On Thu, 27 Nov 2003 17:06:59 -0500, Harry Krause
wrote:

A close friend down in Florida is buying a skiff/flats boat for inshore
fishing (Indian River lagoon area) and I can't talk him into installing
a "permanent" VHF radio with antenna. He thinks his cell phone will be
enough. So for XMAS, I plan on buying him a portable VHF as a gift.

But there are so many of them out there. I have a ICOM portable I use
(rarely) as a backup on my boats, but it is a few years old and probably
no longer in production.

Any suggestions? Since it is for a small boat, ruggedized and
water-resistance are important characteristics.

What should I buy for a good-quality VHF portable for a gift?

I agree on the Standard Horizon handheld. Submersible is important I
think. I keep a Standard Horizon HX350S strapped to a life jacket
closeby in the boat at all times in addition to my installed VHF.
I don't know that I want a small handheld. In cold water or with bad
conditions and cold hands I would want a radio that is easy to find
with big buttons.
John C.

I have an Standard Horizon HX-350S that's been bouncing around on the
console of my Boston Whaler most every weekend for about four years.
If I were buying a handheld today, I'd buy an HX-470S, which seems
to be replacing the HX-460S. Much smaller,
also does FRS and MURS, and receives Aviation Band. MURS is a
set of five VHF frequencies which can be used ship to shore without
a license. I expect to see MURS freqs show up on console mount
VHFs before long as it's a nice solution to the boat-to-shopping-trip
(or boat-to-bar ;-) comms problem.

ICOM makes good radios too.

In any event, you want one that's rated "submersible", not "waterproof".
"Submersible" means JIS-7 (3 feet, 30 minutes). "Waterproof" means
"splashproof, maybe, but if it dies you can go to the hassle of sending it
back and we'll replace it if it's on warrantee."

--
Chuck Tribolet

http://www.almaden.ibm.com/cs/people/triblet

Silicon Valley: STILL the best day job in the world.


"Harry Krause" wrote in message ...
A close friend down in Florida is buying a skiff/flats boat for inshore
fishing (Indian River lagoon area) and I can't talk him into installing
a "permanent" VHF radio with antenna. He thinks his cell phone will be
enough. So for XMAS, I plan on buying him a portable VHF as a gift.

But there are so many of them out there. I have a ICOM portable I use
(rarely) as a backup on my boats, but it is a few years old and probably
no longer in production.

Any suggestions? Since it is for a small boat, ruggedized and
water-resistance are important characteristics.

What should I buy for a good-quality VHF portable for a gift?


--
Email sent to is never read.

Chuck Tribolet wrote:
I have an Standard Horizon HX-350S that's been bouncing around on the
console of my Boston Whaler most every weekend for about four years.
If I were buying a handheld today, I'd buy an HX-470S, which seems
to be replacing the HX-460S. Much smaller,
also does FRS and MURS, and receives Aviation Band. MURS is a
set of five VHF frequencies which can be used ship to shore without
a license. I expect to see MURS freqs show up on console mount
VHFs before long as it's a nice solution to the boat-to-shopping-trip
(or boat-to-bar ;-) comms problem.

ICOM makes good radios too.

In any event, you want one that's rated "submersible", not "waterproof".
"Submersible" means JIS-7 (3 feet, 30 minutes). "Waterproof" means
"splashproof, maybe, but if it dies you can go to the hassle of sending it
back and we'll replace it if it's on warrantee."



Thanks, Chuck. I like that FRS feature, because it means you can use the
radio to communicate with folks on shore.

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Email sent to is never read.