Reprinted from

July 2006

VOLUME 19 NUMBER 7

www.powerboat-reports.com

JULY 2006

3 Regal 2400
This fun-to-drive bow rider has ample seating and storage, but wider swim ladders and additional handrails would make it more family friendly.

7 Handheld VHF Radios

A solid performer with multi-band reception and DSC emergency calling, the Standard Horizon HX600S takes top honors.

Family Focus: Page 3

13 PFDs for Kids
Mustang, Stearns, and Sospenders have top-quality vests for youths that provide buoyancy well beyond regulation.

17 Suzuki DF300

Suzuki introduces the biggest four-stroke yet with a 300-hp V6 that weighs less and burns less fuel than the 275 Mercury Verado.
Can You Hear Me Now?: Page 7
19 Anti-Fouling Paints for Outdrives and Outboards
All three products failed to stop barnacle growth. Pettits Alumacoat SR allowed the least amount of slime and hard growth.

20 Mooring Chain Test

After six months, the standard Acco Grade-30 proof coil looks good. Forget the Campbell and Chinese proof coils.

PFD Plunge: Page 13

Also in This Issue
2 Editorial Better mileage and fewer
maintenance woes with more horsepower, and tips on getting kids into PFDs. 22 Letters/Advisor Stepping up, bottom paint through Jamestown Distributors, VHF output, windlass installation, and digital charts.
24 Product Monitor Tideminders mooring/docking system and a propane canister locker.
First 300-hp Outboard: Page 17
Expensive Handheld VHF Radios: Standard Horizon Edges Icom
With its solid performance, multi-band reception, and DSC emergencycalling capability, the Standard Horizon HX600S takes top honors. The radios from Icom had the longest battery life.
andheld VHF radios come in handy for a variety of tasks aboard any boat. On small skiffs, they serve well as the main method of communicatingand you dont have to worry about the mounting, antenna, and wiring issues associated with a fixed-mount radio. On larger vessels with a fixed-mount VHF already installed, handhelds can serve as a viable backup radio or as a means of two-way communication if the dinghy is launched. When used as a backup, your handheld can even connect to the boats main antenna via an adapter and significantly increase your transceiver range.
of handheld VHF radios into two groups. In this review well report on upper-echelon units that sell for more than $175. Next time, well cover less expensive radios. Our lineup includes two units from perennial VHF leader Icom (models IC-M72 and IC-M88), four from Standard Horizon (models HX370S, HX500S, HX600S, and HX471S), the Ray101 from Raymarine, and the West Marine VHF 250.

How We Tested

The first order of business was to charge the batteries, which we did using the associated AC chargers. Next, we ran each radio through a series of bench tests, including transmitter power output, frequency accuracy and stability, and receiver sensitivity. We used a sophisticated piece of radio test gear, a Ramsey COM3010 com-
munications service monitor. Maximum power output on a portable handheld marine radio is limited to 5 or 6 watts. A low-power setting, 1 watt, for harbor use, is also available. In addition to the high- and low-power settings, most of the radios we tested had a midpower setting. We tested only at the max power and 1 watt. We took transmitter power measurements directly off the radio antenna port located on the top of each radio. Frequency accuracy is defined as Below, from left to right: Standard Horizon HX471S, Icom IC-M88, Icom IC-M72, West Marine VHF 250, Standard Horizon HX500S, Standard Horizon HX600S, Standard Horizon HX370S, Raymarine Ray101.

What We Tested

To keep our reports reasonable in both scope and size, as well as to make fair comparisons, weve divided coverage
value guide: Handheld VHFs over $175
Maker Model Price Price Source AA or AAA Battery Pack Battery Warranty Period (Months) Battery Type Battery Capacity (mAH) Battery Replacement Cost Maximum Charge Time Claimed Time of Operation (single charge) (hrs) Tested Time of Operation (single charge) (hrs) Head Set External Speaker/Microphone Scrambler *Frequency Bands DSC Capabilities Unit Size (Inches W x H x D) Weight (Ounces) Tx Settings (Watts) Transmitter Power Output and Stability Transmitter Frequency Stability Receive Sensitivity Selectivity (dB) Display Rating Audio Output (dBA at 1 foot) Audio Quality Raymarine Ray101 $179.99 pyacht.com Included $22.N/A 9 N/A N/A N/A M No 2.6 x 6.3 x 2.0 12.8 5/1 Good Good Good 70 Good 85 Good Standard Horizon HX370S

