Does anyone have a suggestion for a good handheld water resistant (submersible) radio. I am planning to do more sailing on Lake Michigan solo this summer and want to have a radio for when I take longer trips away from the public beach.

West Marine has this low cost unit:
Standard Horizon

Can't say enough good things about Standard Horizon. I literally drove over one with my car, and it still transmitted and received (display was toast). I sent it in for repair, they replaced it and didn't charge me (I sent a letter explaining exactly what I had stupidly done, that's probably hanging on a wall in their offices now).

Anyway, I prefer the HX471S model, much smaller size (fits nicely in PFD pocket) and lots of features, but you can't go wrong with any of them.

The floating models are also worth consideration.

ICOM has some good ones too, I think they're supposed to have the longest battery life (do a google search, I know there are articles about this out there).

I spent a night capsized once. I never go on a boat without my radio now. Never, ever, ever.

Mike

I like Standard Horizon, too - used to be a Uniden guy, but the HX471S has made me a fan. Pricey, but I have found it to be worth it.

ICOM M35 (USA model designation may be different)

But its the waterproof, floating version. All the X40 teams use them and they are really the best.

And remember its no good to have a waterproof radio that sinks like a rock...

Hi TEH. I just recently got a Cobra Marine HH 330. Works really well. Floats and ive given it my best shot at trying to drown it in the tramp pocket. Good price too. The next model up you can blue tooth it to your phone which is pretty cool too. You can make phone calls using the radio as a Handset while your phone is somewhere dry.

The ones we use on the rescue boats at our club seem to give us a bit of trouble but i cant remember the brand.

Anyone doing any sailing alone really has to have one. So easy to throw on the boat.

I can't remember the name but I carry a west marine brand clipped to my inflatable when sailing my big boat solo. Cost like 70 bucks. Got it 2 years ago, never really used it though I test it time to time. I usually sail my blade on a narrow intracoastal waterway so I don't carry it. Never had to use it.

I picked up a Standard HX850S and its a great radio. Lots of power (6w) and waterproof. Its a bit bulky but I like it because it also has GPS and DSC functions. I figured if I was getting a radio for extended sailing or distance racing, it was probably a good idea to have the DSC. I haven't had to use it but I am glad it is there. I just put the lanyard around my neck and stuff it inside my rash guard and it stays put and out of the way.

SH makes the 851 model (http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wc...&subdeptNum=10251&classNum=10253) which has waypoint functions as well so you have VHF and a minimal function GPS.

I am with Macca. I really like the ICom radios. The m34 is on sale at WM for $129 and the M36 ($199) has noise canceling capabilities. Both float and are waterproof.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Given my low expected usage, I don't want to spend a ton. But then again, I want the thing to work when I need it to.

Floating is nice, but... I'm sure there are several citizens along the Florida coast who are to this day enjoying their unexpected gift from the sea. Tybee sailors have donated floating VHFs and GPS units to Poseidon every couple of years. I remember spending an hour setting up a brand new GPS for the Key Team one year, only to have it vanish from the boat sometime during the leg to Cocoa.

Our radio lives in a mesh sleeve that Dennis built that secures to the boom - audible during starts and accessible in the event of capsize or retirement from a race.

I like that setup, but my biggest concern is that I take a swim and the boat gets away from me. I intend to have this radio in my vest.

Reasonable thinking; in our case, we race in fleets with RC boats on station. If I were offshore point-to-point racing (especially uni), it would be critical to have the radio on my person.

I have both an Icom and Standard handheld VHF. The Icom is the main unit I carry - no complaints - over 1000 miles of coastal distance racing with no malfunctions. The Standard was my old radio - Its now my backup. No complaints other than the volume knob got a bit stiff (I did not used to be religious rinsing / maintaining it).

I stuff the radio in the pocket of my PFD and wear a rash guard on top.

Beware waterproof VHF radio bags. Field tests by the Great Texas race safety officer indicates they can significantly reduce range.

A handheld VHF is an excellent safety device when distance racing. Coast guard masts in Texas are very tall and can pick up handhelds from a long way off (and triangulate the signal). Boat to boat is of course limited by the low transmitter power and elevation off the water - but still useful if someone parts company with the boat...if you carry it on your person.

Chris.

I've got the Icom IC-M32. Lots of use and salt water submersion (no bag) and still going strong since day one. You can't kill it. What makes it nice is no knobs and, the button lock feature while the volume is still active. It resides in one of two places, either inside a pocket in the vest (when not actively needed) or using the belt clip to mount to my shoulder strap, right next to my ear (law enforcement style). In a blow you can hear it from there, easily mike it, and keep your hands free. It is also tethered to the vest.

I've been biting my tongue in regards to putting a VHF on the boat (vs. on your person), because I didn't want to hijack the thread (original intent was to discuss brands/models)...

BUT, a radio is completely useless if you can't get to it, either because the boat is capsized, or floating away from you.

Tie it to your PFD, and either put it into a pocket (if it will fit), or stick it in the front, between your chest and the PFD zipper. Tying it on is important, because of Murphy's Law. Don't tie it on, and you're bound to drop it.

Mike

My intent was to put it in the PFD pocket. Thus size is important as well. May have to work something else out if I don't want to pay that much.

http://www.nrsweb.com/shop/product.asp?pfid=1825

Tom: Sorry for the hijack but I've been thinking about solo sailing and the thought of getting separated from the boat creeps me out. So, my latest thought is to attach one of these to the tramp with the other end attached to my harness. The last time I got separated from the boat it capsized immediately and I really don't think there is much danger of being dragged to death. NRS also has a variety of jackets with more and bigger pockets, all with survival in mind.

No problem. I am trying how to figure out how best to stay safe. The radio came first to mind. That lead to other concerns about how they'd find me, etc.

I did a little fast swimming after the boat this last summer and I thought if this happens when I am on one of my distance sails, and I can't catch the boat, I could bob around for quite some time.

Didn't you also look at a teather of some sort?

There is a tether in the NRS catalog, but I have no real solution. I'm just going to buy the throw rope/bag, a max. flotation vest and worry about the details later.

Oh, some leg straps. I found out on my last misadventure that having my vest constantly riding up under my chin is no good.

Pete,

I don't know. I always have at lease a sheet or line in my hand and the tiller 95% of the time. When I've capsized, it is more of a problem of not letting go of the tiller. BTW, I have given up on using vectran line for trap setup. I needed an engineer explain to me that it is so non-stretch such that it breaks down with tight moving turns and without any real warning. Nothing more of a PIA than a surprise snap on the trap!!

Dyneema now on for this application.