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Picture Of The Month



SD2OR with a trophy fall walleye

Topic: Good small/light radio for attaching to PFD for kayak fishing?  (Read 2654 times)

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JasonM

  • Lingcod
  • *****
  • Location: Snohomish
  • Date Registered: Jun 2017
  • Posts: 282
It has been quite a while since we've discussed radios, so in combination with doing my own research I thought I'd ask here if anyone has seen any new models come out recently that they'd recommend. I have never had a marine radio, so my skill in using one is zero. I want a small, very light one that I won't mind having on my PFD anytime that I'm in the salt. I expect to use it a few times a year so don't expect it to endure a lot of wear and tear, but I do want it to be waterproof and the battery to last multiple years. Any suggestions?


Tinker

  • Sturgeon
  • *******
  • Kevin
  • Location: 42.74°N 124.5°W
  • Date Registered: May 2013
  • Posts: 3304
I bought one of the new Standard Horizon HX210 radios for my grandkid.  It's quite small but powerful at 6W, and she can listen to whatever kids listen to on FM radio on it while she's paddling about (if that's important to anyone).  I can't tell you about the endurance of the battery because they haven't been selling them for a year, yet, but it held a charge for two days, including using it for her music-listening pleasure.

Seems like a good, compact radio, without GPS.
I expected the worst, but it was worse than I expected...


JasonM

  • Lingcod
  • *****
  • Location: Snohomish
  • Date Registered: Jun 2017
  • Posts: 282
Thanks, Tinker. I ended up going with the Standard Horizon CX300, which is pretty similar to the CX210 but with USB charging and without FM radio. It also doesn't have GPS, but my phone (water resistant to same depth that the CX300 is) and my fish finder do, so I hope that covers it well enough. I don't go far enough offshore to really need GPS, but I may eventually.


Tinker

  • Sturgeon
  • *******
  • Kevin
  • Location: 42.74°N 124.5°W
  • Date Registered: May 2013
  • Posts: 3304
Good choice, I think.  I simply had no experience with the 300 but it looks even smaller than the 210, and it's basically the same innards (minus the head-banging music parts).

I have so many GPS systems you'd think I was an Aegis destroyer, and like you, I'm never far enough out to need it and I've found that marking spots where I found fish never helps me (they're never there twice).
I expected the worst, but it was worse than I expected...


kaz

  • Perch
  • ***
  • Location: kingston wa
  • Date Registered: Oct 2018
  • Posts: 96
When I fished out of an outboard,  I used a Cobra Marine MR HH325,  but I found that the battery had died.  After a lot of research,  I chose the Standard Horizon HX 870.  It's reasonably compact (the body is 2-1/2" by 5-1/4"),  is widely recommended,  has an emergency mayday button (notifies Coast Guard with GPS coordinates),  and can be had for about $270 (you might be able to get a $40 rebate-I did, so maybe $230). 


Most likely,  I'll be fishing solo.  The mayday feature is mildly comforting.  So far,  the SH is working perfectly.  GPS store purchase. 
Cape Falcon F1 (homemade, skin boat)
Trident 13
Necky Dolphin 14


Idaho Brit

  • Lingcod
  • *****
  • Hobie Tandem Island, Hobie Outback
  • Location: Spokane
  • Date Registered: Jun 2016
  • Posts: 311
"Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing -- absolutely nothing -- half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats." Said the water rat.  The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame,


 

anything