newbie: VHF question

[Paddle4fish]

do anyone of yall kayakers use any type of VHF radio when on the water? when I fished out in texas on a kayak we would post up when and where we will be fishing and would meet up other fellow kayakers to fish 1-2miles offshore and use VHF radios just in case of an emergency and also we can keep in contact with each other to find out who's catching what and where. its tough to be on the water and use cellphones to keep in touch with other fellow kayakers cause due to poor service provider service area and dropping the phone in the water.
i havent got a chance to get my Hobie outback wet yet and i'm waiting for a nice day to get it wet to try out what the North East fishing has to offer.. Dont know yet how far offshore others have gone offshore with a kayak. i'm just waiting to get out to Myrtle Grove lake to take out my kayak to get to know her lol...

[On the fly]

I keep my VHF with me even in the bay. If you are in trouble fastest response not to mention if another vessel is in area that heard the call may come to assist. I know others in group also use them as well as the tournament in sept.

[Goody]

I keep my VHF with me even in the bay. If you are in trouble fastest response not to mention if another vessel is in area that heard the call may come to assist. I know others in group also use them as well as the tournament in sept.

Which VHF radio do you have? Has it been pretty reliable and easy to use?

[DOGFISH]

I always take a VHF with me out on the water. I use a Standard Horizon HX851. It is the one with the distress call feature. When fishing with others it is nice to stay in communication. However, on the bay, learn to speak in some sort of code, or you may have alot of company if you say where you are and that you are catching fish.

[tufnik]

I've had my ICOM M34 for 3 years. Works great, no problems. My only issue was I forgot to check the charge and I ended up with a discharged batt on one trip.

I take it with me on every trip, primarily for emergency/safety since I go out in the bay several miles. I also use it to talk to other yak friends about fishing while on the water.

[DOGFISH]

With most handheld VHF radios, you can get an alkaline battery pac. You can then have an extra battery source if your rechargeable battery goes dead. One can then just put in the alkaline battery pac with a few AA batteries inserted. Alot of boaters carry those as a backup.

[tufnik]

With most handheld VHF radios, you can get an alkaline battery pac. You can then have an extra battery source if your rechargeable battery goes dead. One can then just put in the alkaline battery pac with a few AA batteries inserted. Alot of boaters carry those as a backup.

Good point, but my radio comes with a sealed li-ion battery pack. The charge lasts a long time - that's how I got complacent and forgot to check the charge.

So, folks, that's another consideration when buying a radio.

BTW, Dogfish....I'm thinking about get another radio as back-up. Mine works fine, but I'd like something more compact. Maybe with distress call (to send GPS coordinates).....maybe with GPS too. Any recos?

[On the fly]

I have the standard horizon also with the rechargeable and alk battery pack. Floats and works well.

[M_Duong60]

A VHF radio is on the long list that I need to buy. You never can be to sure. BTW is buying a kayak bilge pump a good idea?

[ronaultmtd]

If I owned a SINK I would have a big high capacity hand bilge pump

[jet]

i launch with a Standard Horizon HX751 VHF. if i could only remember to bring it ever trip, doh!

[LoudounFisher]

Since I'm a fan of my Uniden scanners, I just ordered one of their new MHS126 radios.

http://www.uniden.com/marine-electro...o/invt/mhs126g

[ronaultmtd]

Icom M-49- works, waterproof, floats...had it for three years, no problems-

[Mmacro]

Has anyone used a Garman Rhino with friends out on the water... It transmits your GPS location to paired radios. It is not a private link, but then your not using voice to say where you are.

[dson05]

Just got me a Uniden MHS75. Seems to fit the needs of a kayak. Is there any particular channel that everyone uses either at the CBBT or Henlopen etc?