Tom:

Would you like me to move my end of this to another thread? We're getting pretty far afield from VHF.

No, its all good. If I had to rename the thread, I'd call it something like Safe Offshore Uni Sailing. I'm considering all the options put on the table and find humor in the "boat getting away from me" stories. I just started with VHF because that's the first option I considered.

On the line bag thingy - looks like the throw bag you can get from West Marine (theirs rated tops in Practical Sailor awhile ago). You hold onto the end of the line and heave the bag at the COB. The line floats, the whole thing can repacked, would also work the way you're looking at the other one (looks almost identical).

West Marine throw bag

On the radios - I tend use the Icom ones. Currently I use the IC-M72. I got that one because it has a little more power and is waterproof to a higher standard. I got this one when I mistakenly thought my IC-M88 had gone bad. It turned out to be the battery pack. I had considered the floating ones but found them to be to bulky to fit easily into my life jacket pocket. I figure the ways things go on a cat or a tri that even if the radio floats I wont be able to find it once I turn around. I usually hook the strap to life jacket anyway. Anyway, I find those radios to be reliable and tough.

I'm very impressed with my standard horizon , wondered if it was wirth paying more for icom , but using the sh has proved to be a better radio , our club use icoms and when I take my sh out on rescue duty , it can be heard when icoms become unitelligble which was a pleasant suprise to me , also dropped the sh in water launching rib , didnt notice till too late (had started a race ) , on return 3 hours later found it , still under water , still workung - no probs , had it checked out , no probs .

This looks lie a great device.

When I dive, especially in the ocean, the boat boat driver would just kinda follow our bubbles. Just kidding.
We always had the float with dive flag attached tethered to us, (quick release of course), and they followed that.

But this does look like an awesome device, for alot of sports.