[Paddlewise] West Marine radios - consumer/safety warning

The following paragraph is excerpted from the most recent issue of
Practical Sailor (the marine equivalent of consumer reports):

"West Marine's vice president of product development told us that the
company has recent-ly been redoubling its quality control efforts. After
recent in-house tests of waterproof VHFs showed a 33% failure rate, Hawley
said West took the following steps: 1. notified all buyers of VHF radios
that these products may not be waterproof; 2. changed signs in the stores
to de-emphasize waterproofness; 3. insert-ed notices in the remaining
radios to alert customers to the company's test findings; 4. changed
informa-tion on the company's website to indicate that these radios might
fail; 5. offered free waterproof bags to any customer requesting one; 6.
stopped buying radios from a par-ticular supplier even after that com-pany
made some improvements; 7. shared the test results with all their VHF
vendors; 8. instituted a quality management department; and 9., established
a new on-line address so customers can share feedback
(www.gearfeedback_at_westmarine.com)."

It is interesting that in the most recent West Marine sale flyer the West
marine radios have this statement on the ads:

"'While this radio is designed to meet JS-7 submersibility standards
(submersion in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes), normal use can
render even the best built radios less than lully waterproof. Therefore, we
include a FREE waterproof bag designed for your radio with your purchase to
provide additional pro-tection against water damage."


Personally, a safety device with a 33% rate of failure is unacceptable to
me.   I would not recommend purchasing one of the West Marine Brand radios.
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