$179.99

Icom IC-M72 $199.99 westmarine.com N/A 12 Lithium Ion 2000 $129.15 to 16 15+ Optional Optional Yes M No 2.2 x 5.4 x 1.4 9.9 6/3/1 Excellent Fair Excellent 70 Excellent 99 Good
Standard Horizon HX500S $199.99 westmarine.com Optional 18 Nickel Metal Hydride 1400 $Optional Optional Optional M No 2.5 x 4.8 x 1.9 13.0 5/2.5/1 Excellent Good Excellent 65 Excellent 92 Excellent
pyacht.com Included $18 15+ Optional Optional Optional M, L No 2.5 x 5.4 x 1.8 13.4 5/2.5/1 Good Excellent Good 70 Excellent 88 Good
Nickel Metal Hydride Nickel Metal Hydride
*Aircraft (A), AM Broadcast (AM), Family (F), FM Broadcast (FM), Land Mobile (L), Marine (M), Multi-Use Radio Service (R).
the ability of the transmitter to send signals out on the selected frequency. Frequency stability measures the transmitters ability to maintain frequency accuracy over its entire temperature operating range. Regulations mandate an accuracy of 10 parts per million, while industry groups typically call for half that error. This equates to being about 1550 hertz (Hz) off frequency in the marine frequency band. Each transmitter test was done on channel 16 at room temperature (75 F), as well as temperature extremes near the maximum ranges of each radio. To reach the cold extreme, each radio was put in a bait freezer at 15 F for four hours prior to testing. We used a fish smoker as an environmental chamber to get the radios to high-temperature extremes. Each
was left to cook for two hours at 122 F and then immediately run through another transmitter-power and frequency test. We also checked each units lowpower setting, measuring both power output and frequency accuracy. Frequency stability was rated over the entire range of transmitter testing; the closer a unit held to the appropriate frequency, the higher it was rated. Receiver sensitivity is the ability of the radios receiver section to hear a weak signal. Typical marine VHF receiver sensitivity ratings run from.22 to.35 microvolts, with industry groups recommending a minimum.50 microvolts. Each radio receiver was tested for the minimum signal it could receive at a specific industry standard setting between background noise and generated signal (12 dB SINAD). All the radios rated Good or
better, meaning they are more than sensitive enough to pick up very weak incoming signals. Another receiver standard is selectivity, the ability of the receiver to reproduce only the signals you want to hear, and not others, even though they may be strong and nearby. Our test equipment did not allow us to test each radio for this characteristic. Each manufacturer provided information, which is listed in the chart under selectivity; a higher number is better. Display ratings were based on the size of the channel number display, the amount of other information shown, the value of the channel comments, the size of the screen, and the quality of the backlighting. One important part of the marine radio often overlooked is the audio amplifier and speaker. Boats can be

West Marine VHF 250 $219.99 westmarine.com Included 12 Lithium Ion 1400 $69.N/A Optional No A, AM, F, FM, M N/A 2.7 x 5.1 x 1.7 8.8 5/2.5/1 Good Good Good 72 Excellent 83 Good
Standard Horizon HX471S $299.99 westmarine.com Optional 18 Lithium Ion 1400 $10 to Optional Optional Optional A, AM, F, FM, M, R MMSI/LL 2.6 x 5.5 x 1.6 9.3 5/2.5/1 Good Good Excellent 65 Good 87 Good
Standard Horizon HX600S $249.99 pyacht.com Optional 18 Nickel Metal Hydride 1400 $14 15+ Optional Optional Optional A, AM, FM, M MMSI/LL 2.5 x 4.8 x 1.9 13.0 5/2.5/1 Excellent Excellent Excellent 65 Excellent 92 Excellent
Icom IC-M88 $271.95 pyacht.com Optional 12 Lithium Ion 1700 $15 15+ N/A Optional No L, M N/A 2.4 x 4.4 x 1.6 9.9 5/3/1 Good Good Excellent 70 Good 93 Good
drop test to confirm the radios survivability. Each radio was turned on then dropped from a height of 4 feet onto concrete. Again, all of the radios passed this test. The clock started ticking for the battery-life test immediately following charging. We allotted the first hour of use to run our bench tests. Radios were off during their time in our environmental chambers and then turned back on the following day and allowed to run continuously for the next 14 hours. We transmitted at full power for about three minutes every hour and received voice signals for about five minutes every hour until the battery died or the unit began to malfunction. Total battery test time was 15 hours. Radios still fully functional at that time were rated at 15+ hours of battery life. In the final analysis, we considered performance, cost (initial and battery replacement), warranty (both unit and battery), battery life, included equipment, recharge time, display, and audio output.

