On 04/20/98 12:02:37 you wrote: Fred recently posted a message in his attachment that while reaching for his paddle to do a quick brace in 20-25 knot winds, the VHF radio collided with the paddle popping his only NI-CD battery into the water. I haven't encountered anything so dramatic but the number 1 buying criteria I used the last time to buy a VHF radio was that it should feed on akaline batteries so I could carry a replacement set. I've "had it" with NI-CD battery operated cell phones and laptops that become increasingly unreliable (as the battery gets used) and "self-discharge", sometimes in as little as 2-3 days. On a recent camping trip, I carried some spare lightweight AA batteries that could be used either in the VHF radio, a flashlight, or a small 1 battery AM/FM radio. I found the NOAA weather channels on the VHF radios to be very accurate on this trip. For some reason, the manufacturers don't seem to make akaline powered handheld radios in the "waterproof" radios. (They don't seem to realize that most kayakers don't carry a 110 volt power cord with them-maybe) I have recently ordered a second VHF radio, the ICOM M10A, from Defender Industries, on the WEB for $135. Very compact and lightweight with 2.5 watt power. Not waterproof so I'll keep it in a baggy. By the way, some vendors apparently make auxiliary battery packs, some of which use akaline batteries, I don't have much detail on them. Phil Baumgaertner Bremerton, Washington *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************Received on Mon Apr 20 1998 - 10:45:33 PDT
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