Hand Held VHF

Saltwater Inshore Discussion
1

What do you like in hand held VHF?
It’s for bayboat and jon boat.

Needs to be waterproof and floating would be nice.

2

why would one need a vhf in jon or bay boat? just curious

3

Don’t trust cell… and a backup is always good. With 20’ bay, might run out to 4-K etc.

DRMajor

4

We’ve always had ICOM for a backup and it works fine for its intended purpose. They are water resistant but I don’t know if they float or not. Just know that a handheld usually works about five miles whereas with a fixed mount, you can transmit around 20-25 miles with a good antenna.

May all your favorite bands stay together…

5

I have a Cobra that Mrs. Flicker got for me for Christmas. It was about $100 at Academy Sports. Works fine. Waterproof and floats. Hooks to the cell phone via bluetooth so I can answer calls w/o getting the phone out (if I feel like it). Rechargeable battery lasts a long time. I use it to monitor channel 16 while fishing (rarely hear anything) and have in case the cell phone craps out. No complaints. It’s a good radio.

6

Thanks.
Seems like a decent one is $100+.

DRMajor

7

I don’t have a handheld, but my boat was recently swamped and my Standard Horizon radio was completely submerged for several hours. I had written it off, but it still works perfectly. You might want to check out their line of hand helds.

oc

8
quote:
Standard Horizon radio was completely submerged for several hours. I had written it off, but it still works perfectly.

Yes, Standard Horizon and Icom probably make the best. Prices are very reasonable. I use Standard for both permanent and hand held.

quote:
why would one need a vhf in jon or bay boat? just curious

Why would you not:question: You can find yourself treading water in any boat, anywhere, anytime. The ain’t many cell phones that work in saltwater. You may want to call a marina, or another boat, or another boat is in trouble and calls for help. You’d never know it. You might want a current NOAA weather report. The VHFs have all the weather channels. Many benefits, in any boat.

Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper

9

I have a Standard Horizon waterproof. Supposed to float, haven’t tried out that part.

“Apathy is the Glove into Which Evil Slips It’s Hand”, but really, who cares?

10

I agree with capt. Larry, you need one always in coastal waters/inlets. I have heard of guys spending long chilly nights in the marsh creeks because of mechanical failure and no way to call for help. Just my 2C

2005 Sea Hunt 212 Triton
“Head East”

11

ICOM and fixed mount do not like the thought of being stranded any where.

2006 Pro Line 17 Sport Honda 90

12
quote:
Originally posted by DFreedom

I have a Standard Horizon waterproof. Supposed to float, haven’t tried out that part.

ditto…ditto…great little handheld…mine even has an SOS LED strobe you can activate on it…

The Morris Island Lighthouse www.savethelight.org

13
quote:
mine even has an SOS LED strobe you can activate on it...

Why you always gotta one up me?

“Apathy is the Glove into Which Evil Slips It’s Hand”, but really, who cares?

14
quote:
Originally posted by DFreedom
quote:
mine even has an SOS LED strobe you can activate on it...

Why you always gotta one up me?

doh…[:I]

The Morris Island Lighthouse www.savethelight.org

15

I have a hand held, West Marine brand. I haven’t used it is years. It probably needs new batteries at this point, but if anyone could use it, it’s free for the taking. Would rather see it get some use as opposed to it sitting in the garage.

“Kleenex, The Official Sponsor of Fishb8”

16

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I’ll take you up on the West Marine radio…
How to get with you?

I’m West Ashley

DRMajor

17
quote:
Originally posted by drmajor

</font id=“Arial Black”></font id=“Arial”>
I’ll take you up on the West Marine radio…
How to get with you?

I’m West Ashley

DRMajor

Another member sent me a PM a few days ago and picked it up yesterday, sorry

“Kleenex, The Official Sponsor of Fishb8”

18

My West Marine radio has outlasted my Icom.

19

We have a hand held in the ditch bag, also one from West Marine. We wanted one that would take regular batteries as well as the rechargeable battery, no way to recharge the battery out there if it goes dead. Easy enough to put some AA batteries in the ditch bag and change them out if needed.

20

I spent $150 on a standard Doritos and it has helped me get a tow back in and it’s helped to hail boats that are about to swamp me.

keith mcpherson
Kastking prostaff
Spooltek lures prostaff
Madbite gear prostaff
Eposeidon.com prostaff