Marine
Retevis RM01 3W VHF Marine Handheld Radio — IP67 Floating, Portable
Product description
Compact, easy-to-carry marine transceiver designed for personal watercraft and shore operations. The handheld has a slim profile and includes a wrist lanyard for secure carrying and quick access. It’s intended for activities such as sailing lessons, recreational fishing, kayaking, powerboating, club use and beach safety duties.
Built to IP67 standards, the unit resists immersion to 1 meter for 30 minutes and is designed to float briefly if dropped overboard so you can retrieve it quickly. The enclosure supports vibration drainage, and materials resist salt spray and corrosion. The charging connector is protected by a snug, threaded cap to keep water out during use.
Power is supplied by five AAA Ni‑MH batteries, which are included in the package. The radio ships with both an AC wall charger and a DC/car charger to give you multiple recharging options. Use the supplied adapter and cable to recharge the pack; the manufacturer advises against charging other devices with those accessories.
The RM01 provides 88 US/CA/international VHF channels, including 16 standard emergency/Channel 16 access for distress or calling. Built‑in weather channels and an alert function let you receive NOAA weather broadcasts to help plan and stay safe on the water.
Pros
- IP67 waterproof rating and floats briefly
- Includes rechargeable AAA batteries plus AC and DC chargers
- Receives NOAA weather channels and 88 VHF channels
Cons
- Included rechargeable cells are modest quality
- Manual is minimal; some features need online reference
- Battery indicator/charge signaling can be unclear
VerdictA lightweight, straightforward VHF option for casual boaters, kayakers and beach patrols. It offers solid waterproofing and flotation, multiple charging options and NOAA weather reception. Expect basic controls, modest battery performance with the included cells, and a feature set aimed at value-minded users rather than advanced operators.
Reviews
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Yaniv L. 1/5
Charging problem
The unit won’t show that it’s charging. I called the listed number and it went to voicemail without a message option. Hoping for another contact method.
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Wil 5/5
Need replacement clip
Where can I buy a spare belt/antenna clip for the RM01? Mine broke after two years of ocean use. Love the radio otherwise.
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Edgar b. 5/5
Muy buenos
Prácticos y cumplen; alcance limitado pero hacen el trabajo.
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John 5/5
Perfect for my pontoon
Compact and works well for my pontoon where storage is tight and I don’t want wiring hassles. Simple and reliable.
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Charles G. Gage 5/5
Good, no-frills marine radio
A basic marine unit that does what it needs to for casual boating. Long run time on a charge, floats, water resistant, clear audio and solid build. Controls are simple but the manual is short. The promo mentions a vibration drain for the speaker area but I couldn’t find details in the paperwork — online videos or the maker’s site are probably more helpful. For general weekend use it’s a strong value.
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Cassandra Kay Daye 5/5
Performs flawlessly
The radio works exactly as expected. My only gripe is the supplied rechargeable AAA cells are not great — I’ll replace them soon.
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Josh W 5/5
Simple, reliable VHF for outings
I wanted something straightforward for the boat and this fits. It receives NOAA weather and seems well sealed. I haven’t tested full battery life or deep submersion, but rain and splashes haven’t been an issue.
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dmoniot 3/5
Too feature-heavy and fiddly
Packed with functions I don’t need, and getting to basic settings is cumbersome. Lots of icons and menu layers, no physical knobs — volume and squelch require awkward button presses. If you only want weather and simple comms, the extras are overkill.
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Rob 4/5
Mostly satisfied
Replaced an older VHF charger base and used this racing a small sailboat—got wet with no problems and still had about two-thirds battery left. Easy to hear in noisy conditions. It’s labeled floating but I wouldn’t rely on it to stay perfectly buoyant. Comes with rechargeable AAAs and both wall and car chargers; instructions warn not to use the chargers for other devices and limit charging time, and the charge light doesn’t clearly indicate full.
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