Handheld VHF Radio?

Audrey II

Audrey II

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Aug 5, 2008
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30499
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I have had a great handheld radio for about 20 years it still looked like new until we found out it didn't float. This was a top of the line Icom in it's day. The question it what should I replace it with? Must be small rechargeable with long lasting battery and of course it must float!
What are you using, are you happy and why?
 
I just happen to have a Standard Horizon brochure sitting on my desk. FWIW, all of their handhelds float.
Can't say for sure, but I'm guessing all the major brands offer floating units...probably all of their handhelds float.
I think you can't go wrong with ICOM or Standard. Look up their websites and check out their units and pick the one that has the features you are looking for. These days, handhelds offer a lot of the same features that fixed units have...GPS, DSC, Waypoint Nav, etc.

edit...looking at the brochure again, they do have one unit that only floats when fitted with the optional flotation case. All the others listed do float on their own
 
They seem to sale both floating and none floating the none floating have better battery life which makes sense.
They still sale my unit which I loved but not taking a chance of losing another even if it took 20 years for this to happen.
 
Not sure I follow you...what does floating vs non-floating have to do with battery life.
As far as battery life goes, batteries made these days have to be better than 20 years ago.

Looking at my Standard brochure again...they do offer 3 "commercial grade" units that look to have better battery life than the non commercial. All are submersible but not floating.
 
"what does floating vs non-floating have to do with battery life."
Batteries are dense. In order to float, the rdio must have a lower density than water. That means that the radio case will have a smaller battery and more air. If floating is not an issue, you cram the case with as much battery as you can carry...
 
quote:
Originally posted by Radioactive

"what does floating vs non-floating have to do with battery life."
Batteries are dense. In order to float, the rdio must have a lower density than water. That means that the radio case will have a smaller battery and more air. If floating is not an issue, you cram the case with as much battery as you can carry..

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You have a point.
My point...the lightweight battery in a floating handheld today is probably better than the heavy battery in a non-floating 20 year old handheld.
 
I ve always considered Icom as the gold standard in VHFs, whether fixed or handheld
 
Let me ask this - is this a “ditch bag” type radio you’re looking for?

I’m not up on the best modern floating radios (I prefer them built like an old Nokia cellphone so they stand a chance when they got dropped or thrown at another boat or smashed between a person and superstructure or equipment), but if you’re updating emergency equipment I VERY strongly recommend adding a small but powerful strobe to your gear. Calling in a last known position is great, a VHF signal to run down with a direction finder is awesome, but a good strobe light at night increases a person in the water’s odds of being found to whole number percentages, not fractions of a percent.
 
NC...the Weems and Plath S-O-S light is pretty strong and should be on any boat. I like having mine so I don't have to worry about getting a citation for having out of date flares.
 
quote:
Originally posted by cwms

NC...the Weems and Plath S-O-S light is pretty strong and should be on any boat. I like having mine so I don't have to worry about getting a citation for having out of date flares.

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They’re becoming a lot more popular lately, despite the CFR allowing for electric visual distress signals being around for a long time. Personally, I prefer them to pyro for the same reason.
 
Thanks for all the replies I was out and didn't see them until now.
The battery to float is correct the floating units have less standby/talk time. However in the larger models you can get more then adequate battery live. My decision was made easy I needed the unit right away as I'm leaving for vacation in the morning. I went to West Marine and they only had one floating model in stock the truth is I likely would have picked this one anyway. I bought the Icom IC-M37 this is much bigger then my old unit but it has more power 6 watts and more then 12 hours operating time and of course it floats!
 
quote:
Originally posted by Audrey II

Thanks for all the replies I was out and didn't see them until now.
The battery to float is correct the floating units have less standby/talk time. However in the larger models you can get more then adequate battery live. My decision was made easy I needed the unit right away as I'm leaving for vacation in the morning. I went to West Marine and they only had one floating model in stock the truth is I likely would have picked this one anyway. I bought the Icom IC-M37 this is much bigger then my old unit but it has more power 6 watts and more then 12 hours operating time and of course it floats!

Click to expand...


I think there is a $30.00 rebate on that one this summer.
 
Dave - Got my Standard Horizon submersible w/ the optional flotation case. The HX-40 is a small radio, so the case doesn't really make the unit too bulky, and the case is designed w/ access to integrated clip. The case is bright orange, helpful to see if it actually does go overboard. It is a PITA as the case needs to come off to charge the battery, however the battery life is awesome (non-gps unit)
 
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