VHF radios?

[smokeonthewater]

Ch 16 is THE hailing freq... Everyone SHOULD be monitoring it.... Then convo goes... Call, Answer, Go to channel xx, Copy, then convo is on the other channel.

Most decent radios can be on any channel and be scanning 16 and 9 at the same time.

 

[H20Rat]

It all depends on where you boat. Where i'm at, VHF is 100% useless. There are no towboat operators, the lakes I boat on rarely have any law enforcement, and I have yet to see a boat with a radio. Also, cell phone coverage is next to nothing, you might get a text through, if you are lucky.

Other than smoke signals, waving down a fellow boater is your best option, next to getting out the oars and rowing.

 

[southkogs]

So: thrduck. Ya' gonna' get a radio? :laugh:

 

[thdrduck]

Yup, there is already an 8 ft whip on her so for $100 - $200 entry level, why not.

 

[boatman37]

just an FYI...the standard horizon gx1700 has a $40 mail in rebate so its about $180 after rebate. i haven't got my rebate back yet

 

[keninaz]

I used to go offshore about 25 miles or so when fishing. That was before cell phones which would have been useless there anyway. I had a standard VHF install with the 8' whip that worked great. But just in case I carried a hand held also in a waterproof plastic bag with spare batteries in the bag and I could change batteries in the bag if I had too. If my boat was disabled and the battery shot I wanted someway to make contact!. And with the radio in the bag I could operate it if I had to go overboard for some reason too. You never know!

 

[fishin98]

Numerous boater's here in Fla have had their lives saved by a VHF radio.....better to have one than not, even if it's a handheld, a CHEAP investment when your or some one else's life is on the line.......Too many people rely on the cell phones!