On Thu, 06 Jan 2005 19:45:03 GMT, Me wrote:

f you have a Handheld Marine VHF that can only communicate out to 6
miles over water, you need to have it checked out by a compitant Tech,
because it is certainly not operating correctly.

I am referring to using a Standard Horizon VHF handheld (a 260S...nice
unit) while bobbing in a Zodiac a mile south of the Leslie St. Spit at
Toronto and raising my wife at dock (42 feet of mast height) at
Ontario Place. The signal must transit several low islands (Toronto
Islands) and I found that six to seven miles at dawn was about as good
as I got.

If I am a mile south of the Islands in the main boat, I can frequently
hear U.S. Coast Guard traffic in Youngstown, 24 miles or so south
south east.

So I don't think there's a problem, but I am merely pointing out a
worst-case scenario. The wife commented she had trouble hearing me: I
heard her 5 by 5 on 06.

I could also raise Prescott Radio (Canadian Coast Guard) which is
miles away and a few repeaters (Oakville, Fonthill, etc.). I reported
a nav hazard (a twelve-foot tree limb low in the water) in Ashbridge's
Bay early in the morning on a Sunday,and was gratified to get an
immediate response. I gave 'em the GPS co-ords and went on my merry
way.