Marine Radios

[Fish Hound]

I'm looking for the best deal on a marine radio for Lake Erie. I have a Humminbird Hand Held now, but fell I need a full size radio and antennae. The hand held is to limited. Who has the best deals?
The Fish Hound

[Chairman]

I have always been happy with Apelco and now they are owned by Raymarine. Just sent an old one in for repair, they were quick and did a good job. Look at the model Ray 45. About $150 and the Shakespeare Galaxy 5225 Antenna is the best out there in an 8' model.
Also, run a heavy #10 wire directly from the battery to a fuse block and just use that for the radio. One thing about a marine rdio, cheap will show up the day your in trouble in big water!
There are radios that cost more and some that cost less, this is just a good combintion I have knowledge about.
Chairman
NPAA #6

[iamwalleye1]

I went with the raymarine 53. they also have a model 45. I would not worrie about cheap because when you might need it you don't wont it fail you!

[MathMan]

I know that there has been many threads on this, but could someone please remind the best antenna in a shorter model?


Rick Mitchell
Stevens Point, Wisconsin

[iamwalleye1]

http://www.walleyecentral.com/dcf/boatsandmotors/10634.html

[Coach]

The SS-2 model which is a VHF antenna @ 156.8MHz from Gam Electronics was voted best of all antenns at 4ft. or under in two independent tests. They are located in New Hampshire at 603-622-4738. Price for antenna and needed adapter to put on marine style mount plus shipping was $72. Talked to Edd who was very helpful.

[lassig]

I was in a similiar situation (using a handheld) and I just bought and installed a RAY53. The best deal I could find was at REEDS (sponsor of this site). The radio, antenna mount and antenna (8') all for $190, also free shipping. You will find the RAY53 at many places for $190 it dose not include the antenna (atleast not 8'), mount, and free shipping. Also, I would go with the 53 over the 45 since it has a larger display and includes DSC (digital selective calling).

[mariner227]

Fish Hound
Try exportradios.com I just bought a Uniden 1020 for 136.89, and that includes shipping. This radio in my opinion is the best deal for the money. These guys ship fast and have the best prices.
mariner227

[Fish Hound]

Thanks all. This is something that we don't carry at Dick's.
The Fish Hound

[Thom]

Where to start? When you find yourself in trouble on the water the VHF radio and its antenna are often your only link to help, and safety. Without question the VHF is the most important piece of equipment on the boat and no radio is any better than its antenna. With that said I have to tell you that the advice you have got so far in this thread has not been very good.

Apelco is not now owned by Raymarine, in fact they aren't now owned by anyone. The company, which was actually just a brand name used by the parent company, Raytheon, under which their cheap lineup was sold. Virtually all of this equipment was made by JRC (Japan Radio Corporation). While it was inexpensive it was not of poor quality, though most units sold under that name suffered reliability problems. All of this is moot of course because Apelco has been out of business for over 3 years. That should make it interesting trying to get service for one, if you could still find one for sale. Let's see, Raytheon discontinues the Apeloc line, which was made by JRC in the first place, and then almost 2 years later Raytheon sells out its recreational marine business to a new start company, Ray Marine, a company created by former employees of an operational unit they were going to scrap anyway and one that never had any connection at all with Apelco, and somehow they are going to be concerned with service of these old units? Not to likely.

The Shakespeare 5225 antenna that was recommended is a very good antena in the mid-to-upper price range. It is one of the best deals for the money (you can find them for around $80) going but if you want to spend just a little bit more you should look at the Digital Antenna (company name) model 529VW, which is probaly the best VHF antenna made.

GAM makes a lot of very nice 2-meter antennas and would be a lousy choice for one to put on a boat. If you are interested in looking at an independent testing of a group of MARINE antennas go look at the back issues of Power Boat Reports and check out the issues from around November of 2000 as I recall, it was sometime around then that they did their last look at VHF antennas. The best buy recommendation from them was the Shakespeare 5225, the best one they tested was the Shakespeare 5399. I don't recall that they were able to test the Digital stick. That's a shame, the Digital is better. Consumer Marine Electronics and Defender Marine both sell Digital Antenna's lineup.

Uniden makes a fair radio, but they do not, and never have, made a good radio. If you want the best, and this is a place where nothing but the best should be acceptable, then look at ICOM first and Standard Horizon as a second choice. That is for fixed mount radios. If you are interested in another hand held, one that is worth something this time, look at Standard Horizon first and ICOM second. Just to make this choice easy let me tell you that for the money the Standard Horizon HX350S is the best hand held your money can buy you. Second best would be the ICOM M1V.

Thom

[eye1]

If you're interested I have a brand new Ray 45 , still in the box that I'd be willing to part with at a pretty reasonable price. It came with the new boat but I already have a Shakespeare that I'm planing on using.

If interested you can email me at cschultz@sehinc.com.

[LakeRat]

From what I have been seeing, alot of people are recommending some units that are more for GPS interface and auto transmit of location. I did not realize this at first either.

It seems if you are looking for a VHF Marine Band that you can monitor weather, make an emergency call and monitor other boats, a slightly less expensive transciever is in order.

If you want to interface a GPS with it and get the Auto Transmit of your coordinates along with a mayday, then the slightly more expensive unit is in order.

Then there are the even more expensive calling capable units that require licensing and private service contracts.....

Does that seem about right?

[Big Sky]

Thom your comment about getting parts and service for Apelco's doesn't jive w/my recent experience. I own and older Apelco and needed a new power cord. Went to my boat dealer and had a new one in 2 weeeks. Same exact numbers on each cord.

[Robertp]

You can disagree with Thom, but it's tough to argue. The guy definitely knows radios.

[Geno]

Good post Thom,

I wish it would have taken place this last Jan. when I ordered the new electronic's. I may need your help in the future.

Geno

[RJ]

Cabela's spring sale catalog(the one with the Rainbow jumping on the cover) has a Standard Horizon radio with nice features and no fluff on sale for $140. I ordered it and it's a nice radio with easy to read features and user friendly controls. Does have programable scan and 3 year WATERPROOF warranty. This is for anyone who wants to know. Good luck on your purchase...

[d_rigger]

Sir, 1yr. ago I purchased a Apelco fish finder/plotter GPS compatible new.
A 2yr warrantee. Rays support group talked me thru interfacing it with there auto-pilot Sport Pilot+ and they also talked me thru interfacing units with my Garmin gps stand alone unit. I am well pleased with their support and prod., now going to add their SL-72 radar to my nav.system.As for radio the boat has a Standard on it,came with the boat.


ron

[Big Sky]

Not trying to argue one bit with Thom! I just wanted to post my experience that would not mislead people who were in the same situation as me.

I am sure his knowledge is credible. I too could have used that information had I not already owned a radio. But instead of junking a perfectly good radio I was able to get service. Maybe I helped one other person out there and that was my only point.

[Ronnie]

What about using a 4' Digital Antenna - would this be acceptable on a small boat (20' bass boat)? Seems like an 8' stick might whip around too much if I'm bobbing in the waves.

[JerryA]

My boat came with a President brand marine radio. This is a reasonably priced unit and it has worked great. It's gotten plenty wet without problems. With an 8 ft antenna, I have good range on Lake Erie.