Best Marine VHF handheld radio for dinghy sailing
Discussion
Hi all,
I’m getting ready for the sailing season kicking off and I need a new radio. I am sailing dinghies (cats and single hulls), so getting wet fairly often and as I single hand, may need rescuing every now and again.
I need something that can attach to my buoyancy aid and doesn’t get in the way too much as I am sailing.
Any recommendations from you dinghy sailors out there please?
I’m getting ready for the sailing season kicking off and I need a new radio. I am sailing dinghies (cats and single hulls), so getting wet fairly often and as I single hand, may need rescuing every now and again.
I need something that can attach to my buoyancy aid and doesn’t get in the way too much as I am sailing.
Any recommendations from you dinghy sailors out there please?
Our club gives VHF radios a pretty hard time, and having tried nearly all makes, we find Icom the most reliable.
However, range of a handheld from in the water next to a capsized boat is not great unless you have 'line of sight' to a decent aerial where someone is listening for your call. I wouldn't go out there thinking 'I can always get rescued, because I've got a VHF'.
Depending on when and where you are sailing a good mobile phone in a waterproof pouch may be more use. but I wouldn't rely too much on that either.
However, range of a handheld from in the water next to a capsized boat is not great unless you have 'line of sight' to a decent aerial where someone is listening for your call. I wouldn't go out there thinking 'I can always get rescued, because I've got a VHF'.
Depending on when and where you are sailing a good mobile phone in a waterproof pouch may be more use. but I wouldn't rely too much on that either.
tracer.smart said:
Thanks for all of your responses, very helpful.
The ICOM M37 looks great, but significantly pricier than the M25.
If I am mainly sailing inshore, would the M25 cut it?
What do you mean by 'mainly inshore'?The ICOM M37 looks great, but significantly pricier than the M25.
If I am mainly sailing inshore, would the M25 cut it?
If you are e.g. close in to the cliffs and headlands around Devon, there are tons of places where you won't have anyone answer your call.
If you're venturing a few miles out, you may be out of range, unless you're in coverage of Coastguard or NCI stations.
If you mean inland or in-harbour, estuaries etc, there are tons of dead spots and nobody much listening.
These things work well between a group of boats within a mile or two of one another, or to a nearby shore station.
You need to do a course and have a license for these things, the course should inform you of their limitations.
As for the Icom M25, no experience of that exact model. The USB charging sounds good, nice to be able to use any USB source, although charging contacts are a major weakness of marine VHFs, even the best corrode if you don't wash the salt off and dry before charging.
OutInTheShed said:
What do you mean by 'mainly inshore'?
If you are e.g. close in to the cliffs and headlands around Devon, there are tons of places where you won't have anyone answer your call.
If you're venturing a few miles out, you may be out of range, unless you're in coverage of Coastguard or NCI stations.
If you mean inland or in-harbour, estuaries etc, there are tons of dead spots and nobody much listening.
These things work well between a group of boats within a mile or two of one another, or to a nearby shore station.
You need to do a course and have a license for these things, the course should inform you of their limitations.
As for the Icom M25, no experience of that exact model. The USB charging sounds good, nice to be able to use any USB source, although charging contacts are a major weakness of marine VHFs, even the best corrode if you don't wash the salt off and dry before charging.
If you are out alone and sailing in radio dead spots, consider also a PLB which can clip on your buoyancy aid.If you are e.g. close in to the cliffs and headlands around Devon, there are tons of places where you won't have anyone answer your call.
If you're venturing a few miles out, you may be out of range, unless you're in coverage of Coastguard or NCI stations.
If you mean inland or in-harbour, estuaries etc, there are tons of dead spots and nobody much listening.
These things work well between a group of boats within a mile or two of one another, or to a nearby shore station.
You need to do a course and have a license for these things, the course should inform you of their limitations.
As for the Icom M25, no experience of that exact model. The USB charging sounds good, nice to be able to use any USB source, although charging contacts are a major weakness of marine VHFs, even the best corrode if you don't wash the salt off and dry before charging.
Dinghy and yacht sailor here. My handheld VHF is a Cobra HH600, it floats, has DSC and GPS, and will bluetooth to a phone. It's a cheaper option but for me it works fine, although obviously my boat also has a fixed VHF at the nav station. I know ICOM have a good reputation, however the only ICOM I have owned went through two aerials, and had to go back to ICOM for a repair to the squelch control.
As an aside, what do you mean by "may need rescuing every now and again". Not trying to get too soap-boxy, but if you are out singlehanding a dinghy, you really need to be capable of self-rescue, and ideally sailing with a "buddy" boat if you are away from the busier, more visible and sheltered areas. The VHF airwaves constantly seem to be full of paddleboarders blown downwind, jetskis out of fuel, yachties with engine problems who can't seem to anchor and fix even basic problems, or even just sail instead. When a call to the CG will probably result in people downing tools at work as their pagers go off, sprinting to the lifeboat station, and hammering out to a location at a cost of thousands of pounds, people really need to be thinking "may need rescuing in an incredibly rare situation or dire emergency/injury" rather than "every now and again".
Back on topic you will also need to have a VHF license and register the set with OFCOM. Good luck!
As an aside, what do you mean by "may need rescuing every now and again". Not trying to get too soap-boxy, but if you are out singlehanding a dinghy, you really need to be capable of self-rescue, and ideally sailing with a "buddy" boat if you are away from the busier, more visible and sheltered areas. The VHF airwaves constantly seem to be full of paddleboarders blown downwind, jetskis out of fuel, yachties with engine problems who can't seem to anchor and fix even basic problems, or even just sail instead. When a call to the CG will probably result in people downing tools at work as their pagers go off, sprinting to the lifeboat station, and hammering out to a location at a cost of thousands of pounds, people really need to be thinking "may need rescuing in an incredibly rare situation or dire emergency/injury" rather than "every now and again".
