New VHF

Just purchased A new VHF Radio. It is A ICOM Floating marine radio model # IC-M34.. I purchased it @ West Marine for 179 bucks. Does anyone have this radio and how do you like it? Any feedback would be cool...Andy

I just bought one myself, the Icom M-72. I thought about the floating one but heard all of the stuff in there to make it float hinders performance.

Let us know if that's true.

Both of you guys, be sure to check the West Marine website, ICOM is offering rebates.

Michael

Both of you guys, be sure to check the West Marine website, ICOM is offering rebates.

Michael

This is tru. The gal at the counter said there is A 25 dollar rebate and A batterrie case.

Did you buy the warranty? If so, make sure you keep the receipt 

First off; Otobepelagic and a few others had issues with this radio whe  charging; the center pin on the radio would burn out. There's a thread on here somewhere.

Second; I have noticed that I will often not receive transmissions that people fishing right next to me with different radios will receive just fine. There's also a thread about this somewhere.

Third; the aerial fell off mine a couple of weeks back. I didn't notice until I landed. Aerial is AWOL, presumed drowned, which brings me to...........

Finally; the West Marine warranty. I purchased the warranty and so called West Marine to say the aerial had fallen off so could I please have a new one . "Sure, bring it in, forget the aerial, we'll give you a new handset!".

So I drive down there, they look for me in their system, I don't exist. They claim it's because I'm not a West Marine member. Well no-one told me I had to be a west marine member for the warranty to show up. No problem they say, all we need is the receipt. Well I don't have the flipping receipt, I bought the warranty so I figured I wouldn't have to return the stupid thing with a receipt. So now I have to call my stupid credit card company and have them find a proof of purchase. Then I have to drive back to West Marine and maybe they'll give me a new radio.  :

I always, always, always say no to warranties. The one time I'm suckered into it, guess what, it's f**king useless. 

Did you buy the warranty? If so, make sure you keep the receipt 

First off; Otobepelagic and a few others had issues with this radio when  charging; the center pin on the radio would burn out. There's a thread on here somewhere.

Turns out I was charging the unit incorrectly. Now we  don't leave the floating units in the chargers overnight any more. ICom (great people) replaced the batteries no charge and all is well.

Fishmaster I just bought one a week ago, same price at Boater's world.  There is a $25.00 rebate which also gets you the battery pack so you can use regular alkaline batteries as a backup.  It must be submitted before March 31st.  I printed my rebate coupon up from the iCom website.  West marine said they had the rebate coupon's in the store, but BW did not have them.  I used the unit at DV last Saturday and had no problems except operator error.  Have not seen any bad reviews on this product, but I am glad to hear not to leave in charger.  The instructions claim it shuts itself off charging after 14 hrs., so I assumed I could just leave it in there.  Good luck to both of us!

Floating is good. But like e2g learned....that just means it'll float to Japan when you lose it.

Not sure which model I have, but I have the same issue as Phil...sometimes I hear other people receiving transmissions that I am not receiving. I think it has to do with the shorter antenna that is "supposed" to work as well as other model's longer antennas.

Floating is good. But like e2g learned....that just means it'll float to Japan when you lose it.

I prefer to think it made its way to Hawaii where a native beauty picked it up and slipped it in her back pocket.

Oh yeah, that's the one that I have!  Hasn't failed me yet, except when my first one sank because I put a metal carabiner on it!  Anyone need a base for a m34?  I have an extra!