Hand Held Marine Radios

Can anyone offer any opinions on what's a good to excellent hand held marine radio?    I plan on using one on Glendale Lake, Lake Arthur, and Lakes Erie and Ontario within about 5 miles of shore. 

Why are you looking at hand held? Their range, as I understand it, isn't nearly what you'll get with a mounted model. If you're stuck on the hand held I would get one that's waterproof and that floats. Get the highest wattage you can. Marty's suggestion is a good one as well.

spinner,

I understand your concern for theft, but the radios now have only 2 'quick connects', one for antenna, one for power. We take ours on and off our boats each trip to prevent theft/bad weather exposure also. Since they don't need to be hard wired in it's not a problem.
I am not familiar with the newer hand helds, though I know the technology has improved. Depending on what type of fishing you want to do you may find you can't contact shore with a hand held when perching or fishing walleye on Erie. On inland lakes you would be fine. If you do go with a hand held make sure you attach it to something in the boat or have a good float on it. I know my luck and it would be in the water the first time I needed to use it!
Let us know how you make out. I'm sure there are others who may be interested in the hand held vs perm mount types.

A handheld with the capability of being attached to an external antenna would be great for what he is looking for. Convenience without loosing the range...

VHF is strictly a "line of sight" reception, the taller the antennae the longer reach you'll have. If you watch the sales you can get a nice mounted radio for well under $100. Two mounting knobs and two connectors and it's out of the boat. Like Fisherlady said, let us know how you make out and how well it works for you.

Antenna=how far you can hear them
Wattage=how far they can hear you

I started off with a cobra handheld. After the second trip I dropped it in the dumpster, and bought a permanant mount antenna and radio.

The radio has a quick disconnect and goes right in the locking winchester pistol case beside my depthfinder everytime we come off the water, takes about 15 seconds to disconnect and I feel much better now about being out there with the kids.

Someone recommended to me the Standard Horizon HX851 handheld.   It has the GPS feature so that when you get on digital only channel 70 to make a distress call, your location is automatically revealed.