Replacement VHF Radio

mooredriven

New Member
Oct 16, 2006
76
Flower Mound, TX
Boat Info
340 Sundancer, 2003
Engines
8.1 Horizon's
I have a Raymarine 215 VHF fixed mounted radio. The display is starting to fade and the microphone needs to be replaced. Has anyone replaced their Raymarine with an ICOM, Uniden or other? I believe the Raymarine is much wider than the any ICOM or Uniden radioes so mounting may be an issue.

I've considered replacing just the microphone, but the cheapest I can find is around $100. I can pick up a new ICOM or Uniden for the same price.

Thoughts?

Dale
 
I have a Raymarine 215 VHF fixed mounted radio. The display is starting to fade and the microphone needs to be replaced. Has anyone replaced their Raymarine with an ICOM, Uniden or other? I believe the Raymarine is much wider than the any ICOM or Uniden radioes so mounting may be an issue.

I've considered replacing just the microphone, but the cheapest I can find is around $100. I can pick up a new ICOM or Uniden for the same price.

Thoughts?

Dale

Hey Dale
I just removed my RayMarine 210 and replaced it with a Standard Horizon I bought here through Jim(boemarine.com).

I bought the STANDARD QUEST-X BLACK VHF RADIO GX1500S

I like it and connected it to the GPS for MMSI and DSC Capabilites
 
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I have been thinking about replacing mine. I have looked at the 210 installation and think I can make a blanking plate out of ¼ inch starboard to cover the existing hole. I would mount the new radio into this plate. Todd what slick insert did you craft up?
 
I have a VHS radio but it has not been in a boat for sometime - now with everyone having cell phones - I do not feel the need & the odds someone up here had theirs on if you needed them is slim - it did work a lot better than a CB for Snowgoose hunting back in the day I did a lot of that :lol:
 
That's some range you are considering. The best radio made and one of the worst. Consider mid-tier, or better, Icom or Standard Horizon if you need a working VHF. If you just need to plug the hole, then uniden is good too.

Best regards,
Frank
 
I have been thinking about replacing mine. I have looked at the 210 installation and think I can make a blanking plate out of ¼ inch starboard to cover the existing hole. I would mount the new radio into this plate. Todd what slick insert did you craft up?

I got some black 1/4" ABS. It worked ok. I'm not terribly crazy with how it routed, but it looks ok. I may do it over with some stainless. I may just get an entire new piece of blank Starboard and have my buddy water jet if for me(we'll see). I had to mimic the Gray plate Raymarine had made and make an angle bracket because the flush mount kit I bought with the radio wanted to hit the center fiberglass of the Helm as the starboard door closed.

Also, everythings black. I hooked it up to the Garmin 545s (DSC still to test) but is hooked up and shows that it's connected to the GPS(Little Satellite Icon on the Radio)
I have programmed in my MMSI as well.

It all fits now and I'll have to take some pictures.
 
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Thanks to everyone for their responses.

I compared the Standard Horizon Quest-X dimensions to the Raymarine 215. The Quest is a bit too narrow, which is what I've found with all other manufacturers. I suspect Raymarine does this intentionally to ensure replacements are their radio's.

mistercomputerman, I think I'll give Raymarine a call about their service program. I would like to know the turn around time, and how they would "fix" the microphone.

Dale
 
A good fiberglass guy can probably fill-in the hole and match the gelcoat and grain pretty closely. Might be worth looking into that, too.

Best regards,
Frank C
 
SeaHarley,

How is the size of the SH Matrix compared to the old Raymarine? Did you have to make a backplate to cover up some of the hole in the panel? Any pictures of the finished installation?

BTW - nice running shot

Thanks.
 
SeaHarley,

How is the size of the SH Matrix compared to the old Raymarine? Did you have to make a backplate to cover up some of the hole in the panel? Any pictures of the finished installation?

BTW - nice running shot

Thanks.

Thank you......
Sorry no pictures of the radio.

But, the Matrix is a little bit narrower.
So being the MacGyver that I am, I had a leftover piece of kitchen countertop that is about a 1/16" think.
I used the old original Ray 210 mounting plate, and overlaped it with the countertop material. Cut out the new inside size to match the Matrix. Cut the same outside size and drilled the same location mounting screws.

The Matrix is Black, but all my other stuff on the helm dash is grey, so I painted the mount grey to match. It looks perfect and better than original

Therefore, the mounting bracket was free, except for the paint!!

Lee
 
This what i did when I replaced my Vhf

DSCF0253.jpg
 
I'm going to assume that you added the wood panel and covered the existing radio hole. Correct? Where did you get the wood panel from, the dealer?

Thanks,
Dale
 
yes I added the panel to cover hole, its the piece left over from installing the c-80.
 
Thank you......
Sorry no pictures of the radio.

But, the Matrix is a little bit narrower.
So being the MacGyver that I am, I had a leftover piece of kitchen countertop that is about a 1/16" think.
I used the old original Ray 210 mounting plate, and overlaped it with the countertop material. Cut out the new inside size to match the Matrix. Cut the same outside size and drilled the same location mounting screws.

The Matrix is Black, but all my other stuff on the helm dash is grey, so I painted the mount grey to match. It looks perfect and better than original

Therefore, the mounting bracket was free, except for the paint!!

Lee

OK, sounds good. I like the grey mounting plate idea.
 
I had to install a new radio so I would have DSC capability. Went with the SH Quest-X. Working great so far. Only problem was getting it to fit in dash. As I could not get behind the dash to tighten flush mounting brackets, I made a plate out of Starboard and mounted the radio to that, then secured that to dash. Cut the dash with a roto-zip and carbide bit (Lots of dust!!!).
Here is a picture.
 
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I wanted to provide an update with my decision, and end results, for the replacement radio. I decided on the Raymarine 55. It's dimensions were the closest to the original. I did purchase the surface mounting plate to cover the few millimeters difference.
 

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Thanks for the update and the picture. I've also concluded that the Ray 55 is the closest match in size and appearance. That is probably what I will get, too.
 

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