Marine radio reccs?

Old marine radio bit the dust, looking for reccs that’s easily handheld, thanks!

I have been happy with STANDARD HORIZON VHF radio.  I would recommend HX210 or HX890 based on your needs and budget.

Paul

I have been happy with STANDARD HORIZON VHF radio.  I would recommend HX210 or HX890 based on your needs and budget.

Paul

+1

I recommend providing yourself with enough reading material on this to last a few hours - use the search feature at the upper right corner on this site.  I'd search for "VHF".

I've had a few different brands including Cobra, Standard Horizon and others.  I currently have four VHF's.  You should be able to get a quality handheld VHF for around $100 to $120.  No matter what you get, my top recommendation is that you give strong consideration to having redundant radios - that is, get more than one.  Many (likely every one) of the most experienced kayak anglers on this site have had the experience of having their battery die while on the water.  Having more than one VHF is one of the most important safety moves to make other than dressing for immersion including always having a PFD on, IMO.  Redundancy is also super important for navigation tools - GPS and compasses.

I run with 3 radios on the water.

I have had the same ICOM  hand held VHF for about 15 years. It works just as well now as the day I bought it. I bought that radio as a backup to my ICOM radio I had back then on my boat, which I also had for 10 years. In the boating community,  ICOM has always been the gold standard. I personally think "floating" is a unnecessary function that only increases the size of the radio. I use a VERY short chord to tether my VHF to my PFD.

I will second the ICOM rec.  They are expensive, but very reliable.  I started with a Cobra, which was cheap and worked well too.  I wanted to carry a second radio because the Cobra battery would die sometimes on the water, so I thought it best to carry a second.  I scored the ICOM from a friend, and it is excellent.  I still carry the Cobra and additional batteries, just in case. 

I purchased several Standard Horizon radios but they had problems so I’ve switched to ICOM.

Anyone prefer any particular ICOM model?

Curious  here.
How many run anything else besides marine?
@ a hunnert bux one gets into reasonable ham gear and unlocked will get more comms to use.

I run a yeasu on the trail, and afloat.
But I did get a licensed bump for general .

Thanks all! I went with your reccs and now have two radios one being the standard horizon.

Curious  here.
How many run anything else besides marine?
@ a hunnert bux one gets into reasonable ham gear and unlocked will get more comms to use.

I run a yeasu on the trail, and afloat.
But I did get a licensed bump for general .

Does your ham gear have maritime freqs available? The main reason I stick with a marine radio is for ch 16 - USCG distress freq. I do see the appeal of relatively quiet/private channels when working with a group of folks.

If you unlock one ( clip 1 diode) they will talk to any freq.
That said ' you cannot get on ANY emergency freq ( governmental) legally...

I run gmrs on the trail cuz everyone's bailed on cb, and marine at the coast.
1 radio  3 systems... but the ft60 is +$160 some years ago, quality counts sometimes.

You can run simplex and be off repeaters sorta like cb, pick a freq ( like channels) to get some quiet.