Marine Radio Advice
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Short Strike
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- Posts: 113
- Joined: February 21st, 2005, 3:20 pm
- Location: Tallahassee, Fla.
Marine Radio Advice
Is there such thing as a good marine radio for <$100? I do the inshore thing so I wouldn't need a super-duper one...Would I? Do y'all consider these things a necessity, or a luxury for my situation? I have a cell phone (Nextel). What do ya do with them other than call for help if needed? Couldn't I use my cell?
If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there'd be a shortage of fishing poles.
--Doug Larson
--Doug Larson
A cell phone is great "if you can get a signal" 
A $100 dollar VHF would work fine 
just don't go cheap on the antenna "it's what gives you your distance" 
The loss of them two boys a couple weeks ago could have easily been prevented "IMO" if they would have had a VHF radio on board one of the boats "no cell phone sig." 
You can also listen in on reports in-between other fisher folks and call out to any number of folks from the BBF and just talk or arrange a meet somewhere I feel naked without one now, even in fresh water 
A $100 dollar VHF would work fine just don't go cheap on the antenna "it's what gives you your distance" The loss of them two boys a couple weeks ago could have easily been prevented "IMO" if they would have had a VHF radio on board one of the boats "no cell phone sig." You can also listen in on reports in-between other fisher folks and call out to any number of folks from the BBF and just talk or arrange a meet somewhere I feel naked without one now, even in fresh water “Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them and you have their shoes.”
Look at the Digital 528VW 4' antenna.
http://www.brokenlegdave.com/Manufactur ... Series.htm
Take a look at this radio. If you find one for <$100, it's probably not waterproof.
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... ctId=82045
Don't make the same mistake I did. I bought a <$100 radio, and a cheap antenna. They both failed within a year.
To answer your first question, yes, you need a VHF radio.
http://www.brokenlegdave.com/Manufactur ... Series.htm
Take a look at this radio. If you find one for <$100, it's probably not waterproof.
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... ctId=82045
Don't make the same mistake I did. I bought a <$100 radio, and a cheap antenna. They both failed within a year.
To answer your first question, yes, you need a VHF radio.
What was I supposed to do today?
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dstockwell
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Fisherman989
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- Joined: December 16th, 2003, 8:32 am
- Location: Moultrie, Ga
I don't think a boat should leave shore in saltwater without a good vhf radio. This is so terrible important if you fish as a lone boat. I have friends that have spent the night on the flats...because the motor broke down. They had no contact with anyone. They were found the next day by the Coast Guard....OK.... but just wore out from having spent the night on the water.
My son and his wife got lost about 6 weeks ago in the fog at Keaton Beach. They were only out about 2 miles...but the GPS failed (battery went dead). I was down there in another boat...and we had radio contact. We couldn't find them....but that radio was of great comfort until they got to shore down about Dekle Beach. That's where we found them...anchored....and waiting for help....right next to a pier.
A radio is invalueable.
My son and his wife got lost about 6 weeks ago in the fog at Keaton Beach. They were only out about 2 miles...but the GPS failed (battery went dead). I was down there in another boat...and we had radio contact. We couldn't find them....but that radio was of great comfort until they got to shore down about Dekle Beach. That's where we found them...anchored....and waiting for help....right next to a pier.
A radio is invalueable.
