VHF recommendations

[Bass_Appeal]

So bass appeal had some older units on it , icom m126 ,Magellan nav 6500 I put a lowrance hds unit on 2 seasons ago and got rid of the magellan . Now I got rid of the icom unit and looking to get another unit. Looking to spend between 2-300 any info or recommendations would help I kinda like the lowrance link8 but am I better off with something else different brand ect I need a unit that will work well if I travel offshore

[dfish28]

Icom is very good quality and reliable... That's all I have used so I cant really compare , just tell you what I know, and I am very picky on what I have picked, next ill be looking into a unit that recieves AIS at the least if not broadcast as well: in my eyes this should have been mandated already...

[Capt. Debbie]

BA

Thge ICOM 412 about $200 is a great waterproof radio I have had for 3 years. ICOM Is king on quality radios. The other guys like Lowrance never made radios and started dabbling. Probably fine. But why bother finding out if they are as good as real radio manufacturers? I have a Lowrance FF, does not mean I would buy their GPS/Plotter over Garmin.

That AIS (recieve only) and GPS integration is a $400 radio. I think Horizon/ Standard makes it. Gimmicky stuff of little value for the extra couple $100's.

Wanna upgrade... get the highest gain antenna you can find (about $180). Way more bang for the buck there than a tricked out radio with a tiny display telling you commercial vessels name, speed and courses. I guess if you're bored fishing that can be interesting- right? LMAO

[dfish28]

Capt. Frank, So for a high gain antenna what would you recommend?

I was looking at the mariner 8900

[Capt. Debbie]

Check the gain specs. They all physically look the same. Shakespeare is the big dog. But an antenna is just a copper wire molded into fiberglass with some twists added.

At least 6dB in an eight footer( HI END hard top bouncing.. tough- Shakespeare Mariner 8900.. $ 240) . They make up to 9 db that's a 20' high antenna($700). An 8dB will be about 14' ($500). The little rubber ducky handheld VHF's on unity gain. Meaning NO signal boost at all.

As far as transmitting ... the higher the antenna is off the water the further it will transmit. The Rule of Thumb is that every foot higher is equivalent to 5 more watts of xmit power. SInce the radio is legally capped at 25 watts. All you have is height to play with.

Hope that helps? That would be a hot set up. When you hear radio calls that the boat 50' from you cant. You know you did very well selecting.

Originally Posted by dfish28

Capt. Frank, So for a high gain antenna what would you recommend?

I was looking at the mariner 8900

[Mark215]

I think icom is the best, but standard makes a good radio too.

[Bass_Appeal]

went with standard horizon gx1700 has built in gps an distress button with position sending capability , its i guess middle of the road not to exspencive but its new and not outdated , i now feel safer if i go out !

[Capt. Lou]

Nothing beats a hi power antenna , all radios mentioned I've used on my boats except Lowrance & they worked fine with good quality antennas.
My first canyon boat in mid seventies a CC with a high console allowed us two mount a 18' antenna that was braced 1/3 up on mount.
There were days that we could raise the Barnedget coasties er ftom
the flats !
Hi speed for it's time this we cruised at 30 knts thus when the slop came up we knew the antenna was solidly mounted & yook the ride with little issue .
Pay attention to solidly mount antenna & brace it properly you will be fine .

[Bass_Appeal]

my boat , is 27 ft proline the most it can handle is 8ft vhf pole , anything larger would be way to big cause its mounted from the hard top ,

[Capt. Debbie]

An 8 footer atop your T Top is already 15 feet above water. Extension masts bases just lift. They do nothing electrically.