I am restoring a Cat 22 for coastal cruising in Southern CA. The most extensve cruise could imagine taking would be from Dana Poit to Catalina Island and back (about 22 miles each way in opee the boat did not come with a VHF radio and I think it would be prudent for me to add one to the boat for safety. My two questions: 1. Is a handheld VHR radio adequate for my purpose or should I install a regular radio with a mast-mounted antenna? 2. What is a good quality/economical radio others would recommend (either handheld or fixed-installation)? Thank you for your advice on this topic. Steve in O.C.
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radio
Both my hand-held and fixed radios are Standard Horizon. Good radios! My hand-held has a rechargeable battery and an adapter so that AA batteries can be used. I like this feature, because batteries do run down. Another thought is that it is harder to drop a fixed radio over board.
Both my hand-held and fixed radios are Standard Horizon. Good radios! My hand-held has a rechargeable battery and an adapter so that AA batteries can be used. I like this feature, because batteries do run down. Another thought is that it is harder to drop a fixed radio over board.
West Marine's radios work just fine
and are less expensive. All you need is their basic radio. One trick is to install a footloop, a small stainless steel handle made of bent rod with loops for screws at the ends. Put one somewhere in your cockpit and you'll be able to hang the clip of the handheld onto it. Any other fastening device will do, so that you have somewhere solid to put the radio and it won't fly around. You could also figure out the difference in the distance your signal would go between deck level and masthead, look in Chapman's to figure that out. WM ADvisors most likely have that info, too, since line of sight is a common nautical calculation. Given your destination, you only need 11 miles of signal travel worst case.
and are less expensive. All you need is their basic radio. One trick is to install a footloop, a small stainless steel handle made of bent rod with loops for screws at the ends. Put one somewhere in your cockpit and you'll be able to hang the clip of the handheld onto it. Any other fastening device will do, so that you have somewhere solid to put the radio and it won't fly around. You could also figure out the difference in the distance your signal would go between deck level and masthead, look in Chapman's to figure that out. WM ADvisors most likely have that info, too, since line of sight is a common nautical calculation. Given your destination, you only need 11 miles of signal travel worst case.
DP to Catalina
Steve: A hand held VHF will do the job. Make sure you have spare batteries. It would be prident to pick up a GPS also. Catalina is farther than 22 miles from DP. Make sure you know the location of the shipping lanes when you cross. Good luck.
Steve: A hand held VHF will do the job. Make sure you have spare batteries. It would be prident to pick up a GPS also. Catalina is farther than 22 miles from DP. Make sure you know the location of the shipping lanes when you cross. Good luck.
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