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I did not attempt to get Thiel to test (and model) these headsets during our delivery trip, but even on his 32-foot boat they might have been useful when picking up a mooring, docking, or even during a fuel filter drill. While they may tend to make a boater look unfashionably similar to a Soviet tank driver, they are an effective way to communicate without yelling. Working over two short-range (about 300 feet) AM frequencies, the self-contained headsets are fully duplex and, like a telephone, allow for simple, simultaneous, two-way conversation. The radio itself is in the left earphone, with a single on/off, hi/low volume switch. The right “earphone” contains only a 9-volt battery and can be worn on or off the ear. The pair I tested worked fine, though nearby ignition systems or computers will cause static. The headsets are not waterproof but are a bargain at $60 a pair with a padded case.

Cruising Solutions Phone: (800) 460-7456. www.cruisingsolutions.com.

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