[Paddlewise] Je vous en prie

Caribou Jed said:

<< Does anyone have personal (or anecdotal) experience with the Standard

HX350S VHF radio?  Does it last? Is it honestly submersible, even away
from
marketing wonderland?  Thanks for your opinions, even if they aren't
politically correct or even worse . . . disagree with mine.>>

  I bought mine sometime after the Storm Island rescue, after the need
for one struck me in a personal way. I bought it based on
recommendations from Ralph and Jack, and it has proved to be a superior
product, easy to use, excellent reception and usability with cold
fingers. It has taken a beating, and keeps on ticking. I don't know
about big surf...yet. I keep it in a bag someone from the list
recommended; a bag from West Marine. It is an open bag with a Velcro
seal that is not waterproof at all, but keeps heavy waves from forcing
pressurized water (nature's faucet) into the device. It is made from
cordura, and the radio can be withdrawn in seconds.

I tether it when needed, in the hopes of becoming strangulated one day
to prove tether naysayers correct :-) In big seas, I store it in my
custom fore deck hatch.

"Bout the only weird thing with the radio is the vibration that the
speaker produces that can be felt from the transmit button when your
finger is on it. It holds a charge very well indeed.

As far as politically correct, I think both Republicans and Democrats
will find the product suitable for the marine kayaking environment. As
far as people using the product incorrectly, they can always read the
directions :-)

BC'in Ya
Doug Lloyd (who is now saving up for an ELT for wilderness travel, and
hoping vertical communication phones will come down in price)

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