Standard Horizon HX290

It floats! and is cost effective !

 

Curious if a satellite phone would be a better option for emergencies?

 

you're talking too way different ends of the spectrum. No way you ever need a sat phone (imo) 7 miles out. One theyre expensive and the airtime is even more expensive, you almost never want to use it. vhf is fine i would think.

 

Sat phone would definitely be better. My experience with hand held VHF will pretty much only have the range of other boats offshore depending on how far you go. Sat phone will let you call home and tell momma you love her.

 

The SH said its 7 miles ....

 

I went with the Standard Horizon HX870. I like the fact that it has internal GPS and DSC capability. It also floats and has a built in strobe light. This is a secondary radio on my boat so if I am using it there is probably a Real problem and most likely that would mean I have lost all inboard electronics so the backup GPS would be critical.

http://www.standardhorizon.com/indexVS.cfm?cmd=DisplayProducts&DivisionID=3&ProdCatID=85&ProdID=1791

 

I think this is the model I have also.

Sat phone way overkill when you that close to shore.

 

I have the Cobra MMH125. IT works great!

 

I have been looking for one that is combo VHF and GPS showing coordinates for emergency use to be kept in our ditch bag. The kicker is, I want it to be alkaline cell powered. I would keep the radio sealed (in food saver bag) in the ditch bag with new batteries sealed in a separate bag for if and when an emergency arises. The rechargeable s require attention to keep them ready and I don't want to have to worry about that. Just replace the battery stash every few months and it'll be ready to go.

 

I keep mine charged before every trip I just put it by my cell phone on the charger the night before trip, when I put the phone in my pocket I put the radio there too. That way the radio is also stored in a climate controlled environment. I can also charge the radio while on the boat. I usually turn it on when I break the jetties and make sure the gps locks and do a radio check on the sea tow channel. Then I turn it off and store it for the trip.

 

You can get a back battery that has that on some models - but most I have seen come with the rechargeable

 

That's been my experience here lately while searching. It's looking like I'll have to settle for the rechargeable and continue to keep up with the recharging hassle.

 

Standard Horizon HX870

I have the jetty at freeport and Galvez and the boardwalk at kemah
as waypoints, so I know which way to paddle.

This is my backup VHF, and I can do radio checks all by my self :rotfl:

 

You should always have a VHF if you pass the jetties!

 

Get a waterproof hand held VHF and a PLB with GPS.
And, a hand held GPS

 

What about the Spotâ„¢ Gen3 Satellite GPS Messenger Personal Tracker? This would allow certain people to track your location, has an emergency SOS with gps tracker on it and allows you to send short messages.

 

That is a good item to have but it does not replace a vhf where you can have instant 2 way communication.

 

I also have 870

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IMO you really want a fixed mount vhf with a good antenna mounted on you t top if you have one. Standard Horizon and Icom are both good and not crazy expensive. You also receive weather forecasts. Turn it on with squelch up. If mariner in distress calls from nearby you will hear and can lend a hand. Handhelds are backups in my opinion offshore. Also Coasties can hear you and transmit from a greater distance than boat to boat transmission which is line of site .

 

IMO you really want a fixed mount vhf with a good antenna mounted on you t top if you have one. Standard Horizon and Icom are both good and not crazy expensive. You also receive weather forecasts. Turn it on with squelch up. If mariner in distress calls from nearby you will hear and can lend a hand. Handhelds are backups in my opinion offshore. Also Coasties can hear you and transmit from a greater distance than boat to boat transmission which is line of site .I called Coast Guard once and asked them to stand by. Was about 25 miles out when a shaft seal came loose. Went into engine room to try to fix problem. When I came out about 5 minutes later there was a boat along side asking if we needed assistance. No idea where he came from but happy to see them.

 

X2 on handheld as a backup to fix mount, I have a Standard Horizon floating handheld as a backup, has built in strobe

One thing I added to go with besides extra battery is an adapter so it will work with my fixed antenna, that way if my fixed mount vhf goes out I can use my handheld on the big antenna for better range