VHF vs CellPhones, etc.
I use all three -- cell phone, fixed VHF, and handheld VHF. Each are appropriate for specific usage, and each are complementary as alternate & redundant communications. Further, that "specific usage" is a key factor for safety, as the *primary reason* for a VHF radio is safety at sea and collision avoidance.As to frequency of usage, that's really not the point -- I have never used my PFDs, but I still carry them & test them to make sure they will do their job! The occasional call to the marina, water taxi, or another boat serves as an effective transmitter check; listening to channel 16 traffic (required) is an effective test of the receiver.To sum it up quite simply,a. Cell Phones are great on coastal cruises for calling home, marinas, ordering pizza, etc. However, they are private and therefore a very poor substitute for use during distress situations. b. A cell phone is a point-to-point, private device. If the dialed party isn't answering, nobody else will. Further, if you call 911 or the local USCG, etc. they have no efficient way to trace your call to locate you to anything other than a cell-zone.c. A VHF radio is a public broadcast device, so in an emergency many will be capable of hearing/responding. Further, the USCG routinely uses radio direction finding on a distress signal to help locate the source. On the other hand, there is no such thing as a private conversation.d. A fixed VHF installation generally has the added power (5 & 25 watts), antenna height, and selectivity/filtering to get the needed range of coverage. That house battery will keep it working for a very long time, too.e. A handheld VHF has limited power (1 & 5 watts), (often) sensitivity & selectivity, and battery life (as others pointed out). The attached stub antenna doesn't have the height or efficiency that a mast-top unit does (much of the power is radiated into your head, too). I have had both handheld and fixed radios operate side-by-side, and the handheld misses much of the traffic (including USCG PAN-PAN & SECURITY calls) unless it's very local.--RonD