Hand held Marine VHF radio

[David_Tobin]

I want to buy a handheld Marine VHF radio to use on our club rib. We have a fixed VHF radio so this will be a backup.

Any advice on type and where to buy?

[Pioneer 10]

Have a look here ICOM ybw.com marine radio users guide - home I know it's an Ad for Icom, but I use them in my training centre and can't fault the brand.

ps, being able to retrieve them from the deep (ie get floaty ones) really counts!

[Subaquaman]

I bought my RIB a present this year of a Midland Atlantic. Cost me £60 and its 5 watts (max for hand-held). Its only splashproof in its own right, but has a full-protection clear bag free with it. Its a nice, cheap and small 5 watt spare, which I also take out on the club crabber, as they don't carry a spare!!

[Timbo]

Will second the I-com not the cheapest, but by gum,,their good...

[Juz]

Another vote for Icom - don't have one any more, but the best unit I ever owned was an Icom. Worth the extra money.

Juz

[liamm]

make sure it has a battery life indicator, i got one that doesnt and it eats batteries.

[diveracer]

i HAD a waterproof cobra handheld VHF radio, worked great until it went over the side of my rib whilst mooring up at a beach.
it was supposed to be waterproof, but it turns out it was splashproof and although it only went into the drink in less than 2 ft of water for a minuite it is knackered.
so i would just say even when you try to take care of them, handheld radios, like anything 'hand held' on a boat really need to be fully waterproof, having them in a bag isnt a real option as what if you need to change batteries or just have trouble adjusting the squelch whilst trying to make a 'mayday' call.
i wish i had spent the extra £40 or so as now i have to buy another one.
hope this helps!

[Timbo]

i HAD a waterproof cobra handheld VHF radio, worked great until it went over the side of my rib whilst mooring up at a beach.
it was supposed to be waterproof, but it turns out it was splashproof and although it only went into the drink in less than 2 ft of water for a minuite it is knackered.
so i would just say even when you try to take care of them, handheld radios, like anything 'hand held' on a boat really need to be fully waterproof, having them in a bag isnt a real option as what if you need to change batteries or just have trouble adjusting the squelch whilst trying to make a 'mayday' call.
i wish i had spent the extra £40 or so as now i have to buy another one.
hope this helps!

Good call,,, our club's hand held has done 3 seasons RIB use and it's been bounced and salt washed a few times,, it came with a spare battery and also a battery box that takes standard AA cells if needed,,
It lasts a full day on tri watch on one battery ..
I was that impressed with the brand that when the boat electronics burnt out 2 years ago, I replaced the Nasa marine fixed VHF with an I-com 502 unit,which again exceeded all expectations !!

[Kent Tooling]

I have just got a standard horizon VHF as a spare for my RHIB, they are local to me down in Kent it costs about £100.00, The reason i went for this one is that i can put a normal battery pack containing 5 AA batteries in the back of the radio if the rechargable battery runs out of power and it comes with the unit and also you get an incar charger as well.

John

[Jay_Benson]

I have just got a standard horizon VHF as a spare for my RHIB, they are local to me down in Kent it costs about £100.00, The reason i went for this one is that i can put a normal battery pack containing 5 AA batteries in the back of the radio if the rechargable battery runs out of power and it comes with the unit and also you get an incar charger as well.

John

Does that mean that it can be charged off the RIB's battery in extremis?