We had a permanent installation on the houseboat, really pretty simple, similar to a CB in a car. +12 v., -12v., and an 8' Shakespeare fiberglass antenna. I carry a handheld on the boat and on the ski's, with the cel. reception improving at the lake the VHF radios are becoming obsolete. Still good to have one in an emergency.
We had a permanent installation on the houseboat, really pretty simple, similar to a CB in a car. +12 v., -12v., and an 8' Shakespeare fiberglass antenna. I carry a handheld on the boat and on the ski's, with the cel. reception improving at the lake the VHF radios are becoming obsolete. Still good to have one in an emergency.
lol I`ve had them before on other boats, just lately carried a handheld when we were into the ski scene.
Plenty of boaters on the radio here, and plenty of water to get into serious trouble if something should occur.
we are charting new waters and some of these area are wide enough to not see the shoreline.
I`ve always had Standard Horizon for fixed unit and also carry Standard Horizon handheld. All or most are DSC capable now and I can tie the VHF into the Lowrance GPS for immediate report position. This would also be good to communicate with my truck at the shore line if need be...
with family being in the AUX CG, Power Squadron, and having Piloting and captains licenses I`ve always carried way more than necc on any ski, the Retired Com. always got a kick of what I stored in the ski`s... hahahahaha
so there are quite a few good units out there, ICOM, Standard Horizon, Uniden and Cobra for affordable radio`s, I`m looking at a Cobra Combo, not to cheap and not to pricey, but works well past the 10-15 mile range...
the only flat spot to mount the antennae, which isn`t to bad bc it is away from the radio. in the down position the ant mast rests on the green cushion.
The ant cable runs under the floor and up into the starboard storage area and out from the vent under the helm and to the radio. There is also a NMEA patch cord to the GPS for the VHF to show location coordinates.
also added in a Blue Sea fuse box power up the Depth gauge, Lowrance GPS, Volt gauge, and the Cobra VHF radio