Marine VHF radio

[papaiasi]

any suggestions on a marine radio for kite surfing?

[Loscocco]

pick up a mid priced ($100-150) one at Westmarine and make sure you get the insurance plan.. it only cost like $15 and they replace it completely for free.. which happens quite often since we give them quite a beating. Well worth it

[G-man]

I got the West Marine branded one recently ($120), which comes with a 3 year warranty (including water damage).

Question: how do most people carry these things? In a lifevest pocket? Is there another good way if you're not wearing a lifevest? Thanks.

[baypirate]

I'm sure West Marine already took care of this, but you'll need the Aquapack-like thingie to properly waterproof, just "as is" it doesn't survive sea water for long.

I've seen somebody at Crissy w/ a little harness from a backpack (basically just the simple frame), and the radio taped to that harness.

[goosh]

From what I read in the past (a while back now) you need a license in order to operate a VHF radio.

Of course, that doesn't stop people from having/operating one, but I thought I should mentioned that...

(then again, I could be wrong)

[baypirate]

no license for (normal, 5W) marine radio. of course, prohibited use on land etc.

[papaiasi]

I 've seen one on that has a build-in gps where if you get in an emergency situation you activate it with a click of a button and it sends out to coast guard your exact position. Probably an overkill but when it comes to safety i am not sure there's such thing.

[Tony Soprano]

I recommend the Standard Horizon HX280s

http://www.standardhorizon.com/indexVS. ... Archived=0

Best value/performance

Get a life jacket while your at it, this is not a fashion show.

[perukite]

Carrying options:

1) Just throw a rash guard on over your wetsuit, then put on your waist harness so it seals off the bottom of the rash guard - drop the radio in between your rash guard and the wetsuit - presto, useful to have a laynard around your neck attached to the thing so you don't drop it if you need to pull it out for use.

2) Get a lifejacket or impact vest and do the same thing as described above.

3) I've seen guys with harnesses they make for industrial usage - seems kind of overkill unless you are out there talking to your girl back on the beach every 3 seconds.

4) Also seen a guy with a black diamond rock climbing chest harness and the radio strapped to it.

-Rash guard seems like the easiest and most practical.

[cedralpass]

My setup is (based on lots of reading of past posts):

Standard horizon HX500S-Li Handheld VHF

Modified with Lanyard on the radio, with stainless latch hook to latch to my spreader or Kite or board in emergency. also attached a safety cutter to it.

Water proof bag - extend life a bit

the Rashgaurd / impact vest trick (only worry is the impact from a good crash, potential cracked rib?) I have been looking into the harness kite wind surf used to use for teaching can be found here: VHF Harness: www.RAHQ.com

And warranty upgrade (replaced one after dropping on cement and cracking)

This setup as lasted 2 years pretty well.



Geoff