Vhf

[mookywater]

I am looking at getting a VHF radio. I fish B10 and might rock fish out of Bepot Bay. I have an 18 ft super v. My question is do I need an instaled VHF or is a hand held good enough. I am limited by my boat and pick my days already. If I should get an install what kind and I might as well have it hooked up to my gps/ff as well?? If a hand held is good enough then which one? This is my second season with my boat and am doing more with it. B10 was a blast and am looking forward to rock fishing this year. Any advice is great.

[hot wire]

Originally Posted by mookywater

I am looking at getting a VHF radio. I fish B10 and might rock fish out of Bepot Bay. I have an 18 ft super v. My question is do I need an instaled VHF or is a hand held good enough. I am limited by my boat and pick my days already. If I should get an install what kind and I might as well have it hooked up to my gps/ff as well?? If a hand held is good enough then which one? This is my second season with my boat and am doing more with it. B10 was a blast and am looking forward to rock fishing this year. Any advice is great.

I am really glad you put this question up. I seem to meet people AFTER they buy things and find the did the wrong setup...

First off, definetly buy the VHF. Buy a VHF 8' antenna and a stainless ratchet mount. (NEVER go cheap and use the white plastic mounts)

Now, to add why I would do the fixed radio route is quite simple. Safety. The VHF when hooked to a GPS, is a very safe setup. There is no substitute for 25w vs 5w.

Eclipse DSC+ Standard Horizon VHF radio and a Digital 529w 8' antenna.

This is a reasonably priced setup.

[SouthCoastStu]

There is no substitute for 25w vs 5w.

You'll want to have both, eventually. If you can only get one at first, get a full sized one (25 watts)

[Tinman]

I'll go against the grain a bit here and say a handheld is fine for inshore (within 10 miles of the harbor) use. VHF range is line-of-sight, meaning you won't have as much ship-to-ship range as you would with an 8 foot antenna and a fixed mount unit. But you will be able to talk to the Coast Guard since their antennas are on mountaintops. Transmitting power has little to do with range.

Get one that is: a) waterproof, b) rated at 5 watts or more, c) capable of using AA alkalines in addition to the rechargeable battery. Keep a few sets of AAs on board as backup.

Some of the newer handhelds have built-in GPS and DSC capability. That means it has a panic button that, when pushed, automatically sends a distress call that includes your exact position. This costs more money of course.

The handheld will become your backup unit if/when you upgrade to a fixed mount unit.

if you go with a fixed mount unit, make sure it has DSC capability and the ability to connect to GPS. And get a quality antenna. Many experts say it's better to put your money into a quality antenna and scrimp on the radio itself if you have to.

Guys like you, who ask questions and prepare properly, are the kind of people who become the best and safest skippers.

[mookywater]

What is resonably priced I live in McMinnville and true form marine is a rip off IMHO

Originally Posted by hot wire

I am really glad you put this question up. I seem to meet people AFTER they buy things and find the did the wrong setup...

First off, definetly buy the VHF. Buy a VHF 8' antenna and a stainless ratchet mount. (NEVER go cheap and use the white plastic mounts)

Now, to add why I would do the fixed radio route is quite simple. Safety. The VHF when hooked to a GPS, is a very safe setup. There is no substitute for 25w vs 5w.

Eclipse DSC+ Standard Horizon VHF radio and a Digital 529w 8' antenna.

This is a reasonably priced setup.

[Tinman]

Originally Posted by mookywater

What is resonably priced I live in McMinnville and true form marine is a rip off IMHO

Fixed-mount VHF, Icom or Standard, $170
Antenna, $130

Handheld, Icom or Standard, $160

Online shopping is your friend.

[toddsnorthriver]

Hey Mooky, I know one of your friends that went to the chicken ranch with only a hand held.

[StickFish]

PM Lurking Out Loud on the electronics, he carries the Digital Antennas in stock in Portland.

Antenna gain is the most important consideration to be given to any safety scenario. Most handheld radios have what we refer to in the ham radio world as a dummy load of an antenna. Its basically a 50ohm resistor to match the impedance of the output of your radio and nothing more. Sure with plenty of power a 50ohm resistive antenna will work, but its sort of like driving your boat around in the water with the trailer still on it.

Next is your ability to get to the radio. About every boat I've been on the handheld radios are buried in a bag somewhere. When stuff happens, where is it? Sort of hard to duplicate the convenience of a microphone hanging on the dash.

With that said. Your radio is safety equipment, your handheld (equipped with an aftermarket high quality replacement antenna) is backup. The one thing you do not want to ever hear after you call Mayday is, "FV hailing USCG, please repeat your last transmission!" You simply may not have time to repeat your message.

Digital Antenna, Comrod, or Morad - don't mess with Shakespeare
Icom, Standard Horizon and a few other professional brands
Smiley Antenna for the hand held
a Hand Held with a GPS built in is a sweet feature

[Wren]

Originally Posted by toddsnorthriver

Hey Mooky, I know one of your friends that went to the chicken ranch with only a hand held.

I know this guy too.

[mookywater]

You guys are to much.

Originally Posted by Wren

I know this guy too.

[fishorgolf]

I agree with the above post,,,,,, I also bring along my handheld for walking the bank, and having a back-up radio, I'm shure someone has said CELL PHONES dont cut it they would be correct. A cell phone will not get the attention of other boaters,,,,,,,HAVE FUN AND BE SAFE