You won't regret the fixed mount. It has much greater range. Another nice thing about the handhelds is the Noaa weather channels. So while in the motel room, as the sun is lifting, you can get a REAL accurate weather report, before decide to untie the dock lines and fire up the big motor. Has saved me a wet butt more than once. So maybe momma will note, the second handheld radio is a "safety feature", and the fixed an absolute must as distance to the dock can get extreme at Cumberland. To do less, she may conclude, would be just to not do enough. Good luck. Worst case, tell her its my fault!