ICOM M88
Small compact body, same long battery life as with others. Fits in a number of my pfd pockets without the antenna being in the way.
See you on the water,
Marshall
The River Connection, Inc.
Hyde Park, NY
www.the-river-connection.com
hudsonriverpaddler.org
I don’t carry mine on my person
I keep it tethered to the deck.
If I carried all the crap that the safety gurus want us to, I would sink like a rock
I keep my PLB in my PFD pocket and my knife in my under deck bag
I also keep a whistle tethered to my PFD pocket
Listen to the weather report prior to going out, and adhere it, and you’ll probably never have to call for help.
Jack L
Mine is not on me either. It is tethered
to the deck
The PLB which IS on me is faster to deploy for an SOS.
ICOM M36
Carry it on me all the time. Should you get separated from your boat you want to have it with you.
VHF line of
sight only…VHF does not transmit over the horizon or around corners. Thus VHF is useful in navigable water where vessel traffic is ongoing.
For example, alerting the Chinese lumber boat pilot that your position is stable, that you are not crossing his bow.
Burch has given his material to Google. THNAKS DAVE !
http://goo.gl/L5qjDj
Question re Lake Michigan, coverage
Looked through the above replies and some conversation from another thread popped up in my head.
For my solo-highest-risk paddling situations, I am in an area well covered by the Coast Guard and a whole lot of working boat traffic that would respond most quickly to a call on a VHF. I know about the second bunch because I am beginning to figure out which lobster boats tend to run out of bait more than the others with it set on alert for weather.
A PLB or SPOT device would be, as was mentioned in another thread recently, considerably slower response where my highest risk is.
But I was not thinking about this when I answered this post, and it bears asking whether a PLB or a VHF would produce a faster response on Lake Michigan. Anyone know?
USCG stations
– Last Updated: Apr-17-15 11:00 PM EST –
If it makes a difference, there are USCG stations at Traverse City, Charlevoix, and St. Ignace.
Main harbors in areas where where I'll be paddling: Harbor Springs, Petoskey, Bay Harbor (private), and Charlevoix.
No working boats, but lots of sailboats.
[Edited to replace SS Marie with St. Ignace - which is in the Straits of Mackinac]
Not sure about Michigan
since I have never paddled it but on Lake Superior especially on the north (Ontario ) shore the VHF is virtually useless for rescue.
There are no working boats out there except for Great Lakes tankers and grain carriers and they are very far away.
OTOH in Pukaskwa a rescue team arrived at a scene within 45 minutes. Triggered by SPOT. The distance between rescue launch and site was 35 km
So my VHF is mainly to check weather from Environment Canada.
So your answer all depends on where you are. Here in Maine I see lots of Coast Guard and CG auxiliary boats. Getting away from working traffic too is not always easy… so the radio is of value here.
online data
https://www.google.com/#q=uscg+vhf+coverage+Traverse+City%2C+Charlevoix%2C+and+St.+Ignace
to work thru… antennae height above sea level with Burch’s distance formula for your paddling if applicable.
then go to Verizon or Sprint’s cell tower coverage
of interest: http://www.islandtrunksystem.org/cms/
Choices
Stopped at West Marine to check out their VHFs. They’re selling a West Marine branded (manufactured by Uniden, made in Vietnam) waterproof, floating GPS/DSC VHF with automatic weather alerts for $229. Size was okay, weight not heavy, price is reasonable, the screen was readable. I know nothing about Uniden’s reliability.
They also offer an ICOM M92D GPS/DSC with a few more bells and whistles for $299. They did not have one on display, but the 2# weight is a negative. Also read online reviews critical of its bulkiness and difficult to read screen.
We did talk about VHF communications; he said he could easily raise the harbormaster at Harbor Springs; that’s a straight shot across the bay. I didn’t ask about the response time issue that Celia raised. Will do that on my next trip.
Since Little Traverse Bay is still frozen as far as the eye can see, looks like I have plenty of time to shop.
Uniden sucks
I had two of them.
The first one the antennae broke off. The second one just stopped working.
It was supposed to be waterproof, but I think that is what did it in.
When I went to buy my present Icom one, it was more expensive then the West Marine (Uniden) one, but the West Marine salesmen told me the Icom was much better
jack L
Yours is dead with my Uniden
The antenna broke and the power switch seized.