Icom IC-M72

Ergonomically, the IC-M72 tops the field. Its lightweight, fits into one hand well, and is comfortable to hold and use. The most powerful battery in the field provides the muscle for a sixwatt transmitter, the highest output power rating of any handheld VHF weve tested. Tested battery life was excellent with the transmitter still
noisy places, and if you cant hear the output, it doesnt really matter how well the transmitter or receiver works. To rate the audio system of each radio, we measured the sound pressure at maximum volume while generating a 1 KHz tone with the COM3010 and inputting the tone into the radio. Measurements were taken at a distance of 1 foot using a Radio Shack decibel meter. Our tester also rated each audio system with a voice input by monitoring a weather channel and rating the quality of sound reproduction. A submersion test was conducted on each radio to confirm it as waterproof. The tester turned on the radios and submerged them in a bucket of fresh water for 30 minutes. After Right: We used a Ramsey COM3010 communications service monitor to record and rate transceiver specifications.

removal, we checked the radio for proper operation immediately and then again the next day. All of the radios passed this test. Since a user typically carries a handheld radio either in hand or on a belt clip, we elected to perform a
pumping out plenty of power even after 15 hours of use. One downside: Replacing the battery will cost you nearly as much as the radio itself: $130. Overall performance ratings on the IC-M72 were Good to Excellent, though it fell a bit short in two areas. It scored only a Fair for transmitter frequency stability because the transmitter went off frequency by a small amount after emerging from the heat chamber. It was still within design specifications and completely usable, however. Following submersion, we noticed the battery compartment had some minor water intrusion. According to Icom advertising manager, Dave Kruzic, water in the battery area is not a problem for Icom radios. There is no huge gasket between battery and radio to prevent water intrusion. Where it is important to protect against water intrusion is where the battery contact points meet the radio mainframe. If you look at both the M72 and M88, the gasket is small and only covers this critical area. If you submerge the radios with the battery properly fitted in place, remove from water and shake the radio off, you should hear a small suction snap when removing the battery and the contact point seal is disrupted. It should be dry in that small area. The rest is unimportant. This radio is operated with a rotary on/off/volume control located on top,
a push-to-talk and a squelch button on the side, and six pushbuttons on the front panel. Controls on the front select transmitter power, channel changing, weather, quick 16 or 9, and scanning. An optional microphone or speaker connects through a port in the top. Bottom Line: A well-built radio with highly rated ergonomics, good performance, and excellent battery life. Battery replacement cost is high.
as to why water in the battery area is not a big deal. Bottom Line: A great performer, but its expensive and so is battery replacement.

Raymarine Ray101

At about twice the size of the diminutive Icom M88, the Ray101 is the heftiest handheld in this test. It uses six AA-size nickel metal hydride batteries contained in a sealed battery pack that fits securely to the back of the unit. This setup gives the Ray101 the lowest battery replacement cost in the group, as well as the opportunity to quickly install standard AA batteries should the need arise. Unfortunately this setup also yielded the worst performance in our battery life test by only lasting nine hours. Raymarine communications manager Nancy Baumgartner commented on the Ray101 batteries. Since the battery is a consumable item, it is not covered under the 3-year radio warranty. One of the major advantages of the Ray101 is that it does not use a proprietary battery pack; instead the consumer can go to any retail store in the US and buy regular AA rechargeable NiMH batteries for a fraction of the price of the proprietary custom batteries used by other radio manufacturers. Ray101 also allows flexibility for the users to upgrade their batteries to the bigger capacity battery. Upgrading to the bigger capacity battery would instantly increase the battery life and make the radio up to date to the latest battery technology. Two rotary knobs are mounted on the top of the unit: an off/on/volume control and a squelch control. The side-mounted, push-to-talk switch is too hard to press, in our opinion. Seven front panel pushbuttons select transmitter power, scanning options, channel change, weather, panel backlighting, and quick 16. Left: A few drops of water got inside of the Icom IC-M88s battery compartment after our dunk test, but a gasket protects the battery-to-radio connection.

