"Larry W4CSC" wrote
There is no differences in voluntary and compulsory ships operating GMDSS
in any regulation I can find, except your voluntary ship isn't required to
have it in the first place.

If you want to operate it, you must comply with all the ship regulations
for it....TWO licensed GMDSS ops, REDUNDANT equipment and all!!


Larry and group:

The same task force letter I quoted from 1992 says:

http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/marcomms/gmdss/rvib-4.doc

False Alerts in GMDSS Systems
/cut/
Compulsory ships are required to carry certified GMDSS operators but
recreational vessels are permitted to use any GMDSS system appropriate for
their operations without any operator qualification.

Since the large percentage of false alerts is attributed to a lack of
operator competence, it is especially important that recreational boaters
receive instruction in the proper operation of GMDSS equipment

Looks pretty clear there - but that is not an authoritatve document of any
kind, just advisory in nature by the Task Force for GMDSS Implementation.
The FCC would be expected to act on those recomendations accordingly, and
may or may not have done so by now. The USCG Auxiliary and US Power
Squadrons are expected by this task force to develop and make instruction
available on GMDSS systems for recreational vessels.

Jack