Radio Communication Systems or DID YOU HEAR ME?

We have been boating on Meandering Joy for three years this month!!! Happy Anniversary!  Now that we are three years older, we sometimes have trouble hearing each other.  So what? you might say–this happens all he time at my house.  Mine too–but the issue becomes larger when trying to dock the boat.  My job is to be Steve’s eyes on the starboard side of the boat and the stern while docking because he can usually see the port side.  

We have avoided purchasing a hands-free radio communication system for a couple of reasons.  Number one–you guessed it–the cost.  Number two–we get mixed reviews from users.  There have been times when I have had to yell over wind and sometimes my normally kind voice sounds stressed and a bit frustrated.  It can be embarrassing but usually brings out tons of extra dock hands to help us.  

Steve noticed on the Fleming owners website a suggestion to use the app Walkie-Talkie Wifi & Bluetooth by Torchlight.  It works well for us.  I can use headphones and put the phone in waist pack in the hands free mode.  This allows us to talk without screaming and since it is handsfree I don’t have to worry about dropping my phone while throwing the lines to the dockhands.  

It takes a little patience to get it going and I would advise getting it adjusted and set long before untying or tossing lines.  Other uses are for those on ATV’s or motorcycles. At 99 cents per phone we feel pretty good about  Saving about $300 on the Eartec Sumultak 24G.  

Joy