Crew to helm walkie talkies suggestions?

[john_morris_uk]

As per the thread title. Any idea what radios might be suggested? Reasonably robust and ideally water resistant/proof and capable of using an earpiece with a boom microphone with VOX operation.
Two way so that crew on the bow can (for example) direct the helm how the cable lies when manoeuvring up to the anchor or pointing out coral heads etc.

 

[Skylark]

We bought a pair of Binatone Terrain 550 radios for this and other purposes, ship to shore, dinghy etc etc. They were great fun for one day.....then we simply forgot about them.

The ubiquitous Baofeng UV-5R may fit the bill and can be programmed to PMR, Marine and Amateur 2m and 70cm. They cost peanuts and appear to be good quality. I’ve had one now for a couple of years and it continues to impress.

For deck work communication, we use simple hand signals.

 

[Uricanejack]

Presumably a couple of hand held vhf and a working channel is not a preferred option.

Motorolla
If cost not a problem. I think we pay just under a grand each.
you might get a pair for about 1 k in the uk.
The Mike and ear piece optional extras.

Otherwise mid range no name brand made in China will do. For about a 10th of the price.
I got a set for skiing with the kids years ago.
So we could find each other.
Now they all have phones and we just text.

 

[cpedw]

There are many motorbike/referee intercoms like this available for a range of prices. Make sure it doesn't need a motorbike helmet to keep it in place.

 

[Hacker]

I use the above for umpiring hockey. They are very good especially with the boom mic. Not sure how waterproof they are but they do cope with 70 mins of typical Cornish winter rain. Don’t make the mistake of buying the same set, but sold as a marine version; they are 3 times more expensive.

 

[Pinnacle]

Try a quick PM to Hurricane. IIRC He has previously reported excellent success with a 2 way Bluetooth piece of kit (maybe not the cheapest).

 

[oldharry]

By no means the cheapest, but easily the best: we have used them for site security for many years, and only had one failure. That was dropped and broke off the volume control knob. Although the unit was at least 5 years old it was repaired by Icom for free. Icom IC-F29SR PMR446 Radio

 

[KINGFISHER 9]

Sabre Leisure - highly recommended, voice activated and they work!

 

[Pinnacle]

Sabre Leisure - highly recommended, voice activated and they work!

They are the exact ones I was thinking of.

Sabre Leisure - Sena headsets for marine use

 

[john_morris_uk]

Some really good suggestions and my Googling hadn’t found any of those options. Thank you.

A bit of background to my enquiry:
I had an operation on 13 November to sort out two discs in my neck that had partially collapsed. The surgeon gains access through from the front and moves oesophagus and trachea to one side but the operation has left me with one vocal chord paralysed atm which means I can only speak extremely quietly. Mrs M and I are looking at options for when we sail together and one of us is doing lines or anchor work and the other helming. Hand signals are ok but we were looking at all the options.

 

[[2574]]

They are the exact ones I was thinking of.

Sabre Leisure - Sena headsets for marine use

Any idea on price? The website is silent on the matter - which always worries me that it’s “if you have to ask you can’t afford it”

 

[john_morris_uk]

Any idea on price? The website is silent on the matter - which always worries me that it’s “if you have to ask you can’t afford it”

Website says £149.95 per headset. (I had to look hard to find it, but it's in the box with the picture of the young lady wearing one.)

 

[[2574]]

Website says £149.95 per headset. (I had to look hard to find it, but it's in the box with the picture of the young lady wearing one.)

Thanks John - "should've gone to Specsavers"!

 

[Poignard]

Some really good suggestions and my Googling hadn’t found any of those options. Thank you.

A bit of background to my enquiry:
I had an operation on 13 November to sort out two discs in my neck that had partially collapsed. The surgeon gains access through from the front and moves oesophagus and trachea to one side but the operation has left me with one vocal chord paralysed atm which means I can only speak extremely quietly. Mrs M and I are looking at options for when we sail together and one of us is doing lines or anchor work and the other helming. Hand signals are ok but we were looking at all the options.

My wife and I try and use hand signals. Often it ends up with a row after she has failed to understand the perfectly clear hand signal I made. Or, as she puts it, after I have made a hand signal that no reasonable person could possibly be expected to understand.

 

[rogerthebodger]

I usd to use a Motorola PMR radio with a VOX head set but found it frustration as the VOX would loose the first word and had to repeat.

I now use a referee headset using bluetooth ans as its full duplex no issue with half duplex conversation.

 

[Skylark]

My wife and I try and use hand signals. Often it ends up with a row after she has failed to understand the perfectly clear hand signal I made. Or, as she puts it, after I have made a hand signal that no reasonable person could possibly be expected to understand.

Oh no, my wife is a bigamist ?

 

[[2574]]

Oh no, my wife is a bigamist ?

I also receive hand signals from my wife when aboard sailing but rarely are they of a nautical meaning .........

 

[paulajayne]

We use the Sabre and are brilliant. Dingy to mothership circa 900 metres.

Not cheap but worth it.

 

[PhillM]

Telepathy. I talk to myself when single handed. Does that count?

 

[Mark-1]

Why is the minimum age for Marine Radio Short Range Certificate SRC 16 years?


Those ^^^^^^^^^^^.

Cheap, waterproof and float if you drop them in.