Handheld VHF recommendations please.

[Whitelighter]

Looking to get a pair of handheld VHF radios for use with the tender and or deck work plus as back up to the main boat set.

Seen some for as low as £70 brand new from a make I've never heard of up to Raymarine sets for over £250.

Does anyone have a good set they can recommend at a sensible price.

 

[julians]

I've got an entel 644 that I've had for 9 years now, and its still working fine. I have no idea how well their current product range compare to the competition these days, but in terms of reliability its been good. It hasnt been treated particularly carefully in those 9 years either, being thrown and bashed about,left in the bottom of wet dinghys , etc.

Being 9 years old the battery started to fail and not hold charge a few years ago, I thought that might be the end of the radio as I feared I may not be able to get a replacement, but I contacted entel and they supplied one without problem.

 

[rafiki_]

I have a £50 cheapo special from Force 4. Cobra I think. We use it on the tender and boat to boat when travelling in convoy, leaving the main radio on C16. Friends have the same, and all happy.

 

[matm]

Bought an Icom IC-M91D recently to replace a standard horizon that died after 5 years. It's got GPS, DSC and floats etc. Very nice piece of kit. Not particularly cheap but nice to use.

http://www.icomuk.co.uk/IC-M91D/Handheld_VHF_Marine_Radio

You mention "deck work" too - if that's short range peer to peer type stuff then we use a couple of Doro radios. Rechargeable and good quality.

https://www.handset-solutions.com/d...UQL3Vo3mkUlhGwkSr6p2HzeokbXEvM0MjAaAqxJ8P8HAQ

 

[wipe_out]

I've had the Standard Horizon HX 300 for a couple of years and have had no issues with it.. I like the fact it floats so won't disappear when dropped accidentally..

http://www.standardhorizon.com/inde...2D73B595AEF72D309F2&DivisionID=3&isArchived=0

 

[Pinnacle]

Standard Horizon HX300e. £99 at JGtech in Weymouth.

 

[Andy Bav]

+1 for Cobra as backup

 

[Prhperio]

Bought an Icom IC-M91D recently to replace a standard horizon that died after 5 years. It's got GPS, DSC and floats etc. Very nice piece of kit. Not particularly cheap but nice to use.

http://www.icomuk.co.uk/IC-M91D/Handheld_VHF_Marine_Radio



You mention "deck work" too - if that's short range peer to peer type stuff then we use a couple of Doro radios. Rechargeable and good quality.

https://www.handset-solutions.com/d...UQL3Vo3mkUlhGwkSr6p2HzeokbXEvM0MjAaAqxJ8P8HAQ

+1 for the iCom

 

[stuartwineberg]

I have a £50 cheapo special from Force 4. Cobra I think. We use it on the tender and boat to boat when travelling in convoy, leaving the main radio on C16. Friends have the same, and all happy.

+1 for cobra - waterproof, lithium battery, floats, bright orange, great signal clarity and it even has a Bluetooth link so you can answer your mobile if you get a call

 

[oncewaswafu]

Agree with Cobra. I have the same on and it's great. Fantastic battery life, good range on transmit too.

 

[rbcoomer]

I also went with the floating bluetooth Cobra - HH500 (around £140 I think). Not used the hand held that much as yet but I have used their radios and fixed VHF previously and have proved reliable with good range.

 

[brainstorm]

Anything with Icom on the front if you want reliabilty

 

[Hurricane]

Our main Simrad fixed set failed last year so wo got our "old faithfull" Standard Horizon out and ran the rest of tge season on that.
So at SIBS, we bought a pair of new Standard Horizon
Not sure what the model number is but we bought the DSC handheld ones.
The weren't that costly - about £160 ish each
Not disapointed - quality kit.
I've used the cheap ones znd they are ok but if you are expecting a few years out of them, why not spend anothe £80 and get the best.

 

[aquapower]

I've got two Standard Horizon, can't fault them, oldest one is now almost 8 tears old and battery still holds charge, most rechargeable batteries now just don't last.

 

[ICTM]

Another vote for Standard Horizon, we have the DSC version and it has been faultless over the past 18 months.