Handheld VHF radios come in handy for a variety of tasks aboard any boat. On small skiffs, they serve well as the main method of communicating—and you don’t 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 boat’s main antenna via an adapter and significantly increase your transceiver range. …