what's a decent handheld VHF for the $? I looked at the Standard Horizon HX270, at only $80, seems like a good deal. Any reason to get something more?

If I were buying one it would be an ICOM waterproof model. No one makes VHFs like ICOM, I have two fixed mounts on my boat.

my raymarine crapped out after two seasons.
i would go icom as well.

I have an ICOM M72. Being waterproof is the most important thing to me. For the money? I got it for around $150 on E-Bay. Standard Horizon is good stuff, my Fixed VHF is a SH, a Phantom 1000 with the RAM mic. I have an older HandHeld SH, a basic one and it has been working now for at least 10 years, paid under $100 for it.