretending
to be some kind of expert.

Rick