Even though I know I can get the CG
on mine, it’s primary use is for the weather.
If I see a dark cloud on the horizon, it gets turned on.
Jack L
West Marine/Uniden off the list
– Last Updated: Apr-20-15 9:09 AM EST –
Thanks for the tips about the Uniden.
Took another look at the ICOM M92D, this time at the ICOM site. Not sure where one reviewer got the two-pound weight as the mfg specs are 280 grams, which is about ten ounces. ICOM states the size is 2.41 × 5.57 × 1.7 inches (less antenna).
That model is being discontinued, however, although West Marine said they had a few in their warehouse.
Anyone use Standard Horizon? Their HX870 is GPS/DSC with a $224 price tag.
Defender Marine
Check out these guys. great selection, good prices.
http://www.defender.com/category.jsp?path=-1|344|2028693&id=2028963
a few comments
i have two ICOMs, have never been let down by either. You’ll always be able to find an ICOM charger or accessories.
Having said that, I hate the plastic and metal pocket clip and rely on the lanyard.
Make sure you have a PFD pocket in which it fits. You can fabricate your own PFD pocket or mount but many PFDs have a pocket for VHF storage.
You don’t HAVE to wear it at all times but it’s critical when conditions make it possible to get separated from your boat. I paddle with mine on my person 50% of the time or less. On trips I use it for weather, sometimes to listen to chatter if there’s any traffic. If you do so you’ll want to make sure you get a good sense of and monitor battery life.
If you get a VHF take a few minutes of your time to get familiar with how to use it: how to ID yourself, place a distress call; which channels are for what, and so forth.
Here are a few links to VHF use, first one is from a great lakes sailing perspective and includes a brief explanation of how DSC works, you might find it interesting:
http://www.great-lakes-sailing.com/marine_vhf_radio.html
Another source:
http://www.seakayak.ws/kayak/kayak.nsf/0/55C2AC6DE56618898525735500740A6E
Not true
that VHF is line of sight only. I would agree that it is not a bad “rule of thumb”, but VHF communication often takes place beyond line of sight and around corners. The biggest problem for handheld units is their terrible antennas which is a major factor when transmitting. Communication between two handheld units tends to be rather limited for that reason more than due to “line of sight” mantra issues.
For example, the newest CG shore repeater system is designed to be able to communicate with a 1 watt radio at sea level at 20 NMs out to sea.
No
I would check again before crossing if the last time I listened for any boat traffic was halfway around a 90 acre island on the other side from the channel. But the idea that any line of sight break is fatal to a VHF signal is a myth. No one would ever be able to use in many areas along the coast of Maine if that was so. There are islands all over the place and they are not neatly arranged to always leave passage for a VHF signal.
Standard Horizon
" Anyone use Standard Horizon? Their HX870 is GPS/DSC with a $224 price tag."
I have been using the Standard Horizon HX 300 I have a NRS C-vest PFD with radio pocket. Mine is 2.3w 1.3 deep and 5 inch long(the radio). It just fits into the radio pocket with the belt clip removed.
The HX870 is 2.44w 1.69D and 5.43 H. That wouldn’t fit into my radio pocket. I have yet to find a DSC radio that will fit into most radio pockets on a PFD. So either they need to make radio pockets bigger or I have to wait till DSC radios get smaller.
Oh I only paid $120 for mine and there was a 20 rebate so I was right at 100 after rebate. I bought mine online but don’t remember were.
Mini pockets
Ditched my Stohlquist Flo with its front buckles and straps, buttoned pockets with flaps and pleats. Too much foofoo which caught on my cockpit rim when practicing re-entries. Hated it.
Now wear an Astral YTV. A small zippered pocket on each side. Clean design. Love it. I have the Kokatat Tactic Pack and pretty sure it will handle a radio that I can reach easily. There’s a small opening in the top of one compartment designed for a hydration tube - or maybe an antenna. Will probably have to experiment a bit.
Since we’re looking at around 10 ounces, makes no sense to me to not wear it. I’m interested in weather alerts, since Lake Michigan weather can change fast, and emergency use which I’ll do my best to never need.
Thanks for the info, dc9mm, on the Standard Horizon, and thank you, SP, for the links. The sea kayaking site info is worth printing and studying - which I’ll do.