VHF is for marine related Boat to Boat or Boat to Authorities, and Actual Emergency communications.
GMRS is for non-official personal business communications. GMRS is an FCC licensed required service.
Licenses are not available to individuals. You must be a business entity. e.g., a Construction or Messenger Company.
He actually may mean
FRS. The two are often confused, and many radios have both FRS and GMRS capability.
FRS is for Family member to Family member person communications, Keeping track of the Kids, Etc. No License required.
Range is about 2 miles under ideal condition, A little better than traditional CB Radios.
If you want to talk to the camp to find out when dinner will be ready? ... FRS, Yes! ... VHF, A Big NO!
Remote area boating may mean that there will be very few people listening on the Emergency VHF Channel 16.
FRS does not have an official emergency channel. Contacting anyone at random will be pot luck; and nearly impossible if they have a PL Code enabled.