Marine VHF advice

[shrimpman steve]

Eric the MM has been very gracious and offered to kick in some money for a VHF for the dirty shrimp. I have a hand held but but all parties involved would feel safer with the added distance of a fixed unit with a bigger antenna. what features should I look for in a console mounted unit and are they truly better then a handheld. The handheld of coarse would not go to waste as I fugure it will be a good back up.

Thanks