Person in a yellow jacket holding a Mayday call card against a dark water background

Waterproof VHF Mayday Distress Call Card – Channel 16 Marine Radio Guide

When stress is high, clarity matters.This waterproof VHF reference card gives you the exact words to use during a Mayday call on Channel 16, plus essential marine radio channels and the full phonetic alphabet for clear communication.Designed for sailors, cruisers, offshore passagemakers, and recreational boaters.

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Backstay

Mayday Distress Call (VHF) Reference Card

Name: Mayday Distress Call (VHF) Reference Card
Brand: Backstay
SKU: RC-0041-1-PR-0001-001
Price: 7.99 USD
Availability: InStock

$7.99 USD

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When things go wrong, clear communication saves lives.

This VHF Distress Call Reference Card is designed to be used in the moment, when adrenaline is high, conditions are poor, and memory fails.

Printed on waterproof, scratch-resistant paper, this double-sided card gives sailors and boaters a clear, step-by-step guide to making an emergency radio call, plus the critical information you need at your fingertips.

What’s included

Front: Mayday Call Script

Clear, structured Mayday call format
Prompts for vessel name, position, situation, and persons aboard
Reminders for DSC radio use and Channel 16
Simple “Prepare / Call / Wait” flow designed for high-stress situations

Back: Quick-Reference Essentials

Common VHF channels (Distress, Safety, Recreational)
Full phonetic alphabet
Emergency priority levels: Mayday / Pan-Pan / Sécurité

Built for real conditions

5 × 7 inches — large enough to read quickly, small enough to keep near the helm
Double-sided layout for fast scanning
Waterproof & scratch-resistant paper
High-contrast, no-nonsense design that stays readable in low light and bad weather

Who it’s for

Cruisers and liveaboards
Coastal and offshore sailors
Powerboaters
Charter boats, sailing schools, and safety kits
Kayakers

Features

Readable 5 × 7 in format
High-contrast layout designed for quick reference at the helm or nav station.
Durable all-weather guide
Printed on waterproof, scratch-resistant paper for use in real marine conditions.
Structured Mayday call guide
A clear, proven format to help you communicate calmly and accurately in an emergency.
Essential VHF reference, double-sided
Mayday call flow on one side; key channels, phonetic alphabet, and priority levels on the other.

View full details

A world map showing various locations where sailors have used Backstay Logbooks, with markers indicating voyages across oceans, coastal routes, and international cruising destinations.

GRATEFUL TO BE PART OF YOUR ADVENTURES

We’re truly grateful you’ve chosen Backstay to be part of your journey. From Seattle to Australia, our logbooks are sailing aboard boats around the world.If you’re using one out on the water, we’d love to hear where you’ve gone, what you’ve learned, and how it’s serving you. Share your photos, stories, and feedback anytime—we deeply value your insight. View the global sailing map on our Track page. Join the community: tag @backstay.marine or email us to be featured.

TESTED AND CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVED

Backstay Sailing Logbooks are designed to last longer. They are tested in the rain, sun, and ocean spray offshore and throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Photo: Reference guide of International code flags

TRUSTED COMPANION

The reference guide is crafted to aid you in the difficult situations when seconds count. Whether it is remembering how to issue a Mayday call, replying to a sound signal in a fog, or knowing what to do when you see a whale.

ONE PERCENT FOR THE OCEAN

We commit one percent of our profits to support ocean research, clean up, and marine mammal rehabilitation. Your purchase helps protect the richest ecosystem on earth.

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Waterproof VHF Mayday Distress Call Card – Channel 16 Marine Radio Guide

Mayday Distress Call (VHF) Reference Card