The question that I don't see anyone asking so far is:

Who do you need to communicate with?

If it's just intra-group tactical communications, your best bet is probably GMRS. An $80 license fee covers your entire immediate family for five years, and enables you to transmit up to 50 W on UHF, with the ability to set up a repeater.

If it's extra-group health & welfare traffic, you'll want a General Class Amateur license (Morse Code currently still required, but it's only 5 words/min, pretty easy with a little bit of study, and fun, too) so you can participate in the 80 m and 40 m HF bands, where most of this traffic takes place.

If it's simply listening for info, a good AM/FM/TV/WX receiver is what you want. There are many options here.

If it's keeping tabs on the local public service operations, you'll need a scanner with trunking capabilities.

For GMRS, don't bother with the garden-variety big box store radios. Go visit a real land-mobile radio dealer, and go for the commercial quality stuff.

For Amateur Radio, well, there are as many options as there are hams!

Also, marine radios are generally only legal for use while on the water and underway, with the exception of those that are also usable on Amateur frequencies (for which you also need a license).