If you plan to dock in a foreign port (e.g., Canada or the
Bahamas) or if you communicate with foreign coast or ship
stations, you must have a RESTRICTED RADIOTELEPHONE OPERATOR
PERMIT (sometimes referred to by boaters as an "individual
license") in addition to your ship radio station license.
Section IV outlines the procedure for obtaining a permit.
However, if (1) you merely plan to sail in domestic or
international waters without docking in any foreign ports
and without communicating with foreign coast stations, and
(2) your radio operates only on VHF frequencies, you do not
need an operator permit.

NOTE: A ship radio station license authorizes radio
equipment aboard a ship, while the restricted radiotelephone
operator permit authorizes a specific person to communicate
with foreign stations or use certain radio equipment (e.g.,
MF/HF single sideband radio or satellite radio).

Above copied from FCC website.


Bruce in Alaska wrote:
In article .com,
"Leonard" wrote:


Sorry fot the typo's, right hand is in a splint.

A VHF-FM license is no longer required for boats inside US waters,
unless they are commercial.

They are still required when outside US waters.



Actually not quite accurate. Licensing is only required if you
communicate with a Coast Station of another country. If you just
sail out past the 20 mile Limit, but don't enter another countries
waters, or communicate with another countries Coast Stations,
you are still covered by the Blanket US License if your vessel
is US flagged. This is, however, a very minor distinction.

Bruce in alaska