VHF Radios?

What is the deal with VHF Radios? Do people actually purchase them to use with their Kayaks for safety? Or is it just a waste of money? If it is something I should invest in, should I get a waterproof or submersible radio? Can someone give me some recommendations on different radios to look at or some features that I should look for when shopping for one?

Saltwater fishing in Southern California, being over 60 years old, safety is my 1st concern. Any thing can happen when you get off the beach. A few years ago we found a floater off La Jolla, used radio to contact Coast Guard, he had fallen overboard the day before.

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2012 PA14 Dune
Life, Liberty and the pursuit of fish!

Waste of money. Now there's a way of describing a VHF I'd thought I'd never hear. Do you own a phone, ask yourself why. Is it to contact someone?,well why not have a radio for direct contact to the CC with a push of a button in an emergency. get a unit you find the options in it by doing research and get use to it. I personally own a radio that has GPS built in that also is a usable feature and not just a sending a position feature. I also use a remote mic, the radio stays Ina pocket and the mic is at my shoulder. The radio is waterproof, floats.

Model i have is a standard horizon. HX581

I'm also from a school of never to many safety items.

I'm new to all of this. I know how to fish and that's about it. I've never kayaked before or owned a boat or anything else. That's why I am asking all of these questions. Plus I didn't realize how expensive all of this get's. I knew I had to purchase accessories and all that, but by the time I'm done it looks like I'll be well over $5k

A lot depends on where you fish and who you fish with. Some gear you can wait on, or buy a little at a time, but be safe.

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2012 PA14 Dune
Life, Liberty and the pursuit of fish!

Mibrahim, some items are very simple and prices can be kept down to start.

A VHF, check eBay or sales in store fliers like a cabelas style store. If you go with a non-waterproof style, a water tight soft case can be purchased.

PFD, again you can find a sale and the cost will be $100 to well under that price

I also carry the snap stick style glow sticks as a night time can you see me rescue light attached to the vest with a clip or zip tie.

Compass, just the style that clips to the zipper will suit you for simple nav.

Whistle, simple one clipped to vest.

Hat, sunscreen, sun glasses

Now with this time of the year in the NJ/NY area the water is starting to warm up so very cold water gear is not needed yet.

Also put out a need to buy thread and see if someone has items for sale that you may need.give a list of what you need.


The biggest safety item you can do is either travel with someone and if you do go alone tell someone where you're launching from and call them when you're back off the water.

We bought them to use for kayak to kayak communication, both fresh and saltwater. The FRS radios, despite their claims, are never going to transmit more than about a mile, and that's line of sight. (The claims of these radios transmitting "up to" 15, 20 and 25 miles is based on transmissions when the radios were carried aboard aircraft. No kidding, engineers at both Midland and Motorola confirmed this for us).

We like the small IComm and find them to be terrific. Recently we tried some inexpensive ($50 at Bass Pro) Cobra handheld VHF radios and have been very pleased. They're waterproof (I have submersed mine briefly several times with no ill effects) and easily transmit 2 to 3 miles with good, clear sound.

I like having one aboard. I'm not forced to use it, but it's there if I want to converse with another kayaking buddy and having that communication always comes in handy if there is a problem.

Standard Horizon HX851 combo VHF and GPS. Use it for weather, maybe even warn off some big boater headed right toward you. And then of course the mayday function with GPS coordinates broadcast automatically. Just think if you are flipped out of the kayak, it blows away form you or whatever. When that plane flies over I want to be able to say I AM HERE.

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Hobie PA14 with a mod or two

Some random Modification Pictures

I carry one...mostly used for group communications if I'm out fishing with friends. The WX-alert feature is cool too - it will start singing if it receives a weather alert...

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I fish mainly inland in Central Florida. When I go off shore I would not go out so far that I am past the cell tower range so to me a VHF is not appropriate. I carry my smartphone in a soft waterproof pouch that I keep on a lanyard around my neck. I always wear a brightly colored shirt with a front pocket and I keep the smartphone in the pouch in the pocket so it is not dangling down all the time. I tell my wife where I am launching and where I intend to go and text her when I launch. If I was do deviate from my float plan I would advise her. My watch has a count down alarm and it reminds me every 50-minutes to text her a letter "K" so she knows I am OK. The pouch is capable of calling on the phone and talking through it as well as texting through it. In addition the phone is waterproof (Casio GZONE) to 6' for 30-minutes.

It works for me.

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PA12 Dune
That is why they calling it fishing and not catching.

I carry the phone in a pouch too. Cannot have too much redundancy on a boat of any size.

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Hobie PA14 with a mod or two

Some random Modification Pictures

If you have a VFH radio onboard, by law you are required to have it ON at all times.

Always get a waterproof radio that floats.

Have carried one fir 15+ years but have never had to use it. That's good!!

mibrahim,

Having experienced a Kayak Self-Rescue, my VHF batteries were dead. I think a VHF is as essential as any other safety equipment you carry on a Yak

The most important thing is picking a VHF with the features you need.

Here is what I look for: Waterproof, Floating, small in size. Those are the most important features. Many brands have radios to fit your needs. Last weekend I bought a Standard Horizon that had a USB charging connection, I liked that but many more brands are good. Common VHF handhelds seen in Kayaks are: Icom, Standard Horizons, West Marine, Cobra... and the list goes on.

When you get your VHF make sure you attach (lanyard) it to your PDF. That way it will stay with you

TIGHT LINES

Tim

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Fishing is not a matter of life or death... It's much more important than that!

Scanning channels and listening to fish reports and techniques is good.
Gotta have Weather reports.
Talking and listening to groups is nice.

I also carry a cell phone for direct communication, texting, listening to music and I hate to admit how much work I get done via mobile email.

Communication in general.

Whatever it takes to stay on the water and keep fishing safely.

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March 2010 Hobie Pro Angler

CBull