[Paddlewise] Re[2]: VHF?

     There's been a lot of stuff on VHFs lately --- haven't seen the one I 
     use mentioned.  
     
     Regularly pack an Apelco 510 "waterproof" VHF, selling currently at 
     about $260 (US) or less by the more aggressive catalog shops like 
     Defender Marine --- closer to "list" at about $400 in other retail 
     locations.  The unit meets USCG Specification CF-46 on what defines 
     "waterproof" --- short spec, tested by blasting it with a firehose at 
     a certain pressure for a certain duration, but I can't remember the 
     exact info.  My first unit spent its first day and night of operation 
     sloshing around in the bilges of a partially flooded emergency escape 
     chute/life raft a few miles offshore in Florida.  It worked well.  
     
     Then, a year later, I whacked it against a concrete pier, the display 
     got foggy, and the unit died.  Returned it to Apelco, and they 
     replaced it with a new unit (damage was not structural or severe, but 
     it <was> pretty obvious).
     
     With the first and the current unit, I routinely swim, float and 
     occasionally roll with the radio attached --- the latter being 
     inadvisable primarily because the installation on the lash tab on my 
     PFD tends to shove the rubber ducky up my nose on recovery.  Very 
     disconcerting, sometimes uncomfortable, and of no benefit to reception 
     or transmission of electromagnetic energy.
     
     But the 510 stays dry and functional without a drybag, gets as good 
     reception as has generally been noted in earlier posts, and the 
     company --- at least in my case --- seems to stand behind the product. 
     Always remember to wash it off with fresh water after every paddle, 
     keep the ducky snugged up and the rubber plugs in the jacks, and it 
     should work fine.  But avoid concrete piers.
     
     Joq


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] VHF?
Author:  Dan21660 <Dan21660_at_aol.com> at SPTC
Date:    3/4/98 6:40 PM


looking for good waterproof vhf... how much, what kind, where can I get one 
one.?
     
Any help appreciated
     
 please e-mail directly tyo me. Thanks---
     
Dan
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