Waterproof Handheld VHF

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Sailfree

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My Ental VHF battery has given up the ghost - guess its about 5 yrs old.

Anyone know whether Ental will service unit or is it a case of replacement.

If I replace any recommendations for Waterproof VHF?
 
I guess you have an Entel HT640, in which case you should just be able to get a replacement battery for it from Entel.

If you can't get a battery, consider buying a Standard Horizon handheld.
 
Monique said:
Standard Horizon 851... floats and includes AIS/DSC.
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+2 Standard Horizon. Ours lives outside in the cockpit almost all the time. Nearly 4 years use, works fine. Dinghy sailing club now uses waterproof handheld VHF - non floaty versions, but the same SH quality.
If you can get a battery - do that first..
 
Thanks for advice.

I bought waterproof Entel after Ouzo incident.

It has been abused eg left in garage for long periods without use. Conversly my Icom handheld which is left on the charter boat has been regularly used/abused for 10yrs and is still holding a charge.

I will try another Entel battery as cheapest option but if I replace it I will favour an Icom.
 
I regard the HH as safety equipment and always go with Icom although Standard Horizon seem to be as good nowdays.
Avoid aftermarket battery packs if you go that route.
 
For others info battery is Entel CNB 640E and is discontinued.

Appreciate that products develop but lack of replacement batteries means Entel is definitely off my buying list!!

Will look at ICOM.

Anyone away of any special deals or a reason to buy the ICM35 over the ICM23?
 
I am not sure.

ICOM I have one on boat that is still OK after 10 yrs. Just want a waterproof one.

I have a PLB on lifejacket do I need DSC on handheld? Frankly DSC is a pain on the fixed VHF as I have to go below to cancel emergency signal for standard info from Jobourg traffic!

DSC & GPS must shorten battery life?

Any opinions?
 
Sailfree said:
I have a PLB on lifejacket do I need DSC on handheld?
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It sounds like I'm more of a technophile than you, and I don't have any great desire for DSC on a handheld. I reckon it makes sense for smaller boats that use a handheld as their main radio, but not for an auxiliary on a larger yacht.

Then again, I didn't have a handheld on Kindred Spirit, and the one I sometimes carry on Ariam is not considered part of the boat's gear either - I originally bought it to use on my mate's series of varyingly decrepit motorboats and it's registered on its own T-number. I've never used it when sailing, and can't think of many scenarios where I would. So I definitely don't expect to need DSC on it.

Out of curiosity, what do people use their handhelds for? The two classic cases used to be calling marinas and locks from the helm and crew going ashore with the dinghy - but remote handsets and mobile phones have that covered nowadays.

Pete
 
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We had two Standard Horizon batteries replaced recently which were above 5 years old. Much better than buying new. We sent them to the Retailer we bought them from and they got it organised.

Have a look at the ICOM waterproof /floating VHF I've always wanted that one.

Edit: DSC TALK : I also have eyed up the GMDSS radio hand held from crew saver but I'm not in the RNLI so decided to say no to that expense.
 
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Another vote for the SH 850. Use it in the dinghy for fishing amount the rocks, in the. Mirror dinghy when out by myself (one day the kids will come), and I give it to the girls when in the dinghy by themselves around the harbour/marina. With the limited range of a HH I feel having the disc button very useful. Also having a SH on the boat I should be able to poll the HH and find out where they are but have yet to figure this out. The only problem creeping in is the small size of all the extra data and my ageing need for a pair of glasses !
 
prv said:
Out of curiosity, what do people use their handhelds for? The two classic cases used to be calling marinas and locks from the helm and crew going ashore with the dinghy - but remote handsets and mobile phones have that covered nowadays.

Pete
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Communicate with the crew in the Rib sounding around the boat in a tight anchorage.

And in case of Abandon ship
 
david_bagshaw said:
Communicate with the crew in the Rib sounding around the boat in a tight anchorage.

And in case of Abandon ship
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Thanks.

For liferaft use, I have a separate radio in the grab bag that takes AA batteries, and a sealed pack of two dozen batteries for the radio, GPS, strobe, and torches. So I think I'm covered on that score.

Surveying the anchorage in the dinghy is a little outside our cruising repertoire. Obviously it's easier if you have a RIB which I assume is easier to launch than our inflatable in the locker. If it's shallow then I do sound out our likely swinging area with the boat itself, but that's as far as it normally goes.

Pete
 
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