Handheld VHFs
Handheld VHF Marine Radios - Portable Communication
Waterproof handheld VHF radios for portable marine communication. Our collection features floating handhelds with GPS, DSC, and long battery life from Icom and leading brands. Perfect for dinghies, backup communication, and crew safety.
Complete Communication: Part of our AIS & VHF collection. Complement fixed VHF radios. Use with portable antennas. Essential safety equipment alongside AIS systems.
Why every boat needs a backup VHF
A fixed VHF set is the primary means of calling for help, but it fails along with the boat's power if the vessel is holed, dismasted or on fire, exactly when a handheld earns its place in the grab bag. Floating models are worth the small extra cost over a non-floating handheld, since dropping a radio overboard in a genuine emergency is a realistic scenario rather than a remote one.
DSC-equipped handhelds need their own MMSI programmed in before use, and while some allow the boat's existing MMSI to be reused, others require a separate registration, so check this when setting one up. Battery runtime varies considerably between models, and a handheld left uncharged in a locker for months is a common reason it fails when actually needed, so it is worth checking charge level periodically rather than only before a passage.
GPS-enabled handhelds can transmit position with a DSC distress call, which a basic model without GPS cannot do.
