Recommend A Cheap Hand Held GPS!

[Zagato]

I mean VHF Radio. I have a fixed VHF but wanted a cheap hand held also because it's not always easy using a fixed VHF above the chart table when you are single handed! I will be doing quite a few rallies so a VHF you can respond to quickly is handy. My fixed VHF is an Icom and I think it is linked to the speakers (can't seem to get it working )

I see some use ordinary batteries and other mobile phone batteries - does that mean when the mobile phone type batterry dies you have to throw it away (it won't get used that much). Looking around the £100 mark, what features should I look out for.

Icom IC-M23 £120

http://www.cactusnav.com/icom-icm23-waterprooffloating-handheld-p-11803.html

 

[pvb]

You need to look for a lithium ion battery (which most handhelds now have). You need the radio to be waterproof, and ideally able to float. It can be useful to have one which offers the option of a battery tray for alkaline batteries, although the standard batteries are excellent. For convenience, it's great to have a 12v charger lead, so you can just recharge from your boat battery.

You won't go far wrong with a Standard Horizon 290E for £109 including a 12v charger lead from JG Tech ( http://www.jgtech.com/shop3page2.htm ). The Icom M23 you linked to is similarly specified, but I think you'll have to pay Cactus another £20 to get a 12v charger lead for it, making it £30 more expensive than the 290E. Or, spend another tenner and get a Standard Horizon 300E, which has a bigger battery and a USB charging facility, again JG Tech offer it for £119 with a 12v charging lead.

 

[monkfish24]

I just bought an M23 on Saturday, full of features and i like that is failry small, I don;t have big hands and sometimes find that some vhf's are a little bit of a pain to use whne your hands are cold.

Overall very happy!

 

[Zagato]

Thanks for the pointers, I'll compare the specs on them

Shame they don't do a combined PLB/VHF. It just means something else to carry around!

 

[Wunja]

Another option to consider, is a remote handset for your fixed VHF if it supports it. Gives greater range and no issue with batteries.