Vertical VHF Installation

[whisper]

Hi, I don't really have alot of room on my console, infact the only space I have is just in front of the seat which means the VHF will be facing straight up.

I have a Icom M411 but when speaking to the icom chap at the boat show he said they would not recommend it as water can collect on the speaker and behind the on/off knobs.

Does anyone know of another VHF (with DSC) that can be installed vertically or is this just not recommended at all.

Thanks

[Channel Ribs]

I would be reluctant to do it with any. Not what you want to hear I know.

Can you put it side-on, on the port side of the console?

[jyasaki]

you can mount it vertically, but with the unit facing astern; prevents the water pooling on the speaker.

jky

[Richard Selman]

Thought about a unit with a remote control mic? My standard horizon main unit is installed under the console on the passenger side with the mic next to the wheel on the drivers side. Never needed to touch the main unit on the water. Could just have easily installed inside the console. Its probably easier to read the screen on the mic on a bouncy day by holding it in front of your face than peering down to the screen on the main unit.

Richard

[Dr Doof]

I haven't had any trouble with mine. Its a Lowrance...

[9D280]

Originally Posted by whisper

I have a Icom M411 but when speaking to the icom chap at the boat show he said they would not recommend it as water can collect on the speaker and behind the on/off knobs.

Oh.... you mean exactly the way mine's been mounted for the last 4 years?

Granted mine isn't vertical, but more like 45 degrees, the facia being in line with the slope of the console where the wheel is fitted. I surfwace mounted it, then built a box to protect it from getting knocked when people went forward.

No pics to hand, but if you want I can go point the camera at it.

[jyasaki]

Originally Posted by Richard Selman

Thought about a unit with a remote control mic? My standard horizon main unit is installed under the console on the passenger side with the mic next to the wheel on the drivers side.

I have a SH PS2000, which was a purpose-built remote mounted unit. Unforunately, I think they quit making it for some reason.

You can still remote mount some of their units if you add on the remote mic (CMP25/30 or VH310, I think.) Would be a space-saving way to go.

jky

[whisper]

Thanks for all the advice here, I think the guy from icom was worried about sea water corroding the seals behind the knobs, however as my rib is garaged and we tend to go out in the better weather I think the chances of it getting continuously swamped will be quite slim.

Here’s a few points from the icom leaflet:

Water proof to 1m for 30 mins
IPX7 equivalent waterproof construction
AquaQuake draining function (which sheds water from the speaker)

http://www.icomuk.co.uk/files/icom/f...11_leaflet.pdf

I have read the manual and I can’t find anything in there about where it should be mounted.

http://www.icomuk.co.uk/files/icom/f...ion_manual.pdf

At the boat show I looked a £220k Scorpion cabin rib and that had an almost vertical icom M411 installed on the console.

It’s a shame icom don’t make covers for their radios.

[Nasher]

My Navman has been mounted vertically for several years now, you can just see it in the image below.

I'm lucky to have a cover that drops over it, and an all over cover on the whole boat which keeps the weather out.

However, it has been rained on lots, covered with sea water after a stuff or two, and gets hosed off with the rest of the boat to get the salt off.

I'd suggest you attend a boat jumble or two to pick up a Navman or similar cover to drop over it, or make one up.

Nasher.

[whisper]

I think it will be ok and at the end of the day it will be more sheltered than where I had it on my SR4.