denwatson
Member
- Aug 3, 2010
- 74
- Boat Info
- 2007 240 Sundeck and before that 1988 Sea Ray Sorrento 23
- Engines
- 350 MAG MPI BravoIII and before that 5.0 Merc 260 with Alpha drive
Most would agree that having a VHF radio on board is a good thing. Cell phones are great but batteries die and dead zones are numerous. We boat on the California Delta and there is lots of VHF traffic and a very strong Coast Guard and law enforcement presence, both use VHF. Our last time out we had two USCG alerts, one vessel aground and another adrift without power. With these facts in mind I started my research on buying and installing a VHF system on our boat. My first stop was Club Sea Ray where I threw out a question about where to install the radio and antenna. Chuck1 and avguy shared their installs and advice which was very helpful. On our last Sea Ray a 1988 Sorrento 23 we had a Standard Horizon VHF which worked flawlessly for 22 years. You'd think just buy another one, but the ICOM kept popping up in the reviews so we finally opted for the IC-M422. It's loaded with features, has a large and informative display, and a speaker that blows you away. It is DSC capable and when you select a channel is tells you what that channel is used for, like port operations, ship to ship or pleasure etc. Believe it or not we have frequent ocean going freighters onthe delta. This is cool because because we've heard the Coast Guard hammering boaters who use the VHF like a CB. I bought the radio on line at Ultimate Passage in Ohio for $186 and $9 shipping. On our old Sea Ray we used the Shakespeare 5400-XP antenna and 5187 SS ratchet mount and we stuck with those choices a total of $122 at Ultimate Passage. The 5400-XP is a four footer and only 3DB gain but we are able to pick up USCG San Francisco and , of course, USCG Rio Vista the local station. There are numerous bridges on the Delta and some of them get mighty low to the water at high tide so the longer antennas can get inconvenient lowering and raising all the time. OK time to start with the antenna. There is a flat area forward of and even with the starboard portlight(see photos that follow). The antenna mounts here perfectly and is easily accessable from the bow. Just drill four holes for the SS mount and three more for the thru hull cable fitting, get a buddy to back the bolts while you squeeze into the helm storage locker and tighten them up. The antenna cable comes through the deck and drops neatly down into the wiring raceway and routes to behind the dash for connecting. I trimmed the cable to the appropriate length because it comes in a 20 ft. section, installed and soldered the PL-259 connector and now it's time for the radio. Based on advice from other members I decided to flush mount the radio to the immediate left of the helm. That area is not quite flat but it will do. I fussed and measured and basically did anything I could do to postpone drilling and cutting that hole until I ran out of options. CAUTION #1! Always read the instructions carefully. The ICOM flush mount kit MB-69 is used for several ICOM radios and comes with a mounting template. The problem is the template is for the IC-M45 not the M-422. I had unkowingly used the the template for the M-45 marked up my lines and determined that a 5/8" hole saw was perfect for the rounded corners. I drilled my first hole. Whew. So I'm looking at the template and then at the M-422 and there is no way that radio is going to go in that hole. Back to the manuals and the mistake was discovered. The M-422 template is the last page in the owners manual. Dumb luck saves the day, I still had time to correct the error. Folks this area of the dash is like one inch thick in spots and is not easy to cut. CAUTION #2! When using a jig saw, always turn the saw off before removing the blade from the cutting area. There is a reason it's called the "jig" saw because if it's running when you remove the blade it will dance a "jig" all over your dash and it did. Luckily the mic clip wound up covering most of the damage but be careful. OK so we've got the hole in the dash, I'm covered with fine sawdust, the dash inside and outside is covered with dust what a mess. Get the vacuum and clean up. Time to slip the radio into the dash but do your connections first. The leads that come with the VHF are long enough to route to the fuse panel and Sea Ray has conveniently left pos and neg studs available. Squeeze a couple of female blade connectors on the leads, connect the antenna and you are hooked up. I ever so gently edge the radio towards the hole and it won't go in. It's now a matter of file a little and try again until it wedges in nice and tight and that turns out to be a good thing as you will soon see. CAUTION #3! Always determine the maximum thickness your radio will accept in a flush mount application. Now I'm uncomfortably stuffed into the helm locker with the back dash panel removed. I'm looking at the back of the radio and with the flush mount bracket and screw and with one hand carefully move the bracket towards the left side of the radio. Damn! The dash is so thick there is not enough room to mount the bracket. The screw hole on the radio is too close to the front of the radio. OK, I already know you would have to be a magician to hold the bracket and screw in one hand and try to feel the screw into the right hand side of the radio which you can't even see. At this point my so called "research" seems to have some holes in it. I crawl out if the locker and look at the radio. I tug on the radio. I jiggle the radio. Try to move it up and down. It is solid because of the "file a little at a time method". I think I'm OK without the flush mount brackets but I don't think I'd recommend this to other boaters. We spent our last ten days of the season with this VHF and it was OK but only because of the very tight fit. Alright, boat is cleaned up, I've got a beer after an exciting install that came out OK in spite of myself and it is time to share my success with the "boss". Out she comes, climbs in to the boat and the first words out of her mouth are "couldn't you have gotten that radio thing in black? It would have looked so much better with the rest of the dash". Well, some days are like that. In retrospect a little smaller VHF would be better choice if you decide to flush mount, or a radio with the bracket screw holes placed further towards the back of the radio. This mounting area is good for other passengers to see and use radio and the speaker fires right down the middle of the boat so all can hear. In that final dash photo you can see a kind of ugly round gizmo in the center of the wheel. That is a gravity activated rudder indicator manufactured by Davis Instruments, $20. I've used one forever because most of what we did all these years was ski and to know where your outdrive is pointing in a river with a 4 knot current was very helpful while lining up a pull. Also up higher on the dash are two little round SS units a clock and a thermometer very nice instruments available for $40 each at automotive on line stores. Well I hope this little story will prevent heart palpitations for some other poor soul who thought that he had "researched" an ICOM VHF installation. Happy Boating! PS Next season when I install my GPS and have to hook up the DSC leads it's going to be mighty convenient to slide the radio out of its hole and back in without messing with flush mount brackets!