Icom IC-M88

This expensive sub-compact packs a load of features into a lightweight package about the size of a bar of soap. The M88 operates by using the rotary on/off/volume control located on top, a push-to-talk and a squelch button on the side. Six front-panel pushbuttons control transmitter power, channel changing, weather, quick 16 or 9, and scanning. An optional external speaker/microphone plugs in on the side. The M88 earned Good or Excellent ratings across the board. During the battery-life test it was one of only four radios still functioning after 15 hours and it was going strong even then, pumping out plenty of transmitter power during our final check. This radio shares two less-than-desirable traits with its sibling, the M72: It has a very expensive battery ($122) and it had some water in the battery area following our dunk test. See the Icom IC-72 text for Icoms explanation
Overall performance of the Ray101 was Good. We found water in the battery area after the dunk test. It did not penetrate the battery compartment or the area where the battery-to-radio connections are located as they are protected with a small gasket. Bottom Line: Too big and heavy for our liking, plus it has a rather short battery life.

Standard Horizon HX600S

The HX600S is the product line leader for Vertex Standard. It features multi-band and digital-selective-calling capabilitiesone of only two radios with the latter feature. If it is sitting in its charger and the charger is wired to a GPS unit, the HX600S will transmit vessel position data along with the MMSI number when making an emergency Digital Selective Call (DSC). The HX600S has a top-mounted volume control and side-mounted pushbuttons for on-off, squelch, and push-to-talk. Eight front-mounted pushbuttons control transmitter power selection, channel changing, weather, scanning, and band choice. It can receive signals on the Marine, Aircraft, AM, and FM bands. It transmits on Marine only. An optional headset, microphone, or speaker plugs into a jack on the top of the unit. The HX600S was the only radio to achieve Excellent ratings across the board and pass the drop and submersion tests with no glitches or caveats. Battery life was also Excellent and rated at 15+ hours. Battery replacement cost, at $65, is the lowest of any unit that requires a specialized battery. Bottom Line: Excellent performance coupled with features like multi-band technology and DSC capability make the HX600S our top pick.

Above: Standard Horizon packs a smorgasbord of features into its HX471S. Here, the radio is set on the Aircraft Band, which would allow a boater in trouble to monitor aircraft search-and-rescue communications. side-mounted pushbuttons for onoff, squelch, and push-to-talk. Seven front-mounted pushbuttons control transmitter power selection, channel changing, weather, and scanning. An optional headset, microphone, or speaker plugs into a jack on the top of the unit. The HX500S performed very well in our testing, earning mostly Excellent ratings. It passed the drop and submersion tests. Though it uses the same battery as the HX600S, it did not perform quite as well, lasting 13 hours. When we ended its battery-life test, the HX500S was not deadit simply stopped transmitting just seconds before it would have been set aside for another hour. The HX500S has a cutout circuit that will lock out the transmitter when the battery voltage drops below a certain point. It still had life and could transmit, just not for the sustained 3 minutes we used during our testing. Battery replacement cost on the HX500S is $65. Bottom Line: Rugged construction, very good overall performance, and a reasonably priced replacement battery make the HX500S a good choice. HX500S and HX600S, it is bigger and heavier. It also has a larger display screen. The HX370S has a top-mounted on/off/volume control and sidemounted pushbuttons for push-totalk and squelch. Seven pushbuttons on its face control transmitter power selection, channel changing, weather, and scanning. An optional headset, microphone, or speaker plugs into a jack on the top. The HX370S performed well in our testing, earning all Good and Excellent ratings. It did, however, trail most in the group in audio output. Submersion testing went well. The battery separated from the radio during the drop test, however. After we picked it up and reinstalled it, everything was operating normally. Battery life on the HX370 was rated at 15+, though upon reaching hour 15 it was fairly weak. We dont think this radio had much left at that point. Battery replacement is $65. Bottom Line: A decent overall performer; its just a little big and heavy for us.

