Mark42
Fleet Admiral
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2003
- Messages
- 9,334
I have had a Cobra brand hand held marine two way radio for two seasons. I boat on salt water, often in areas where there are few boats, if any or off season times where other boaters are not likely to see me if I have problems.
When I first started carrying the radio, I was annoyed at the loud beep it made every time a change to channel was made. Once on the boat, I realized how important that beep is. The radio can be bounced around, sat on, dropped and have the cannel you are listening to change. You may think you are listing to weather, but are now listening to dead space, or fishermen. And with the squelch on, you may not hear anything at all, and not realize the channel changed. Its important to know that the channel changed.
All in all, I feel this was a good investment. Its 5 mile range on high power gets me in touch with the Coast Guard or other boaters that are out of sight if needed.
Cell phones don't cut it when you end up in the water, especially salt water. The hand helds will float (near surface - mostly submerged) and are water proof for about an hour to depths well below where you want to go. If you and your family are floating in the water and your boat is upside down, or sinking fast and there are no boats in sight, that floating two way marine radio will be worth every penny and most likely save your lives.
The piece of mind is worth the $100+ expense.
Glad I added this simple radio to my arsenal of safety equipment.
Mark
PS, I think there should be a safety orange color streamer attached that deployes if the radio gets wet for more than a minute or so. Would make it much easier to find in the water than as it is now - dark gray.
When I first started carrying the radio, I was annoyed at the loud beep it made every time a change to channel was made. Once on the boat, I realized how important that beep is. The radio can be bounced around, sat on, dropped and have the cannel you are listening to change. You may think you are listing to weather, but are now listening to dead space, or fishermen. And with the squelch on, you may not hear anything at all, and not realize the channel changed. Its important to know that the channel changed.
All in all, I feel this was a good investment. Its 5 mile range on high power gets me in touch with the Coast Guard or other boaters that are out of sight if needed.
Cell phones don't cut it when you end up in the water, especially salt water. The hand helds will float (near surface - mostly submerged) and are water proof for about an hour to depths well below where you want to go. If you and your family are floating in the water and your boat is upside down, or sinking fast and there are no boats in sight, that floating two way marine radio will be worth every penny and most likely save your lives.
The piece of mind is worth the $100+ expense.
Glad I added this simple radio to my arsenal of safety equipment.
Mark
PS, I think there should be a safety orange color streamer attached that deployes if the radio gets wet for more than a minute or so. Would make it much easier to find in the water than as it is now - dark gray.
