Handheld VHF radio suggestions? - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

SHRED · 09-24-2015, 09:08 AM

Floating, with weather, and reliable.
Not sure if I want it with GPS or not.
Thanks

monstahfish · 09-24-2015, 10:20 AM

I had the old icom floating unit and loved it for about 7 years until it finally died. Just got the newer version and it looks to be built even better plus it now lights up if it gets dropped in the water which is nice. I tried the lowrance ones and the batteries are garbage. I would say do not buy those. The other one that seems to be good is the standard horizon but I don't know if it floats.

jorluivil · 09-24-2015, 10:38 AM

Don't bother getting one with gps, save the money for a stand alone gps/sonar unit. The floating radios tend to 'not float' so save your money on that as well and use it towards your gps/sonar, a lanyard attached to your radio will work much better than a floating radio. I highly recommend that you get a radio that allows you to use an external speaker/mic, it adds additional cost to the purchase but it's well worth it.

ful-rac · 09-24-2015, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jorluivil

Don't bother getting one with gps, save the money for a stand alone gps/sonar unit. The floating radios tend to 'not float' so save your money on that as well and use it towards your gps/sonar, a lanyard attached to your radio will work much better than a floating radio. I highly recommend that you get a radio that allows you to use an external speaker/mic, it adds additional cost to the purchase but it's well worth it.

I have to disagree with the "floating radio" part...BUY ONE THAT FLOATS! GPS not needed...

I have dropped my radio in the drink a few times and everytime it floated, and was saved. But buy all means buy the best GPS/Fishfinder you CAN'T afford!

Dave Legacy · 09-24-2015, 11:11 AM

This is the one I just ordered yesterday:

https://www.cobra.com/products/handheld/mr-hh500-flt-bt

Can't speak on it much since I don't have it in my possession yet, but I like the idea of the bluetooth feature so I can still be reached on the water with my phone below deck.

2-Stix · 09-24-2015, 12:30 PM

I just picked up one at west marine. Was 160 on sale for 100. Speaker, floats, back light. Look for a sale.

No need on GPS. Your FF will have one most likely. If not I use an app on my phone until I get a FF.

SHRED · 09-25-2015, 09:31 AM

I'm seriously considering this one.

Standard Horizon HX300 Floating VHF

http://www.westmarine.com/buy/standa...rger--13130844

cabojohn · 09-25-2015, 10:17 AM

Buy from West Marine...ANYTHING ICOM!!
Get the extended warranty.
I wouldn't worry about floating...your VHF will be clipped to your pfd right.?

I have had nothing but bad experiences with Lost Horizons and Cobra...

$.02

SHRED · 09-25-2015, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cabojohn

Buy from West Marine...ANYTHING ICOM!!
Get the extended warranty.
I wouldn't worry about floating...your VHF will be clipped to your pfd right.?

I have had nothing but bad experiences with Lost Horizons and Cobra...

$.02

ICOM IC-M25 VHF Marine Transceiver Handheld VHF Radio, Marine Blue | West Marine
http://www.westmarine.com/buy/icom--...blue--16949612

Goose1993 · 09-25-2015, 03:54 PM

Standard Horizon. Spend $150 and feel MUCH safer when out on the water.

No GPS on the radio. That's a waste of money. Get a gps/fish finder instead.

alanw · 09-25-2015, 09:59 PM

I'm with the non-floating guys. Your PFD is your radios flotation, because your radio is always tethered to your PFD, right?

Batmann · 09-25-2015, 10:05 PM

http://www.westmarine.com/buy/west-m...3UkaAr_R8P8HAQ

Why floating? If your in the water and in distress you going to need free hands. A floating radio in this situation is better then on that doesn't IMO. But at westmarine and go with the extended warranty whatever one you choose.

They run sales on them all the time.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Fishin' Magician · 09-26-2015, 07:10 AM

I have a Standard Horizen (floating) that seems to work great. Dropped it just once in the drink while landing, but it floated just fine and still worked just great. Not sure that GPS would be that useful UNLESS you're in the water and your kayak has drifted far enough away that you can't swim to it. But how often would you find yourself in that situation?

kaya_one · 09-26-2015, 09:04 PM

the Standard Horizon HX300 has worked fine for me. Can't say about Icom or other brands as this has been my first and only handheld vhf. The HX290 I believe is very similar. Go West Marine and I had a small issue with the antennae and they replaced with no questions asked.

Crazyd626 · 09-27-2015, 09:46 AM

I got my VHF radio from West Marine.
Its a VHF75, and it floats. I picked it up for $99. Works great

Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk

GregAndrew · 09-27-2015, 11:01 AM

Even if the radio is stored clipped to you pfd, clips break and radios work better when held out of the water.

