Extra vhf radio

[ShinyShoe]

Rarely is it necessary - like people fitting plotters there, a single station at the chart table is another hangover from when electronics were fragile and delicate things that needed to be kept dry.

That said, it can occasionally be convenient. A couple of years ago I found myself acting as relay for a Pan-Pan call, and it was useful to be able to sit below on my own away from the distraction of others in the cockpit, and have a pencil to hand to write down positions etc to pass on.

So I think the best setup for a yacht without a large crew is one control station reachable from the helm and one at the chart table. In a small tiller-steered boat this could be one set just inside the hatch. Otherwise, given the likely more limited mounting space available in the cockpit, it would typically be the main radio down below, and a remote station handset (able to control all the functions of the radio) in the cockpit.

Pete

This was kind of my point

20-30 years ago it had to be below because the sets weren't waterproof.
Perhaps pre-mobile phone when people used shore stations to call landlines that also made sense.
In days when the only weather you could get was an MSI or Radio 4 it also made sense as you'd go below for the weather and take notes.
Now most people dial it up on the web. The MSI is there to make sure what you got online hasn't changed...

In an ideal world I agree - command mike etc. But if you are not command miking... I'd be aiming for a waterproof set in the cockpit, or reachable from the cockpit. If that can also be reached from the cabin great. If you want the radio on in the cabin for listening too (I'm nosy) then remote speaker in the cabin.

If I was putting dual sets in I'd be tempted to do pushput aerial for down below radio and mast top for cockpit. DSC for cockpit.

 

[prv]

Now most people dial it up on the web. The MSI is there to make sure what you got online hasn't changed...

Where I sail, the only time I don’t have Internet available is generally a few hours in the middle of a Channel crossing

Pete

 

[Fendant]

I have the Simrad RS 35 below with the HS 35 wireless remote handheld in thw Cockpit. After years with a VHF down below and a handheld VHF, which always seemed to have a low batt when needed , the new Investment is far superior.