waterproof cases for VHF

how many of you guys use waterproof cases even though your VHF radio is submersible?  Can you still hear the audio fine?  Look forward to your opinions.

Related to this question ... when I was at West Marine shopping for a radio in December, I just happened to be there when a guy from the corporate West Marine was in the store.  He was responsible for product selection and testing.  He told me that they just finished up extensive tests on all the handheld VHF radios they carried in the store.  Even though some of them were rated "submersible", they all failed their tests.  And the tests were done on brand new units.  Bottom line ... he highly recommended using the waterproof cases.

So I have the case.  But I didn't use it on its maiden voyage so I can give you any insight into your original question.

-Allen

I echo Allen's comments... I bought a Uniden Voyager radio last year, which I love, but found out fairly quickly when I got chomped at Linda Mar that "waterproof" is a relative term.

There is a cap on the receptacle for a remote mic that does not seal extremely tightly and is easy to pop off... that is where I had some water intrusion and the radio didn't work for a few weeks, until everything dried out again... now it works fine.  I may just fill up that port with some silicone... I'll definitely protect my radio when making surf landings in the future.

Erik

My garmin GPS/radio is submersible, but water does get into the battery compartment and corroded the contacts.  I was sad for a bit, but when I polished them up it worked fine again.   Nowadays I keep it in a bag that I got some aquarium fish in.  I just rubber-banded it in and it stays safe and dry on the cheap.  All the buttons work fine through the bag.

 I'm thinking to glue a small piece of glass or acrylic to another similar bag for my digital camera.

Allen's right.  No handheld VHF radio or GPS is submersible for very long without a waterproof case.  Unfortunately, I haven't found an econimical  waterproof case that works well enough for me.

Most waterproof cases on the market are nothing more than thick overpriced Ziploc bags which will eventually leak over time.  I hate the fact that they add bulk which defeats the purpose of buying a compact electronics.  Also, the thick plastic makes it difficult to use some buttons.

Here's my improvised solution --- use latex condoms as disposable waterproof case.  They're cheap, translucent, fit snug, and don't interfere with any knobs, buttons, or toggle switches.  I'm sure they'll even work with many cell phones.  To seal close, simply twist the end and tie a knot, rubber band, or attach a clip.  The only downside is that the thin latex can puncture easily.



I tested it out in the rain and splash during our last sturgeon trip.  It kept everything nice and dry.  Just make sure you buy the plain unlubricated ones without spermicide  

-Chuck

make sure you let the wife know about this......


.....don't want to have her find an empty condom wrapper laying around.

Yup... I made sure she knows.  Now, I have a legitimate use for having condoms laying around.  I don't have to worry if see finds one in my stuff.  I can just tell her it was just a spare case  

So, the ? is ...do you use a new one or one you find laying on the gutter?

Sorry, guys.  It has just been crawling in my dirty mind. Every since the last sturgoen trip.

Bill, delete this post if you want.

Joel (AKA kickfish).

Ken

Condoms are only 97% effective.  The only 100% way to keep the radio safe is to abstain from taking it.  

I'd worry about the condom ripping, the poly fish bags I use are pretty thick, they're supposed to not leak when catfish spines poke them.  I'm going to buy a few hundred (I sell FW fish and plants that I breed) so I'll get the super thick ones in a good size for handheld electronics, like 4"x18".

Chuck, are those a standard sized condom or should I request a box of  MAGNUMs when I go to the drug store?

josh,


Do you breed cichlids? I used to breed Buffalo Head Cichlids a few years a go. Lot of fun!

I breed killiefish.  My angels have spawned in the community tank a few times, but the fry got gobbled before I got around to setting something up for them.  Killies are pretty easy to offload too, I can get $12 for 2pr on craigslist faster than I can raise them up.