BMarkey

I would appreciate tips, prices and sources of a VHF radio, antenna (and clamp), or handheld, as well as a small or handheld GPS unit for my just-acquired 190 Fisherman. Price is a major factor, as the boat sort of broke me. The boat came with a fishfinder.

Thanks.

cgrand

bmarkey

try the two THT sponsors first- byownergroup.com & threeriversmarine.com. many here have also had nice things to say about felix marine

i bought from yachtjim & got the lowest price i could find

Pacific 19CC, Yamaha F100

Kamper

If you're good with transferring lat/lon coordinates to a chart, any GPS is better than none. Most of the hiker/highway models even have a compass screen and a backtrack display. There are a lot of these on the market for well under $200.

I used to use a GPS III before I got my SH-CP150c. It had a rudimentary map display but mostly I just used it for the odometer and compass functions. When your wallet fattens up again you can put it in your car and get a chartplotter.

Hand-held VHFs seem to cost apx the same as fixed mount so most folks (me included) feel that the extra range is more important than portability for your first pick. I'm sorry if this next suggestion sounds morbid... A lot of older boaters retire to your area and spend their golden years enjoying the water so watch out for estate sales. You may be able to give a new home to some gear that has received plenty of TLC.

There is a place in your area (don't know the address) called "Faith Farm." It's similar to "Good Will Industries." My mother's boyfriend has donated many items including a couple boats to them over the years. He's told me they occasionally have the darndest things on hand. You might want to give them a call before shopping anywhere else.

Remember though, "Caveat Emptor" on all 2nd hand merchandise.

--
Everything has to eat somebody. (Bruce, the shark, from "JAWS")

Codfisher

Check out all the online stores and then give yachtjim a call. You will be glad you did.

BMarkey

Thanks for the tips, especially about Faith Farm. It's around 15 miles south of me.

As for VHF costs, I have seen handhelds for under $100 (certainly for $150 or so), but a cheap mounted radio will cost around $200, plus another $150 or so for a bracket and antenna.

I know I will want and need a mounted VHF eventually, but wondered if I would be better served to get a handheld for now.

I would like to get a small but removable GPS with some sort of mapping ability for use in the boat, and perhaps in the car. Suggestions are appreciated.

Cat O Lies

B- www.gpsnow.com. Should be all you need for a good handhelp GPS.

Preoccupation

IMHO the most important piece of gear on any boat is a good quality fixed mount VHF radio and tall antenna. And by good quality I mean Standard (my choice) or Icom (highly recommended on this board) radio and Shakespeare or Digital antenna. You can shop around and find good, basic radios from either manufacturer in the $150 range and 8 ft antennas in the $75-$100 range.

You'd probably have to be in the $150-$200 range to get a good handheld VHF. So for about hundred bucks more, you can have a radio setup that will give you 3 or 4 times the range than a handheld. And if you're handy you can do the installation yourself.

I would look for other places to save money before I skimped on my radio gear.

bummer12

..look at the JRC VHF 200... feature packed great little machine for 75-85$.. incredible and i've had it in use 6 months now..!!

SeaHorse Dave

GPS. Garmin Legend. Has MAP !!! Don't buy the cheesy, no map type. $150 after rebate, Amazon.com.

VHF. ICOM IC-m45, Shakespeare 8 foot economy antenna. Range 10 miles to other boats, 25 to CG. Handheld is a walkie-talkie toy, forget it.

Barryrod

Bob,

I would go with a mounted vhf over the handheld. As said before, the JRC is under $100 and if mail ordered, no tax if out of state. Get the antenna and mounts locally, not worth the cost to ship. Also, you really don't need the top end antenna. I got the $39 shakespeare and worked great on the Sea Hunt. Also, I never went over 10 miles out though. I am sure you won't be venturing out too far in you current boat either so it would do good for you also.

I ordered my new electronics online from threeriversmarine and brokenlegdave and saved about $300.

Barry

gw204

Bmarkey,

I got word of some discontinued Furuno GPS units on sale at the West Marine in Tampa from Barnaby55. I scored a GP31 for $117.30 shipped but it was missing the manual. I couldn't pass it up. It will compliment my Garmin Handheld GPS48.

Give West (813-348-0521) a call and ask for George. He can tell you if they have anymore. If memory serves, they had one GP31 left a week or so ago.

I also bought a Furuno LS6000 from www.bethel-marine.com about a year and a half ago. Great prices.

Good luck.

Brian

http://userpages.umbc.edu/~bmille4/sirreel/index.html

Sandtiger

Try http://www.onlinemarine.com They have very good pricing.

Also for the VHF I carry a Uniden handheld that is terrific. It is very clear on receive and I am told it sounds real good on transmit. It has scanning features that my Raymarine 25 watt unit soesn't have and it comes with a rechargable battery pack and an extra holder so you can use AA batteries if your rechargable runs down. It's $99 at West Marine or Boater's World.

Handheld GPS is good. A little hard to read while skipping along in a boat under 26 feet or so, but doable. Garmin makes a very nice line of these units and one of them should sufice until you can get a larger plotter type. They can be bought for anywhere from $100 and up.

Good luck.

Sandtiger
Member Peninsula Salt Water Sport Fisherman's Assoc. (http://www.pswsfa.com)
Member CCA-VA