Installed a RAM today

Jun 11, 2004
1,711
Oday 31 Redondo Beach
The photo of the 1.5 inch drill bit hit me like a chain saw massacre movie poster. I'm always afraid when it comes to putting new holes in my boat.

Looks like you did a good job!
 
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Feb 17, 2006
5,274
Lancer 27PS MCB Camp Pendleton KF6BL
Kudos! Very professionally done. How did you route the internal wiring?
 
Jan 19, 2010
12,548
Hobie 16 & Rhodes 22 Skeeter Charleston
Kudos! Very professionally done. How did you route the internal wiring?
That was a chore and the blood on my arm proves it.
I ran a coat hanger with a small line tapped to it up through a seem between the headliner and the cabin top ten tapped the line to the wiare and pulled it back to the radio
A0B240AD-B308-417B-A11C-EB2438F8CF0C.jpeg
 
Oct 24, 2010
2,405
Hunter 30 Everett, WA
You won't be sorry. They're really handy. Before that, we relied on a handheld VHF because it was inconvenient to go below to make a call. On our boat, I drilled a mounting hole then discovered the wiring already in place. All I needed to do was mount the connector and pull the other end out of the wall and connect it to the VHF. It was even the right brand of cable.

Ken
 
Jan 18, 2016
782
Catalina 387 Dana Point
I'm with Ken. The Ram is very handy - I use it all the time. Since I've got AIS rx on my radio - it also shows up on the Ram - which is fantastic as my typical "go below and peek at the chartplotter" timeframe is a little too long to catch boats going 30+ kts. So I peek at the AIS display (5 mi, usually) on the Ram every min or so to be aware of when I'm going to be run over by the express.
 
Jan 19, 2010
12,548
Hobie 16 & Rhodes 22 Skeeter Charleston
I'm with Ken. The Ram is very handy - I use it all the time. Since I've got AIS rx on my radio - it also shows up on the Ram - which is fantastic as my typical "go below and peek at the chartplotter" timeframe is a little too long to catch boats going 30+ kts. So I peek at the AIS display (5 mi, usually) on the Ram every min or so to be aware of when I'm going to be run over by the express.
My vhf also has AIS
Looking forward to using it
 
Apr 8, 2010
2,065
Ericson Yachts Olson 34 28400 Portland OR
Note that hard-wired RAM devices are not the only answer.
We have used a wireless RAM on our Simard VHF radio for over 5 years. This setup also echo's AIS information onto our Lowrance plotter at the helm.
As with any radio, you still have to remember that if it's parked on the cupholder in front of the compass.... to move it away before relying on the compass heading... :(

The little RAM transceiver clips onto its own flat surface charging 'station' at the nav table when not in actual use in the cockpit.
Our older "VHF handheld radio" is still aboard, for redundancy.
I would guess that hard-wired devices like this are fading in the market place. Too many boats out there (and I have seen quite a few) with broken plug connections in the cockpit.
Aside from that quibble, it's a nice function to have.
 
Dec 19, 2006
5,813
Hunter 36 Punta Gorda
What model VHF did you get.
I am having trouble with my second Ram Mic on my 422 standard horizon vhf and thinking maybe timeforAIS.
Nick
 
Jan 19, 2010
12,548
Hobie 16 & Rhodes 22 Skeeter Charleston
There is a pic in Post #6

It is the standard horizon GX 2200

1584993780811.png
1584993824879.png
 

Mr Fox

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Aug 31, 2017
204
Marshall 22 Portland, ME
I own the same radio- I highly recommend it.

Nice work on the remote!
 
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Sep 15, 2013
708
Catalina 270 Baltimore
It is the standard horizon GX 2200

1584993780811.png
I have the same set up except in white. It is one of the best boat mods I did. Where I sail the AIS is invaluable. It lets you know when the big boys are coming and how much time you have to get out of the way before you get smashed to smithereens.