Standard Horizon HX500S

Identical in looks to the HX600S, the less expensive HX500S operates only on the Marine band and does not have DSC capabilities. It has a top-mounted volume control and

Standard Horizon HX471S

Even though the HX471S is the smallest and lightest radio in our test, its also packed with features like multiband and DSC capabilities. This radio

Standard Horizon HX370S

Though the HX370S shares the same control layout as the more expensive
receives voice traffic on the Marine, Aircraft, Family, AM, FM, MURS, and Aircraft bands. It can transmit on Marine and Family radio channels. During a DSC emergency call, it will transmit the vessels MMSI number andif configured properlywill relay position data in lat/long. HX471S has top-mounted volume and squelch knobs and a side-mounted pushbutton for push-to-talk and backlighting. Front-panel pushbuttons control transmitter power output selection, channel changing, weather, scanning, band choice, and a quick 16. An optional headset, microphone, or speaker plugs into a jack on the top of the unit. The HX471S performed well in our tests, earning mostly Good ratings. We noted no problems during the drop or submersion tests. Battery life on this radio was rated for 13 hours, well beyond the manufacturers 10to 12-hour claim. One thing to keep in mind: When this radio dies from
a low battery, it is completely dead and will require a charge before it will come back to life. Recharge time on the HX471S is the fastest in the groupthree hours. Battery replacement is $83. Bottom Line: This radio has a ton of features packed into a small package. Performance was middle of the pack.

West Marine VHF 250

In addition to full marine-band capabilities, the multi-talented VHF 250 can receive signals from the Family radio, AM, FM, and Aircraft bands. It can transmit on Family radio channels too. Other features include a diecast metal case and a top-mounted adapter ready to accept an optional head set, speaker, or microphone. A scrambler is optional. The VHF 250 is controlled with a pair of top-mounted knobs for on/off/ volume and squelch, as well as seven front-panel pushbuttons for selecting the operating band, channels, weather, scanning, or quick 16 or 9. On the side is an easy-to-operate, push-to-talk switch and a backlit on-off switch. Overall performance of the VHF 250 was Good, but the audio system was weak compared to the competition. Testing took its toll on this radio. The internal connection between the unit and the antenna failed and the antenna mount was noticeably loose. In our battery-life test, the VHF 250 lasted 14 hours, well beyond its 10hour claim. Bottom Line: Lots of features in a reasonably priced package. A weak antenna mount holds this one back.

Above: The push-to-talk button on the side of the Ray101 was harder to press than any other test radios button. ner in every category. Certain radios excel in particular areas, while others provide all-around good service. We rated the Standard Horizon HX600S our top pick because it performed wellwith no hiccupsand had a bevy of added features, including the ability to listen on several voice bands and transmit a DSC call in an emergency. It is certainly not the smallest, lightest, or least expensive handheld out there, but when viewed as an overall package we think its the best. If youre looking for a radio with the longest battery life, wed opt for an Icom radio, either the IC-M72 or the IC-M88. Both had plenty of juice left at the end of our grueling battery life test. Technology enthusiasts trying to stay on the edge should look at the Standard Horizon HX471S. It packs all the features one could want into the smallest and lightest package weve tested. n Standard Horizon, 714/827-7600, standardhorizon.com Icom, 425/454-7619, icomamerica.com West Marine, 800/BOATING, westmarine.com Raymarine, 800/539-5539, raymarine.com

Conclusions

In this price range, you have plenty of options when choosing a handheld VHF. No unit stands out as a clear winAbove: The Standard Horizon HX600S fared well in every aspect of our evaluation.
Reprinted from Powerboat Reports 2006 Belvoir Media Group, LLC. Powerboat Reports is published monthly (12 issues) by Belvoir Media Group, LLC, 800 Connecticut Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06854. Subscriptions are $29 annually. 800-829-9081. www.powerboat-reports.com