09-24-2015, 09:08 AM	#1
SHRED Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Encinitas (Leucadia), CA Posts: 94	Handheld VHF radio suggestions? Floating, with weather, and reliable. Not sure if I want it with GPS or not. Thanks

09-24-2015, 10:38 AM	#3
jorluivil Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 6,856	Don't bother getting one with gps, save the money for a stand alone gps/sonar unit. The floating radios tend to 'not float' so save your money on that as well and use it towards your gps/sonar, a lanyard attached to your radio will work much better than a floating radio. I highly recommend that you get a radio that allows you to use an external speaker/mic, it adds additional cost to the purchase but it's well worth it. __________________ www.facebook.com/Teamsewer

09-25-2015, 09:59 PM	#11
alanw Made in U.S.A. Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Dana Point Posts: 1,625	I'm with the non-floating guys. Your PFD is your radios flotation, because your radio is always tethered to your PFD, right? __________________ Hobie PA 14 ¸.·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> Jackson Kraken ¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> Malibu X-Factor ¸.·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> Malibu Stealth-12 ¸.·´¯`·.´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º> Its not a spelling B its a fishing B ~yakjoe

09-26-2015, 07:10 AM	#13
Fishin' Magician Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Newport Beach Posts: 219	I have a Standard Horizen (floating) that seems to work great. Dropped it just once in the drink while landing, but it floated just fine and still worked just great. Not sure that GPS would be that useful UNLESS you're in the water and your kayak has drifted far enough away that you can't swim to it. But how often would you find yourself in that situation? __________________ Here fishy, fishy, fishy.....

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09-24-2015, 10:20 AM	#2
monstahfish Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 420	I had the old icom floating unit and loved it for about 7 years until it finally died. Just got the newer version and it looks to be built even better plus it now lights up if it gets dropped in the water which is nice. I tried the lowrance ones and the batteries are garbage. I would say do not buy those. The other one that seems to be good is the standard horizon but I don't know if it floats.

09-24-2015, 11:11 AM	#5
Dave Legacy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Hacienda Heights, CA Posts: 427	This is the one I just ordered yesterday: https://www.cobra.com/products/handheld/mr-hh500-flt-bt Can't speak on it much since I don't have it in my possession yet, but I like the idea of the bluetooth feature so I can still be reached on the water with my phone below deck.

09-24-2015, 12:30 PM	#6
2-Stix Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Ventura, CA Posts: 376	I just picked up one at west marine. Was 160 on sale for 100. Speaker, floats, back light. Look for a sale. No need on GPS. Your FF will have one most likely. If not I use an app on my phone until I get a FF.

09-25-2015, 09:31 AM	#7
SHRED Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Encinitas (Leucadia), CA Posts: 94	I'm seriously considering this one. Standard Horizon HX300 Floating VHF http://www.westmarine.com/buy/standa...rger--13130844

09-25-2015, 10:17 AM	#8
cabojohn PROBATION Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 656	Buy from West Marine...ANYTHING ICOM!! Get the extended warranty. I wouldn't worry about floating...your VHF will be clipped to your pfd right.? I have had nothing but bad experiences with Lost Horizons and Cobra... $.02

09-25-2015, 03:54 PM	#10
Goose1993 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: San Diego Posts: 115	Standard Horizon. Spend $150 and feel MUCH safer when out on the water. No GPS on the radio. That's a waste of money. Get a gps/fish finder instead.

09-25-2015, 10:05 PM	#12
Batmann Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 117	http://www.westmarine.com/buy/west-m...3UkaAr_R8P8HAQ Why floating? If your in the water and in distress you going to need free hands. A floating radio in this situation is better then on that doesn't IMO. But at westmarine and go with the extended warranty whatever one you choose. They run sales on them all the time. Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

09-26-2015, 09:04 PM	#14
kaya_one Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Encinitas Posts: 257	the Standard Horizon HX300 has worked fine for me. Can't say about Icom or other brands as this has been my first and only handheld vhf. The HX290 I believe is very similar. Go West Marine and I had a small issue with the antennae and they replaced with no questions asked.

09-27-2015, 09:46 AM	#15
Crazyd626 Junior Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: San Gabriel, Ca Posts: 5	I got my VHF radio from West Marine. Its a VHF75, and it floats. I picked it up for $99. Works great Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk

09-27-2015, 11:01 AM	#16
GregAndrew Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,384	Even if the radio is stored clipped to you pfd, clips break and radios work better when held out of the water.