Back on topic you will also need to have a VHF license and register the set with OFCOM. Good luck!
HocusPocus said:
If you are out alone and sailing in radio dead spots, consider also a PLB which can clip on your buoyancy aid.
PLBs are great in some circumstances, but you need to understand they are part of the SARSAT system, which is more about ships and ocean rescues.The whole system just isn't about the kind of quick response an inshore sailor will be hoping for.
People could also consider AIS based beacons (which might be combined with a 406MHz PLB) or a DSC radio which can send an alert to any nearby vessels with compatible kit.
But really, if you are out 'alone', you should face the fact that you are on your own and need to look after yourself.
I volunteer for the RNLI, all our hand held radios are icom, they get very wet and used regularly and seem pretty reliable.
PLB's are never a bad idea, it will get you found if you find yourself in a tricky situation, but as above they generally won't be a quick response to pick you up if you're inshore, for that youl want to get the coastguard on 16.
If you're getting blown offshore though a PLB is the best and easiest way of getting yourself found, but doesn't really replace a radio. It will give us an an initial location for you, then we can pick up the signal from it to narrow down your position.
PLB's are never a bad idea, it will get you found if you find yourself in a tricky situation, but as above they generally won't be a quick response to pick you up if you're inshore, for that youl want to get the coastguard on 16.
If you're getting blown offshore though a PLB is the best and easiest way of getting yourself found, but doesn't really replace a radio. It will give us an an initial location for you, then we can pick up the signal from it to narrow down your position.
We have a Standard Horizon Handheld - HX300, it's decent for the money (cheaper than Icom) and can't complain. No DSC though.
We also have a cheapie on off amazon which my partner bought for paddleboarding. Drawback is that it does not have the M channels, but no such an issue in a dinghy or paddleboard. I think it was less than £50.
We also have a cheapie on off amazon which my partner bought for paddleboarding. Drawback is that it does not have the M channels, but no such an issue in a dinghy or paddleboard. I think it was less than £50.
D1bram said:
We have a Standard Horizon Handheld - HX300, it's decent for the money (cheaper than Icom) and can't complain. No DSC though.
We also have a cheapie on off amazon which my partner bought for paddleboarding. Drawback is that it does not have the M channels, but no such an issue in a dinghy or paddleboard. I think it was less than £50.
Channel M is actually pretty useful for a dinghy sailor.We also have a cheapie on off amazon which my partner bought for paddleboarding. Drawback is that it does not have the M channels, but no such an issue in a dinghy or paddleboard. I think it was less than £50.
Most race management is on M, because it's the channel they allow shore stations licenses for.
So that's the channel our safety boats are on, and where the clubhouse with its big aerial up high has a decent view of the water.
You may have it, as '37'.
But your Amazon cheapies may also be on the US channel map which is different. Some sets can be switched from 'US' to 'International'.
US sets won't be typed approved in UK/EU. Cheap non-approved sets can get you in trouble.
Standard Horizon would be my second choice, based on survival times in club use.
Really great knowledge being shared, thank you all for posting back.
I should qualify my earlier statement on needing rescue as I realise I unintentionally sounded reckless. I sail with a club on an estuary on the East Coast, so maximum distance is probably 5 miles from an inshore club station, and from the safety rib which is operating every weekend during season and covers pretty much every support scenario I can think of. I speak to those members on duty before going out, and tell them where I am heading. If I am taking my young kids out, which is occasional, I generally try to stay in sight of the club station for obvious reasons, but the radio will give me more confidence I can call in the rib if one of the kids drifts away in a capsize situation. Generally though my philosophy is to look after myself and the kids if they are with me without assistance, but I’d really like the extra confidence having a radio with me will bring. Righting a 17” cat can be tricky and if it happens more than a couple of times exhausting.
PLB is also a good tip - wasn’t aware of these, but agree these look more for open water / ocean / sea than my situation.
I will do the training course as suggested to get my license before the season starts - looks like good online options for these which is great.
Will have a look at the Standard Horizon as well as Icom. Interesting warning on suitability of cheap sets - AliExpress offers the Icom M37 at over £100 cheaper than UK sellers.
I should qualify my earlier statement on needing rescue as I realise I unintentionally sounded reckless. I sail with a club on an estuary on the East Coast, so maximum distance is probably 5 miles from an inshore club station, and from the safety rib which is operating every weekend during season and covers pretty much every support scenario I can think of. I speak to those members on duty before going out, and tell them where I am heading. If I am taking my young kids out, which is occasional, I generally try to stay in sight of the club station for obvious reasons, but the radio will give me more confidence I can call in the rib if one of the kids drifts away in a capsize situation. Generally though my philosophy is to look after myself and the kids if they are with me without assistance, but I’d really like the extra confidence having a radio with me will bring. Righting a 17” cat can be tricky and if it happens more than a couple of times exhausting.
PLB is also a good tip - wasn’t aware of these, but agree these look more for open water / ocean / sea than my situation.
I will do the training course as suggested to get my license before the season starts - looks like good online options for these which is great.
Will have a look at the Standard Horizon as well as Icom. Interesting warning on suitability of cheap sets - AliExpress offers the Icom M37 at over £100 cheaper than UK sellers.
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