Will a waterproof handheld *actually work* for a person in the water?

shmoo

shmoo

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Consider this scenario: I am in the water. My lifejacket is keeping me afloat. There is a modest sea running, let’s say 1 meter waves. I fish my handheld out of the pocket in my foul wx jacket and use it to call.

Will it actually work? I mean usefully work? It is soaking wet and only 100mm above the water (if I am lucky). What about the effect of splashing water on antenna tuning? What sort of range can I expect? Will I “come and go” from crest to trough.
 
We responded to a Mayday in the Solent last Nov. A small MoBo was swamped and the two crew had gone in the water. One had a handheld VHF and used that to broadcast a Mayday. The incident was written up in PBO by another yacht which reached the scene first.

It was choppy enough to have swamped their boat. We were recording F6 against the ebb shortly beforehand.

We'd seen a poorly working parachute flare just before, which is why we were monitoring the radio carefully, but it seemed to be much further away. From the PBO article it seemed that the other yacht had also noticed something amiss, but it was the Mayday broadcast on the VHF that really stirred things into action.
 
Re: Will a waterproof handheld *actually work* for a person in the wa

Thanks JCP, that's worth knowing. Didn't want to replace perfectly serviceable but non-waterproof handhelds unless it was worth doing.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I can highly recommend the I-Com M33 hand held VHF, fantastic bit of kit!

I understand that they are for sale at www.sailroom.com.

regards

Al.

[/ QUOTE ]Available from www.sailroom.co.uk /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
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hammer.thumb.gif
"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"
sailroom <span style="color:red">The place to auction your previously loved boatie bits</span>
 
Noticed and changed prior to your post! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Quick on the draw Cliff!!!!!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Re the range as a complete non expert I wouldnt expect more than a mile or two range in those conditions.There are so many variables that you could get less or more on a good day.

Where it could really score would be if you could talk a searching lifeboat to your position.They would not see you swimming from even half a mile away but you could guide them to you.

Im sure someone will say why not buy a personal epirb or whatever at least the VHF is usefull in non emergencies as well.
 
Re: Will a waterproof handheld *actually work* for a person in the wa

waterproof bags appeal to the wallet. I guess the same question applies: do they work? Are they really waterproof? do they let speaking through?
 
Re: Will a waterproof handheld *actually work* for a person in the wa

As long as water is not washing over the ariel then a handheld will put out power into the ether. The range, as you will recall from your vhf training course, will then be limited to the height of the receiver and the presence of any intervening obstacles.

I know it's not quite the same scenario, but I know that a vhf beacon on a small floating buoy can be picked up by rdf on a ship ten miles away. I presume that most lifeboats have vhf direction finding equipment, which would make a waterproof handheld very useful, as long as you remembered to pick it up before you fell overboard.
 
Re: Will a waterproof handheld *actually work* for a person in the wa

This is one of the reasons I got the Uniden HH waterproof VHF radio with built in GPS
 
Re: Will a waterproof handheld *actually work* for a person in the wa

We keep our hand held permanently installed in a waterproof bag (Aquapak?). The radio is very usable although a little more care is required in locating/pressing buttons. I tried the pack -sans radio- in a full sink and it kept out the wet stuff.
 
Re: Will a waterproof handheld *actually work* for a person in the wa

standard horizon HX270 is currently about £85 and fully waterproof - not too expensive
 
Re: Will a waterproof handheld *actually work* for a person in the wa

I have had my ICOM Euro MV thingy waterproof handheld for over 6 years and has been rained on, bounced around the cockpit, salt sprayed on, dropped, and rinsed under the tap. Still has good battery capacity and is used every time I go sailing to lock out/in of marina. Will buy another - one day!!
 
Re: Will a waterproof handheld *actually work* for a person in the wa

+GPS
and to extend this thread to something I am thinking about ... would it help to have a handheld GPS in this situation? You could give your location over the vhf as part of a mayday (and having the 2 hand held devices would provide back up to the 2 on the boat)? <span style="color:red"> </span> <span style="color:red"> </span> <span style="color:red"> </span>
 
Yes, you can probably call a boat with a fixed set 3 or 4 miles away if they are a sportsboat with aerial at near water level. More if they have aerial on top of flybridge or mast. Even further if trying to contact coastguard and anywhere near one of their land based sensitive aerials.

I've tried going into the water to test this, but only with a boat with aerial a few feet above water

http://www.rib.net/forum/showthread.php?t=5947&page=5

I did use a very good waterproof handheld though. Icom Euro thingy
 
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