Best place to put VHF radio

mick butterworth

mick butterworth

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Bought a VHF radio a while ago still can't decide where to put it (jaguar 25) plenty of coax wire runs as short as possible near the dinette/table area any ideas greatly appreciated
 
Best where you can reach it from the helm. I have a mic extension under the tiller. If no extension option, what about mounting just inside the washboards on the bulkhead, again, so it can be reached from the cockpit. Not having to go below in an emergency would be helpful.

The extra cable that might be needed couldn't amount to anything significant.
 
I don't think there is any ideal position, especially one that would allow a single-handed sailort to use it with ease from the cockpit. My preference in a small boat would be to put it handily inside, with a cockpit loudspeaker, swtichable on & off. For cockpit use, a second handheld radio would be much easier when helming, as well as providing a back-up, though leaving thre helm with autopilot or crew are also possible. For a larger boat, there are of course more options such as dual handsets.
 
SAPurdie said:
IMHO: Deckhead, just inside the companionway so that it can be seen and operated from inside or out. Especially important now we have all the DSC alerts to attend to.
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That's about where it was on our smaller previous boat. Above the chart table, just to starboard of the hatch. Worked pretty well.

With modern waterproof radios (basically all of them), there's actually no reason not to just mount the thing in the cockpit. There may well not be a convenient safe location for it though, and there's no conventional place because most people are still in the habit of putting them in the cabin.

Pete
 
Couple of reasons for having it 'indoors'.
1) Theft.
2) Writing down weather forecasts etc
3) It can help sometimes to get below out of the noise in a gale or when there's a lot going on topsides. Certainly on a racing boat, the nav wants to be below getting the course etc.

It might be different on a boat strongly biased towards singlehanding.
It's easy to say 'have it 'at the helm' but on some boats that might make it hard for anyone but the helm to use it.
If I want a radio on deck, I use a handheld.
I think a proper Sailor VHF with telephone-style handset is something to covet though. If that can be used under the sprayhood it might be an optimum.
 
On my last 2 boats, I had the VHF below with a "command mic" extension at the helm. It's the more expensive option, but so useful and convenient that its well worth it. I have been surprised at how well the command mile has survived the inevitable knocking about, dropping, and weather exposure... so far.
 
biscuit said:
On my last 2 boats, I had the VHF below with a "command mic" extension at the helm. It's the more expensive option, but so useful and convenient that its well worth it. I have been surprised at how well the command mile has survived the inevitable knocking about, dropping, and weather exposure... so far.
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plus about a hundred... Remote command mike every time
 
Norman_E said:
Another vote for having a command mike at the helm. I do not want to have to go below every time I need to use the VHF.
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Agree absolutely on not having to always go below (though point also taken from #8 that occasionally you want to - last summer I was being the relay for a Pan Pan with difficult comms and it was easier to leave my crew on deck and sit myself at the chart table with a notepad). So on a larger boat and especially one with a wheel and binnacle, a command-mic at the helm is ideal. But for a smaller tiller-steered boat like the OP's, putting the main radio within reach of the hatch can work just as well and will cost less, perhaps significantly so.

I've had both types of boat, with both corresponding radio arrangements :)

Pete
 
loads of options ,thanks the idea of putting it inside the companionway means its going to get wet .not sure about how waterproof they are. i agree that i need to use it while single handed so inside by the chart table is going to be inconvenient ,the idea of a handheld for yapping to marinas and bridge trolls is an option cant use a command mike because the the mike is hardwired to the radio.
 
mick butterworth said:
not sure about how waterproof they are.
Click to expand...

What model is it?

Modern VHFs are generally fully submersible. My Standard Horizon GX2100 for instance is IPx7 - submersible to one metre for half an hour.

I can't imagine any of them will be troubled by a bit of rain or spray through the hatch.

Pete
 
mick butterworth said:
loads of options ,thanks the idea of putting it inside the companionway means its going to get wet .not sure about how waterproof they are. i agree that i need to use it while single handed so inside by the chart table is going to be inconvenient ,the idea of a handheld for yapping to marinas and bridge trolls is an option cant use a command mike because the the mike is hardwired to the radio.
Click to expand...

...and so is mine, but it comes with a socket that you surface mount (and seal) and plug the command mike into.
 
Assuming this is a low end model wth hardwired handset, then the old preferrence of mounting it to the cabin roof to one side of the hatch has a lot to recommend it. You can reach itwell enough to use it from the cockpit and cabin and by mounting it to one side, you don't headbut it every time you go below. It also leaves more space for the switch panel by the chart table.

Of course, if starting again there are models which are basically black boxes to be shoved into any dark corner with handsets for cabin and cockpit.

I'm told that wireless handsets (often vox operated) have a remarkable transmission delay considering it's only a couple of feet from the radio.

If you're considering a handheld for cockpit use, be aware that it can interact with the fixed set. We once had the fixed set on scan , but used the H/H from the foredeck to get away from engine noise. The sets captured after around ten seconds use (presumably the period of the scan) and we had to switch the fixed set off to call the marina.

Rob.
 
biscuit said:
On my last 2 boats, I had the VHF below with a "command mic" extension at the helm. It's the more expensive option, but so useful and convenient that its well worth it. I have been surprised at how well the command mile has survived the inevitable knocking about, dropping, and weather exposure... so far.
Click to expand...

Agree and its what we are changing to. The command mic's are very good. I appreciate that the OP may have already bought his VHF without Command Mic facility...

Up to now its been main VHF at the chart table and a hand held for talking to marinas etc from the helm.
 
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