Handheld VHF Advice

CaptnJD · Mar-12-2005, 12:06 PM

I want to get my Pops a hand held VHF radio as he is always out on SD bay fishing in a little skiff. Its gotta be easy to use, waterproof and float if possible. Any suggestions/Recomendations..

getagaff · Mar-12-2005, 01:09 PM

Don't know about floating but the uniden atlantist is cheap $99.99. comes with nicad and cartrige for AA batteries, also has 12v accessory plug. Lot of features for little money. Think its JIS7 submersible but not sure.

GETAGAFF

baja critic · Mar-16-2005, 09:46 PM

icom ic-miv

aguachico · Mar-16-2005, 11:04 PM

Standard Horizon 460. I punish my hand held vhf's on the kayak. Punish. Standard is the best. Hands down. Owned others and the customer service and the product sucks. That's why I'm also purchasing two quest fixed mounts and the GPS from standard for my panga.

Mr_PeaCH · Mar-17-2005, 07:25 AM

A couple ways to go off the top of my head.

West Marine puts out a model 50 and 100 handheld; both are pretty cheap and (supposedly) JIS7 submersible. I know they have admitted to some waterproofing problems and are throwing in a free dry bag (clear) for them now. They're cheap and the bag will float them.

For $300-400 you can pick up the Uniden Mystic. a VHF/GPS combo. I love having both in one for my kayak fishing even though it is a bit larger than a standard handheld VHF. There are always a few for sale on eBay. (also JIS7; no, doesn't float)

squidproquo · Mar-17-2005, 09:52 AM

I second the Standard, and don't forget the $15 case that floats it or the submersible part isn't much good if you can't find it. Charges, also uses AA batteries. I get about 16 hours talk time on a charge, plenty unless you are way out of range.

Double Z · Mar-17-2005, 09:56 AM

I got the Standard 471. It's cool. It picks up everything and you can use it as a AM/FM with a crappy speaker. You can tie it into a network and it will transmit your lat/long if you ever end up in the drink. It even picks up the family radio's and airplane frequencies. PM me if you want the price. I don't want to "Offend" anyone by telling you the price I've seen it for.

Paul F · Mar-17-2005, 10:30 AM

My standard 460 radio is 4 or 5 years old. Still no problems with it.
How usable is it on a skiff would be my biggest question. The 5 W they transmit is basiclly line of sight and not too far. In my boat the fixed mount radio cost about the same for everything and puts out at 25 W(as I remember.)
The Coast Guard would probably be able to pick up the handheld due to their high antenna, but because of his low antenna he might not be able to talk to anyone thats not near by.
I have had both radios on in the boat and the fixed mount picks up much more than the handheld, mostly because of the antenna height.

Just figure out if you can mount an antenna on the skiff.

I got the handheld radio for my kayak. I keep it in the boat as a spare.

CaptnJD · Mar-18-2005, 03:54 PM

I have always gone with the Icom name in radio's. Never let me down and even shocked the #%&&#$% out of me when my wellcraft burned up. My friend was helping me gut it and he took the Melted and charred radio to his garage and hooked it up to a power supply and the damn thing came on and worked!!!! I couldnt believe it. The thing looked like a burned marshmallow. Still I gotta believe that you "Yackers" would know what works and what doesn't so the Standard brand may be the one for me. I guess that it comes down to whats on sale.