Re: [Paddlewise] Standard v Raytheon VHFs

peterR wrote, "I am intrigued by the good press about the Standard handheld on PaddleWise.   Is there anyone on the list who has used or owns the Raytheons?" 

As one of the owners and strong proponents of the Standard (Yaesu) HX350S, I can also recommend the old Apelco (now Raytheon) 510, then designated "waterproof".  (Don't know which unit replaced the 510.)I've had it for about six years, soaked it in the bilges of an aircraft exit slide turned life raft for 24 hours during a rescue exercise off the coast of Florida, using it intermittently during that period with no problem, have used it around and in the water, swum it, rolled with it, and had one instance of water intrusion (as I had with the Standard, as well) but after I dropped it on a concrete pier, which, while well out of warranty and obviously damaged, the company still fixed at no cost.  I'd be using it now, but the replacement battery, which I now need, is over $80, and the investment in the Standard seemed more cost-sensitive.  (Having said that, I may get a battery for it and keep it as a standby.)

Don't worry too much about the output on these radios.  Higher wattage, at our antenna height, means only that you may be able to punch through chatter and electronic clutter better to get an emergency call out, but it is not a factor in any sort of range extension, primarily the result of the fact that we sit *in* the water, electronically speaking, rather than *on* the water, as conventional boats tend to do.

Good luck with the decision.

Jack Martin

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