[Paddlewise] My VHF choice

Several people had asked me to post on PaddleWise what VHF radio I
finally picked.  After comparing a lot of things, I went with the Apelco
520.  Here is my reasoning:

The ICOM M-1 had been my first choice for size, etc.  But I wavered on
it because of the lack of real submersibility as admitted by the tech
support people (see earlier post).  It bugs me that they claimed a
submersibility rating on the Web but it just ain't so according to their
tech staff, albeit you get a full warranty for water damage.  Also the
M-1 is limited in battery power to around 4 hours unless you get the M-1
Plus with a bigger NICAD pack that is rated at 10 hours but which then
makes it slightly bigger and heavier.  Again, neither is truly
waterproof in submersion.  And no alkaline battery option.  Lowest
prices I found were $215 and $230 respectively for the M-1 and M-1 Plus;
$229 and $249 were more typical prices for these units.

The Apelco 520 seemed to me to be a better item.  It offers a NICAD
power pack rated at about half way between the two versions of the ICOM
M-1,
i.e. around 7 hours.  But it does have an alkaline battery pack as well
as the NICAD.  A call to Apelco tech support (really Raytheon, which
owns Apelco) reveals a couple of things regarding submersibility.  The
radio is that JIS-7 submersible rated (30 minutes at 1 meter
depth) when using the NICAD pack which snugs in well into the radio. 
The alkaline battery configuration is not JIS-7 rated because of how the
pack fits in.  If submersed with the alkaline pack, the radio would not
be damaged but the alkaline pack would; you would then have to replace
the alkaline pack for around $25.  Not a bad setup overall with lots of
flexibility of use because of the two battery type option.

Price listed was around $260 but I did much better.  It was listed in
local stores at $229 (E&B Marine, I think a West Marine sub) but not
available at the store in Manhattan; calling around to the suburbs
yielded just one on Long Island, a floor model.  Defender Marine had it
on their web site at that $264 figure.  I called to take them up on
their standing offer to match a legit lower price and was ready to argue
the local $229 competitive price in my best city smarts way.  But when I
asked what their price was they said $205!!!!  So, I did well without
having to be a pushy New Yorker.  

Relative weight of the units: ICOM M-1 (10 oz); ICOM M-1 Plus (13
oz).  The Apelco 520 is listed at 17 oz. but on a scale it is only 11
oz!!.  The Apelco seems to be about a quarter of an inch or so bigger
than the ICOM M-1 in height, width, depth.  The ICOM M-1 Plus appears to
be about 3/4 to an inch longer than both.  I was looking for something
small...so such things do concern me.

Afterwards, I decided to look again at all the past postings of the last
few weeks regarding VHFs.  There had been so much  talk, some real
technical, that it had flown by me pretty much.  Well lo and behold, my
email pal Jack Martin had recommended that specific model!  He seems
savvy regarding radios and lots of other things; or he certainly talks a
good game :-).  So I'm glad I came to the same conclusion from a less
hands on knowledge but comparison shopping level.  Also BlueCanoe, aka
John Le Blanc, said he has had excellent results with his three Apelco
radios (two fixed and one HH). 

I saw another extremely good radio, BTW.  The Standard 350.  It is also
truly submersible by reputation in addition to claim and has more
capacity, 12 hours.  This radio's display window is the biggest I saw
which is good.  This radio is heavy, over a pound--perhaps 1.25 lb.  It
has a alkaline pack in addition to the Nicad and comes with even a 12
volt charger setup in addition to the AC kind.  It cost however $279 at
E&B Marine.  It is ever so slightly bigger than the Apelco but looks
more ruggedly built.  I did not call their tech support people but
something tells me that in the alkaline pack configuration it might also
fare well in submersion.  Just a hunch.  Price and size made my choice
of the Apelco 520 the right one for me.  I think that there is a bigger
NICAD battery pack for mine as well...I saw a mention of it on some web
site.  But I think what I got will work just fine and more battery power
means more weight...an almost inescapable point of physics.

Oh, I've decided not to use a waterproof plastic bag with it.  I don't
see that well, nor do I hear well either.  The bag cuts down too much in
both senses departments.  I don't roll and have been in the water
accidentally only once in 10 years; so my chances of actually submerging
are slim. I will take my chances with the radio sans bag especially
since someone here reported that in his experience all bags leak some. 
If I find the radio sans plastic bag fails because of water damage, I
will return the thing under the 3 year warranty and thereafter use a
protective bag.  I will have to tether the radio in some way, however,
so I don't lose it overboard.  I could attach a float possibly.  We
shall see.

Thanks for all the advice,

ralph diaz


-- 
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Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter
PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024
Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com
"Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag."
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