VHF / Marine Radio's

[Trophycats]

Hey Man..I fish on the Cumberland River in the dead of winter for big blues. You very seldom see a boat out there. I have a Marine Radio on my boat. I wouldnt go out there without it. I think I paid $119 for mine, and it has the emergency switch you mentioned and also gives weather warnings. For the price you are talking you can buy one for the boat and a handheld also. I think the boat mounted does have a lot more reach. However if you had to leave your buddy on the boat you could take the handheld with you. I got stranded out there last year, and even though I could not talk to anyone directly, a couple of people at Paris Landing heard me, and I was in the Cumberland City area. They called a game warden who came and got me out. It is money well spent, in my humble opinion, especially if you are going to be out there where there is not much traffic. Warren

[stratosjoe]

The handhelds use 1/2 watt to 5 watt the permanent mount use 5 to 25 watt but need a 3' to 8' antennae. I have a handheld on 5 watt for my bassboat with a permanent mount in my Motorhome (illegal) use it when on large lakes in the winter just for emergency. The handheld will do fine in most highland lakes if the marina's are open. In the winter time there is little radio traffic thats why I rigged up the one in the camper for when my wife joins me. Don't fall for one of the new handheld vhf's for 30 bucks NO DISTANCE no better than a couple walkie talkies. hope this helps. Please use 16 to contact someone then switch to a differnet chanel to carry on conversation. weather channel is very handy also.