| Author | Message | ||
     David Sheriff Board Administrator Username: admin Post Number: 99 Registered: 01-2004 |
Posted on Tuesday, February 17, 2004 - 02:30 pm: I have both an ICOM M3A (water resistant) and M2A (waterproof). Both are fine radios. I bought the M3A first and then realized that the M2A fit my risk profile better. The M2A saved Steve and me from much hardship (gross understatement) when I was able to hit CG LA from a dinghy on the backside of Santa Barbara Island (within a mile of Sutil Island) and Toni and Marc came to our rescue just before dark one day two summers ago. Thanks again. Among many things I learned from that experience was to vacuum-pack spare batteries in my PFD. By the time you reached me, the radio had automatically reduced to low power because the batteries were almost discharged. I have used the spare battery pack on one occasion. It was not urgent, but it was very nice to be able to continue to communicate. Not that the radio's normal batteries do not last, but that you tend to do a lot of talking when the Coast Guard is relaying your urgent traffic and trying to find your shipmates so they can come save your butt. Oh, and it would have been much easier if I had my GPS with me. A lot of radio time with the CG was trying to explain where we were in the water around SBI. I will never forget the name of Sutil Island again. Or will I forget Marc or Toni. A Safety at Sea instructor told me last year that I am unlikely to be able to stop coughing long enough to call for help if I actually ever fall overboard. I still clip the radio to my PFD. You never know. |
