Basic setup: what to buy?

[Lazy Loafer]

I did the same thing, started with a handheld which couldn't reach the nearest coast guard station, then switched to a fixed mount. One thing I would recommend is the purchase of a quality antenna. I have a Shakespeare. I have heard good things about Digital Antenna, as well. I guess the point is that a radio, first and foremost, is a piece of safety equipment. VHF is line of sight, so if range is a major factor, the higher, the better. The cost difference beteen an 8ft and 4ft is little. The same goes for an economy model vs. a premium model. Don't cheap out on the antenna.

I still keep my handheld charged up and on board as a backup. Electronic failures are not unheard of and you are not always within range of a cellular tower. While they are fun to talk to your fishing buddies on, and to listen to all the chatter sometimes, they are first a piece of safety equipment.

[IT'LL DO]

furuno, furuno,furuno,furuno,furuno,furuno,furuno,get my drift?????

[NCangler]

I have a Furuno FCV600L that I'll be putting on eBay this weekend. I've only used it twice and it is in excellent condition. I sold my boat about three months ago and it was not a part of the package. I've got a new 215 on order and haven't decided on an electronics package yet. I'll put the Furuno in the Classifieds here this weekend too.

[Codfish]

ulcerdoc, to be fully equipped, no matter how far out I go, I always carry a hand held VHF in a waterproof bag as a backup/spare communicator. I would say both the fixed mount and the handheld is the safest way to go. This may sound a little extravagant but you only have to have your radio go out one time and you realize how important it is to be able to communicate with USCG. codfish

[OspreyVic]

Codfish, I could agree with you more.

Last week our ICOM M502a decided it wanted to receive but not transmit. When we arrived at the lowest bridge, an old swinging bridge at that, the radio was putting out a carrier, but no modulation. We had to lower the radar arch to go under the bridge.

Yesterday our new handheld arrived. Was out testing for over 2 hours today, and the ICOM never failed.

Now imagine that radio failing if I was out 30 miles fishing, not a pretty picture. Now I have my handheld and feel a lot better. The coast guard can probably hear my hand held, or better yet another boat in my area fishing.

That hand held goes out with us all the time from now on.