I'm not a fan of handheld VHFs, because in a panic it could be dropped overboard. That said if you don't have a DSC VHF on board at this point you are over 10 years out of date on primary safety gear.
I received a Boater's World ad today for a Standard Horizon Standard Horizon HX850s Handheld VHF w/GPS. See: http://www.boatersworld.com/product/MP63501045.htm One of the significant advancements a DSC VHF offers is only achieved when a GPS is interfaced with the DSC radio. I have this set-up on Wing Tip and in an emergency the DSC radio can be set to send an automated distress call that includes my MMSI ID, the nature of the distress, and my exact GPS location. To do this I had to pull new shielded cable wiring from the GPS on the wheel guard through the guard under the cabin sole inside the steering gear cover back to the transom and forward again along the main harness until I reached the VHF radio at the navigation station. That means if someone gets seriously injured I can spend just a few seconds sending for help and go right to treating the victim and the rescue team isn't going to do a lengthy search, they are coming right to me. Standard Horizon is my favorite brand and since not everyone is going to be capable of doing an install like I have on Wing Tip I have no qualms recommending if you haven't gone to a DSC VHF yet this combo handheld unit deserves a serious look. This handheld has the GPS built so there's no extra wiring. Phil Agur <http://www.catalina27.org/public_pages/profile270.htm> s/v Wing Tip C270 LE #184 MMSI 366901790 IMHO: We'd all be safer today if the USCG had implemented the Standard Horizon solution on Wing Tip rather than the big military contactor solution with its implementation delays and starved out federal funding. Of course we still have to do our part and go DSC or the best effort to find you will only be a WWII style radio direction finder and an aerial search grid. Wing Tip cost about $800 to do in 1996 and a full DSC VHF & GPS chart plotter solution from Standard Horizon is still under $1000.
