I only use the Sangean at home. I have a Lowe 150 on board along with an Icom 706 MkII, both of which we cruised with in the Med/Caribbean for almost ten years.
I don't know the 909, but it wouldn't matter if I did. I don't think these radios are adequate for long term ocean cruising.
BTW, we used Herb on every one of our circuits and he's fantastic in our view. Sure we were downloading our own wefaxes and RTTY daily, and carrying out our own interpretation, but it was still good to have Herb there to confirm it or modify it with later info.
SWMBO, who is our regular radio operator, would be really miserable if she didn't chat to him each evening.