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Started By
Message
school me on marine radios for kayak fishing
Posted on 4/4/21 at 9:18 am
Posted on 4/4/21 at 9:18 am
Greetings OD Board.
I spend a lot of time saltwater kayak fishing, always inshore. I often take friends and family along with me.
We carry whistles for emergencies, but cell phones for contact are unreliable in the areas I fish, and I want to be able to reliably keep in touch.
I know nothing about marine radios. I am leaning towards purchasing 2 or 3 that are waterproof and float.
What models and features should I look for?
Thanks in advance...
edited to add.....I will be out of touch for most of the day doin family Easter stuff, so may not respond for a while, just don't want y'all thinking I am being rude
I spend a lot of time saltwater kayak fishing, always inshore. I often take friends and family along with me.
We carry whistles for emergencies, but cell phones for contact are unreliable in the areas I fish, and I want to be able to reliably keep in touch.
I know nothing about marine radios. I am leaning towards purchasing 2 or 3 that are waterproof and float.
What models and features should I look for?
Thanks in advance...
edited to add.....I will be out of touch for most of the day doin family Easter stuff, so may not respond for a while, just don't want y'all thinking I am being rude
This post was edited on 4/4/21 at 9:21 am
7
Posted on 4/4/21 at 9:36 am to scotty4lsu
What are the distances we're talking about here?
Posted on 4/4/21 at 9:48 am to scotty4lsu
I’d just get a garmin sos satellite pager
Works anywhere on earth, doesn’t require someone to be in range to hear you, be on the right channel, and respond to you or relay to USCG
Also only weighs a couple ounces vs a big radio
Also likely cheaper, depending on model
Also you can send text messages, some even hook up to your phone so it’s like normal texting.
Only downside is most of the feature packed ones have a monthly subscription to pay for satellite coverage. But I think the basic “sos only” models are a one time price.
Works anywhere on earth, doesn’t require someone to be in range to hear you, be on the right channel, and respond to you or relay to USCG
Also only weighs a couple ounces vs a big radio
Also likely cheaper, depending on model
Also you can send text messages, some even hook up to your phone so it’s like normal texting.
Only downside is most of the feature packed ones have a monthly subscription to pay for satellite coverage. But I think the basic “sos only” models are a one time price.
Posted on 4/4/21 at 9:57 am to scotty4lsu
You can buy a Baofeng hand held radio on Amazon and just program in marine frequencies. They’re relatively inexpensive and very reliable hand heads. I have two 8 watt radios that are quite powerful. You’ll have several miles range. They’re also very compact and very low weight. Not water proof so you would need to keep in a zip lock bag for safe keeping.
Posted on 4/4/21 at 10:03 am to scotty4lsu
I’d just get a handheld VHF radio from Academy or West Marine. Waterproof and floating are really the only 2 features I’d worry about. You don’t need something super expensive and fancy. Unless you’re mothershipping, you won’t ever really be stretching the range on a VHF from a kayak. Clip it to your PFD and remember Coast Guard is on channel 16
Posted on 4/4/21 at 1:03 pm to scotty4lsu
had a few over the years and hand helds are only going to work in clear line of sight
if thee is land between you and whoever might be listening you cant get much reception at all
cell phone is way better then any hand held VHF you can buy
if you have reception issues then switch carriers or get just a cheap prepaid phone that has reception in your area you fish
if you just want to keep in touch with others in your group then those small hunting walki talkies work great for that
if thee is land between you and whoever might be listening you cant get much reception at all
cell phone is way better then any hand held VHF you can buy
if you have reception issues then switch carriers or get just a cheap prepaid phone that has reception in your area you fish
if you just want to keep in touch with others in your group then those small hunting walki talkies work great for that
This post was edited on 4/4/21 at 1:08 pm
Posted on 4/5/21 at 9:30 am to scotty4lsu
Garmin InReach is something I've considered for a while. Don't know anybody that has one down here so I only know what they advertise about it. Seems awesome but the monthly subscription aspect kinda sucks if you're not using it often. Might get one before duck season for solo hunts.
Posted on 4/5/21 at 1:54 pm to scotty4lsu
quote:
I know nothing about marine radios. I am leaning towards purchasing 2 or 3 that are waterproof and float.
If you are getting this for emergency use consider getting one of the personal locator devices that will broadcast your position, and allow you to send messages out. Since it uses satelites for the service you are never out of range, most ocean kayakers use them.
LINK
Since you are interest in purchasing 2 or 3 radios I assume you are interested in communicating among the other boats in your group, for this I would consider FRS (family radio service) type radios in addition to the beacon, they are cheap even in waterproof versions.
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