Good points all, especially the "shouldn't have gotten into boating if
$100 is a problem". The fact that the CG is accustomed to the marine
freqs and apparently can do directional finding on your signal settles
it. Plus they can talk to GPS to give your exact position. However,
the 121.5 is a standard frequency, and the thought of going on the
cheap by using my aviation handheld occurred to me when I noticed that
marine emergency beacons use 121.5 as well.

This is just a 21 foot deckboat, but I can see a problem when I'm
along the shore of Lake Michigan or even on some of our bigger lakes
such as Leech Lake and Mille Lacs in Minnesota.

I'll post elsewhere on what a good unit is, unless there's fresh
usenet on that subject.

Mitch


"Marshall Banana" wrote in message
...
Also Sprach Rod McInnis :

"Mitchell Gossman" wrote in message
om...
I'm an airplane pilot with an aviation Icom handheld that will
broadcast on 121.5. Any other pilots using this on your boat, esp.
when out of cellphone range, for emergency use rather than spending
the $$$ on a separate marine VHF radio?

Not being a pilot I am not familiar with what significance the frequency
121.5 has. It is certainly not a marine frequency.

Actually, it sort of is. It's one of the frequencies that EPRIBS transmit
on, and is therefore monitored by the USCG. I don't know whether they
have the ability to respond on 121.5 though.

If you were on a boat, and had an emergency, what use would that
frequency
be? Would you expect other airplane pilots to respond and forward your
messages to someone who could help you?

If you are on a boat, I would think that you would want to get help from
other boats. For that you need a marine radio.

Totally agree. I have a friend who insits that his cell phone is
sufficient, because he can telephone the CG. He doesn't seem to grasp the
concept that the CG can't triangulate your position from a cell phone, and
when you use the cell phone, you have no way of contacting the many boats
who are closer to you than the CG. It's foolish not to carry one because
of the cost.. You can get a handheld for around the price of a one hour
wet rental of a Cessna.

Dan

--

Handhelds are only backups because of their limited range.