CB radio Rookie.

[jaknkoke]

Just purchased a midland cb radio for my boat. I am a first time boat owner and also know little to nothing about cb radios/antennas. I am just wondering what my options are for a lower end antenna for this radio. I will be boating in the puget sound only and just figured it would be a good idea to have a radio for emergency situations and possibly fishing info and such. I want to spend what it takes to have a quality product but dont need anything too extravagant. Any help appreciated. Thinking I will need to mount antenna on a rail of my 1979 16' bayliner Mutiny.
Do antennas come with mounts of this type? Do I need to match antenna with radio? I have heard in some discussions that you may need to tune your antenna? Have no idea what that means.

 

[Mi duckdown]

Re: CB radio Rookie.

NO ones uses a CB on the water. Need to upgrade.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: CB radio Rookie.

I'm sure he means a ship to shore radio, or Marine radio. CB radios operate on a different set of frequencies and aren't used on the water.

 

[matt167]

Re: CB radio Rookie.

I think you bought the wrong radio type. CB radio's are not what you put on a boat. You need a marine VHF.. If you get even a cheaper Cobra radio and a Shakespeare antennae, monitor channel 16 and you will be ok.. I think you can get rail mounts, but a much preferred method is to attach to the boat itself with a surface mount

 

[jaknkoke]

Re: CB radio Rookie.

Yep, I bought the wrong thing! Didnt know any better. So what am I looking for and where should I look for it? Thanks for the help

 

[matt167]

Re: CB radio Rookie.

I'm sure he means a ship to shore radio, or Marine radio. CB radios operate on a different set of frequencies and aren't used on the water.

Hard to say, as Midland does make both CB's and Marine VHF's, but I went to Midlands site and the only marine VHF's that I can find are handhelds which I don't think is what he bought

 

[Ophion32]

Re: CB radio Rookie.

It gets nasty behind whidby i used adash mount icom 604
With gps tracking and 8 foot fold down mount
Celluar was sketchy when i had issues vhf gave location to
Coast guard when needed

 

[matt167]

Re: CB radio Rookie.

Something like this should work just fine without spending too much.. If you get a GPS chartplotter/fishfinder that uses NMEA I/O then you can get the radio to transmit your position to the USCG in the event you need assistance. Uniden UM380 White VHF Radio Class D - iboats

 

[jaknkoke]

Re: CB radio Rookie.

Thank you. I'll check it out. I am also in the market for gps chartplotter/fishfinder also. Any suggestions on that?
Thanks again.
Jak--

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: CB radio Rookie.

try reading in the electronics section further down the main page