In this blog post we are going to assist you in how to choose a handheld VHF marine radio.
If you have read any of our other posts on the True North Marine blog post pages it would be a clear theme that we are strongly in favour of all vessels carrying a marine radio.
A marine radio is your link to other vessels around you in the event of an emergency as well as being able to receive important navigational information such as urgent messages, adverse weather conditions and navigational hazards etc.
At True North Marine we are active boaters and have owned and operated a number of boats over more than 25 years. We have learnt that while there are many different types of marine radio out there, with a wide range of prices, when it comes to safety equipment, and in particular marine radios it pays to go for the best.
While the initial outlay is obviously somewhat higher it also goes to say that you get what you pay for. So while you may be paying a little bit more in the beginning, it certainly works out cheaper in the long run. Radios are very robust items of equipment and will generally last quite a long time. They are not items that you will be changing every year or so. They will last for many, many years.
With all of that said, below is a selection of 4 different brands that we have owned/used in our boating activities over the years. We are not recommending any particular radio as they are all good and have their own qualities. These are handheld VHF marine radio which in may cases are additional to having a fixed VHF marine radio on your vessel. We will provide Fixed VHF Marine Radio information in a seperate blog post.
Please Note: We use Amazon as platform for purchasing many of our own boating equipment. We find the prices very competitive to other sites so it just simply saves us a lot of time using Amazon. some of the links on our website will take you to our Amazon account. You will not pay any more for the products but we may receive a commission from your purchase. This helps us in maintaining our website and blog pages.
Finally, please remember that it is a requirement ot have a Marine Radio Licence to operate the marine radio or to obtain a Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) number to program into a Digitial Selective Calling (DSC) VHF marine radio
ICOM IC-M73 01 Handheld VHF Marine Radio.
The ICOM IC-M73 01 Handheld VHF Marine Radio is a powerful and reliable communication tool designed for marine use. Offering a robust set of features and a durable construction, it stands out as a top choice for boaters, sailors, and marine enthusiasts.
Uniden MHS335BT 6W Class D Floating Handheld VHF Marine Radio
The Uniden MHS335BT definately goes the extra mile when it comes to VHF Handheld Marine radio functionality, it comes with Full 6 Watts of Power, Class D Industry Standard DSC, and integrated GPS. The Uniden MHS335BT floats, is submersible, has Bluetooth Wireless connectivity and comes with built-in compass screen & water activated MOB.
Standard Horizon HX300 Standard HX300 Handheld VHF Marine Radio
Cobra HH350 Floating Handheld VHF Radio
The Cobra HH350 Floating Handheld VHF Radio is a high visible, unique and compact floating radio with orange core for higher visibility and easy retrieval if dropped overboard. It features 6 Watts of power, external speaker/microphone jack, instant Channel 16, unlimited memory channels, Tri-Watch, scan, button/key lock, large, illuminated LCD display.
How to obtain a Marine Radio Licence
A marine radio licence is required if you are operating a marine radio. This is not a new requirement but is being brought to the forefront due to the requirement to program DSC VHF radios with a 9 digit MMSI number. Rest assured that it is not difficult to obtain a marine radio licence. At True North Marine we have been assisting candidates to obtain their marine radio licence for over 22 years. The process is very straight forward and includes the following:
- Enrol and complete some practice exams (We provide practice exams free of charge)
- Demonstrate how to do simple tasks such as turning the radio on, adjusting the squelch, going to a calling and a working channel etc (We provide all the resources to do the tasks)
- Sit a final exam online via Zoom. (Takes about 20 minutes)
