Floating VHF by Icom.....

Just got the latest West Marine "new gear" catalog...

Icom M34 Handheld VHF: $169.99
It floats!

Introducing the world's first*1 5W VHF marine transceiver that floats! If you drop the IC-M34 into water, the radio comes up to the surface so that you can easily retrieve it from out of the water. As the radio has a rugged submersible body*2, it will keep on working even after it has been submerged. Reliable marine communications that won't let you down in or out of your boat!

When floating in calm water, the base of the radio is level with the water surface.

*1 First as a 5W VHF marine handheld transceiver as researched by Icom as of November 2006.
*2 1m depth for 30 minutes, equivalent to IPX7. The IC-M34 is not designed to be used under water.



Easy to see LCD with large channel indication
 The IC-M34 has an easy to see LCD (32 ×16 mm; 11/4 × 5/8 in) with large 2-digit channel number indication. The volume and SQL levels are shown in the display. LCD and key backlighting is standard for night time operation.


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Easy to use, easy to hold
9 large buttons on the front panel provide simple straight forward operation. It weighs only 305g, and the IC-M34’s easy-to-hold rounded body fits comfortably in your hand.


Quick channel selection with favorite channel function
The favorite channel function offers quick channel access to tagged channels by pushing the "FAV" button, while ignoring untagged channels.


Li-Ion battery and charger standard
A Lithium-Ion battery pack and battery charger are supplied as standard. The BP-252 Lithium-Ion battery pack provides 9 hours* of operating time.
* Typical operation with Tx (Hi): Rx: standby=5:5:90


AquaQuake draining function
The AquaQuake draining function emits a vibrating sound and clears water away from the speaker grill.


Optional speaker-microphone, HM-165
A new waterproof speaker-microphone, HM-165, is optional. It uses a waterproof, screw-type connector to the IC-M34 and still allows the IC-M34 to float when connected.


Other features

Powerful 5W output power

Dual/Tri-watch functions

4-step battery life indicator

Weather channel with weather alert

2-step power saver

Auto scan function

Instant access to Ch 16 or Ch 9

Optional battery case for using with alkaline cells*
(* The IC-M34 floats when used with most common-brand AAA batteries.
Battery weight varies by manufacturer. Please check your IC-M34
for buoyancy in a shallow area when using AAA batteries.)

Moochy:

That is a great bit of info...I am gonna get one, especially since it has an optional floating/waterproof remote mic.  Thanks for the post brother!!!

No problem big kahuna  Think I'll get one myself - and I'll just keep my other VHF on my new buddy yak 

AquaQuake draining function
The AquaQuake draining function emits a vibrating sound and clears water away from the speaker grill.

I thought this was a cool function!!!!

nice very nice
http://www.icom.co.jp/world/products/pdf/IC-M34.pdf

hey guys, just so you know it wont float with normal batteries,only the rechargables. i was gonna get this one because i liked the fact that you could throw regular batteries in if your low on juice,but was told from the manufactuer that if i had reg batteries in  it wouldnt float.so i decided to keep lookin and ended up with the horizon hx600s.sure its a badass radio though. happy shoppin troops.

So this is going to sound argumentative, but that's not really my intent. But it just sounds to me like you decided to get a radio that doesn't float at all, because the floating radio doesn't float with batteries that you'd probably never use anyway?

Regards,
Scott

Personally, I try to keep my VHF radio attached to my PFD at all times.  So, the smaller the better for me.  To make a radio float, ICOM had to add volume.  I don't even like the idea of having my VHF laying on the deck unsecured.  A floating radio might give some guys a false sense of security.  If you should take a spill in current or wind and get in trouble.... you're screwed.  How are you going to call for help then????

I do the same, but I have really been wanting to add a speaker mic so I can always leave it in my pocket.  When you use a speaker on any of the other ones the water proof rating goes down.  This water proof/screw in mic is a beautiful thing.

lanyard + floating VHF = redundant systems. The size of the M34 matches my M32Li.

I lost a Garmin VHF once. It was in a PFD pocket, with the lanyard looped around the pockets strap. I must not have fully locked the snap-lock on that strap, or just forgotten to lock it at all when setting out that morning. I was paddling down the Neva Strait, heard a "plonk" and sat there for about 10 seconds, wondering what that was, before realizing the VHF had fallen out. A floating VHF would have just been floating there happily.

Scott