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After some investigation, I narrowed the finalists down to:
Icom M1V approx $289.99
Standard (Horizon) HX350S approx$249.99
Raytheon 102 approx $229.99
I discarded other models of those brands, Hummingbird, Uniden and some others, for various reasons, such as water resistance problems, poor testimonials, ease of use, reputation and poor demos. The West Marine guys were EXTREMELY patient with this kayaking nerd-- thank you.
Several units were not working or not on display, so I had to persuade them to unpack new units, install batteries, etc.
I also had to peruse manuals, because the display cards were stingy on useful info. I'll admit it, I'm an ICOM bigot. I have owned an ICM-15, 125 and 127-- all performed flawlessly while I had them. For shipboard and shore use, I would have used an ICOM, but for kayaking use, there were different considerations.
All the contenders had similar features- Long battery life (varied), battery level indicator, 3 year warranty, small, alkaline AA backup systems (except the ICOM) , multiple channel monitoring, memory, quick Ch 16 access, speaker/microphone socket (devices optional), lights (lack of lighted buttons was a problem though), 1-5 watts, around 53 channels and ample weather channels.
The finalists have all button controls EXCEPT on/off/volume and squelch, which are knobs. This makes them a little hard to control with gloves on, while you're trying to use the little finger tube in a standard "Aqua-Safe" type waterproof pouch.
The ICOM was especially hard to handle that way, for two reasons: 1)- The on/Volume switch and squelch are concentric (on the same axis) with the squelch on the outside and the volume a thin stalk rising up from the inside, so the squelch is very difficult to control in a pouch, with gloves on. 2)- Another mundane problem: The antenna is on the right, and so is the finger pouch, so it is necessary to reach past the antenna to get to the switches-- good luck, I'm not that agile myself. In all other ease-of-use aspects, the ICOM was tops.
The Raytheon and ICOM units I tested had the best sound and, I thought, slightly better reception. I tested transmission at 1 watt-- line of sight in the mall parking lot, the West Marine guy eying me uneasily in case I tried to make a run for it with the goods, not a great simulation of reality. All worked fine. Will do a sea trial this week with the winning entry.
All the finalists were very compact, the ICOM the most so. The
ICOM and Raytheon had what appeared to be the best crafted cases. I
did not disassemble
the units and look at the innards. Even West Marine's accommodation
has limits. Maybe I should have claimed to be an official CKF/SBKA tester.
None of the units tested had intuitive controls for scanning (multiple
channel monitoring). I was forced to read the manuals (imagine that)
to fathom their operation. Then it was easy. Other special functions
are very obscure. It is possible to make settings accidentally while
just playing with the unit, so make sure that you know how to reset/change
options.
The Standard HX350S had the best sealed battery compartment and
largest (huge) display. I was strongly influenced by some club members
who highly
rated the Standard HX350S performance, durability and water resistance/immersion
capabilities (vendors NEVER call it waterproof. I, for example, am
water-resistant, but definitely not waterPROOF, as fellow roll class
students last night
would attest to.)
I have seen that the Standard brand is selected increasingly by serious
yachtsmen (another avocation of mine), although ICOM is still our Gold
Standard.
So, I bought the Standard HX350S. This investigation was not comprehensive and scientific. I just wanted to ensure that I acquired a VHF that will do the job. It was a tough choice, because the finalists were all usable and all had flaws. I'm sure everyone will not agree with me, so I humbly submit this report to provide additional input to others' future decisions.
I respect the different choices that other members made, for economic reasons or different use requirements than I have. I ASSUME that the VHF and I WILL get wet. I know that it is a very important appliance that can help save lives and afford convenience and one which I will nearly always bring with me on the water and have ready for use.
Other notes: The Garmin unit was the most user friendly, but I was leery that they haven't yet established a VHF reputation and they had the same cheap type of casing as their hundred dollar GPS line. Enhanced future units may become future contenders. The West Marine "Santana II" and Shakespeare SE700 (especially the claimed 18 hr. battery life) units looked pretty good also, but time was too short to continue the evaluation. Paying clients were beckoning enticingly and I needed to finance my latest yakking madness acquisition.
Additional Comments:
Forget about freezer bags. Trust me, they are DEFINITELY NOT watertight.
Spend 20 bucks at West Marine or a kayaking store and buy a dry bag
especially designed for marine electronics. They have a rollover
seal, clear view
side, room for the antenna and a tube for finger control of on-off,
volume. I have never had a problem, although others have complained
that the
seals wear out. I also keep my cell phone and GPS in similar bags.
It's cheap insurance.
George Miller
In my opinion there is no such thing as a water proof VHF. The submersion
tests subject the radios to less water pressure than what you get when
a wave breaks on you or you get trashed in the surf. If you are rolling
a closed deck boat, that also will put increased water pressure (same
as deeper) on the radio. I have seen submersible radios not work until
they dry out after someone got trounced by a wave. Seems to me that's
when you might need the radio- not after it's dry. The radio I carry
is only rated as water resistant and not submersible. I paid about
$100 for it plus another 20 for a dry bag for it.
Steve Holtman
I have been
very happy with my Raytheon 102. My selection criteria were that the
radio should have both rechargeable and alkaline battery options
as it's hard to find an outlet on Santa Cruz Island and that the radio
should meet the JIS-7 criteria for submergibility... Note that this
is a pretty wimpy standard and does not mimic the force of waves smashing
into an unprotected radio. Submersible to JIS-7 standard states that
the radio must withstand at least 30 minute of submersion at a depth
of one meter.
Note that you have to screw down the alkaline tray pretty tight or the 102 will operate intermittently. I also wanted a radio small enough to keep on my vest as a safety precaution in case I get separated from the yak. I have had no problems with the 102 radio in the side pocket of my Lotus L'Ocean vest without a secondary case.. though I would use one if the radio was on deck unprotected. I can't disagree with Steve that no radio is completely waterproof.... I don't practice rolls wearing the radio, though it has been dunked, and I rinse it off in fresh water after every paddle. I like the options of 1- 3-5 watts transmit power so you can save juice if you're just using to talk to another paddler close by.
All of these radios should have NOAA weather channel capability.
