What's the best handheld radio these days?

What is the latest on good handheld VHF?

The one I had w me last week couldn't raise a response on ch 16 so figure I should get a new one.

After last week's experience am rethinking what I take w me out there and a reliable radio is top of the list, may start carrying a flare gun again.

Started to post this in gear section but really it's a safety thing

Icom & Standard Horizon are your two best brands.  I worked an event with the S.H. representative all day Saturday in Sausalito.  As for model, that is dependent on what features you most desire & the depth of your pocket book.

It's nice if something is cheap and reliable but after talking into a device that didn't work when it was needed, reliable is most important thing

I'm going to west marine today to look at icoms

Have always expected sooner or later would run into some kind of situation but always figured it would be a couple of guys in their street clothes without pfds hanging on to a capsized boat

Not much you can do in a situation like that so getting the attention of coastguard or a boat in the area is pretty much option 1, otherwise you're screwed

A good vhf is a great investment.

As an fyi to others, SPOT is running a deal where you get a rebate for the cost of the unit with new service plan.  Also spent one of the three days this weekend hanging with the SPOT rep too.  <end of threadjack>

I went two seasons with a cheapo and got tired of it failing

read a bunch on here and online reviews and bought this one last month
now I hear guys pretty far away and folks next to me with vhf do not have the same range...but it is really just for ch 16-09-69 and seems to work like my cheapo out of of the gate...more features than i'll ever use ---it has a gps panick button I  saw...hope it cant be set off by accident...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Standard-Horizon-HX851-6W-Floating-Handheld-VHF-Radio-HX851/111403987694?_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D23492%26meid%3D8802392621066549249%26pid%3D100011%26prg%3D10073%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D10%26sd%3D380946113693

they aint cheap but are supposed to be lifesaving quality and in the water even, still will stay on ,emergency =$$$ either way right

Redundancy is a good thing when it comes to anything that can have a dead battery or otherwise fail with no chance of recovery that day.

I carry a Cobra VHF in my ditchbag that I've raised the CG on from the Cape at McNutt Gulch, but I carry a smaller Cobra in my PFD, and it works fine - I actually have another one of those in my ditchbag too - "tridundancy?"   

I know Cobra is a cheap brand - no need to enlighten me on that - a 2-pack of the smaller HH125's is only around $80!  The point is, I have four working VHF's right now, and I carry three with me on the ocean.  I'll bet I'll raise the assistance I need when I need to.

And while we're on flares too, is it true that we're required to carry them?  We need a refresher thread on this stuff because I've also recently heard we need to carry a whistle attached to our PFD and a signaling device...

Anyone have a source/link for that info?

Thanks for bringing it up, Paul, and welcome back to the addiction.   

I've had a few, Horizon, Uniden, my newest Standard Horizon, close to the one trianglelaguna posted… put a hand help mic on it too..

it's da Bomb…

I always carry flares… I figure especially with some of our larger tournaments, if we do call for a helicopter, it would be easy to identify where we need assistance

I just bought my second I-com handheld/floating & waterproof - just love them. I think the I-com M24 came out around $150 or so? Bought the cig-lighter adapter for charging on the road for another $20? Also own an M36 that is a little bigger and a few years older - but it holds a charge for a week being used every day. Have never had any problem with either - the M36 is a little easier to use, but costs more.

SH has been good to me, I have one so does GF, hers floats mine does not.  I don't trust mike clips, so I keep mine in an old army radio holster mounted to my PFD.  It works and it will never come off.

I have both an Icom m-72 and STandard horizon-290 for my wife. Icom feels real solid and is much more compact. SH feels like a bulky, hollow brick. Aside from that, they both are reputable brands. Some of the higher end SH has built in GPS, but it drains the battery quick. You should go to west marine and compare them side by side. Can't go wrong with those 2 brands. A vhf radio is one equipment you don't want to be cheap on.

And while we're on flares too, is it true that we're required to carry them?  We need a refresher thread on this stuff because I've also recently heard we need to carry a whistle attached to our PFD and a signaling device...

Anyone have a source/link for that info?

Here you go ... http://www.kayakfishingmagazine.net/articles/102-current-issue-featured-articles-on-kayak-fishing/1574-cleaning-your-fishing-kayak.html

-Allen

And while we're on flares too, is it true that we're required to carry them?  We need a refresher thread on this stuff because I've also recently heard we need to carry a whistle attached to our PFD and a signaling device...

Anyone have a source/link for that info?

Here you go ... http://www.kayakfishingmagazine.net/articles/102-current-issue-featured-articles-on-kayak-fishing/1574-cleaning-your-fishing-kayak.html

-Allen

Do you powerwash the whistles?

And while we're on flares too, is it true that we're required to carry them?  We need a refresher thread on this stuff because I've also recently heard we need to carry a whistle attached to our PFD and a signaling device...

Anyone have a source/link for that info?

Here you go ... http://www.kayakfishingmagazine.net/articles/102-current-issue-featured-articles-on-kayak-fishing/1574-cleaning-your-fishing-kayak.html

-Allen

Do you powerwash the whistles?

Ooops.

Try this one ... http://www.kayakfishingmagazine.net/articles/139-kayak-fishing-how-to-articles/1720-gear-required-by-the-united-states-coast-guard-when-on-kayaks.html

-Allen

And while we're on flares too, is it true that we're required to carry them?  We need a refresher thread on this stuff because I've also recently heard we need to carry a whistle attached to our PFD and a signaling device...

Anyone have a source/link for that info?

Here you go ... http://www.kayakfishingmagazine.net/articles/102-current-issue-featured-articles-on-kayak-fishing/1574-cleaning-your-fishing-kayak.html

-Allen

Do you powerwash the whistles?

Um... What kinda euphemism is that?

And while we're on flares too, is it true that we're required to carry them?  We need a refresher thread on this stuff because I've also recently heard we need to carry a whistle attached to our PFD and a signaling device...

Anyone have a source/link for that info?

Here you go ... http://www.kayakfishingmagazine.net/articles/102-current-issue-featured-articles-on-kayak-fishing/1574-cleaning-your-fishing-kayak.html

-Allen

Do you powerwash the whistles?

Depends on who blows it!