Cockpit location of RAM and speaker

rbringle

rbringle

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Jan 22, 2008
80
Gulf 29 Little Current, ON
My Standard Horizon VHF radio is in the cabin on my Gulf 29. I would now like to add a RAM mic and speaker in the cockpit. I am curious about how others have done this. The speaker that is listed along with the RAM mic is an external speaker on a stand. It seems like a bulkhead mounted speaker would be better (less obtrusive). Has anyone done that? Is so, what brand speaker? The cockpit is a T-cockpit (I haven't figured out how to do a picture), which has a seat across the transom (the RAM mic could be on the vertical face, but might be in the way) and a wheel and pedestal. The RAM mic could plug in at the aft end of either cockpit seat. But where should the speaker go? The pedestal now has a chart plotter on top. Has anyone mounted an external speaker on the pedestal?
 
Ken13559

Ken13559

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Oct 29, 2005
2,366
Hunter Marine 326 303 Singapore
Bob, where ever you put the SH RAM, do consider its coil cable length. It's rather short.
 
Jackdaw

Jackdaw

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Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
Look again.... On our 36.7 the S-H RAM mic has a built in speaker. I would be really surprised if you found one that was NOT like that, it would really over complicate matters. Ken is right about the cord. It's short. Happily the speaker is loud, and can be heard over the diesel.
 
Rich Stidger

Rich Stidger

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Feb 10, 2004
4,234
Hunter 40.5 Warwick, RI
I have a different sailboat, but I mounted mine on the side of my steering console. The coiled cord is plenty long enough in this location and the mike does have a built-in speaker that is easy to hear.

Be sure to carefully measure the length of cable needed to connect the base radio to the mike. I needed three 10-foot extensions at about $50 each.
 

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McIntoshUSA

McIntoshUSA

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Jun 5, 2014
209
Capital Yacths Newport MKIII 30 Punta Gorda, Fl
Ours is a Standard Horizon and the speaker is built into the mic. It is mounted on the Nav Pod at the helm. Very convenient to reach, hear, and use. I can turn the volume up on the mic, change channels, scan etc. If i need to I can lift the mic/speaker up to my ear for a minute if too much noise to hear. See pic below.

 

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Meriachee

Meriachee

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Aug 1, 2011
3,972
Catalina 270 255 Wabamun. Welcome to the marina
We mounted ours right on the NavPod. The external speaker is not necessary, all the functionality, including volume is right there on the mic.
 
Gunni

Gunni

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Mar 16, 2010
5,937
Beneteau 411 Oceanis Annapolis
When you go looking for a place to mount the Mic imagine your biggest most uncoordinated crewmember careening about the cockpit frantically grabbing for a hand-hold with the boat pitched 25degrees....don't mount the mic in the impact zones. Mine is tucked under a lip on the side of the t-consol. Cletus hasn't dislodged it yet!
 
Alan Gomes

Alan Gomes

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Nov 22, 2011
1,296
Ericson 26-2 San Pedro, CA
Rich Stidger said:
I have a different sailboat, but I mounted mine on the side of my steering console. The coiled cord is plenty long enough in this location and the mike does have a built-in speaker that is easy to hear.

Be sure to carefully measure the length of cable needed to connect the base radio to the mike. I needed three 10-foot extensions at about $50 each.
Click to expand
Any interference with the compass from the magnet in the speaker?
 
Rich Stidger

Rich Stidger

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Feb 10, 2004
4,234
Hunter 40.5 Warwick, RI
Alan Gomes said:
Any interference with the compass from the magnet in the speaker?
Click to expand
Not that I have noticed. But to be fair, I don't use the compass for my normal navigation. The mike hangs about two feet from the compass and it can be moved twice that distance easily.
 
rbringle

rbringle

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Jan 22, 2008
80
Gulf 29 Little Current, ON
Jackdaw said:
Look again.... On our 36.7 the S-H RAM mic has a built in speaker. I would be really surprised if you found one that was NOT like that, it would really over complicate matters. Ken is right about the cord. It's short. Happily the speaker is loud, and can be heard over the diesel.
Click to expand
I have read reviews that the built-in speaker is poor quality, with users recommending a separate speaker. What is the experience of others with the built-in RAM speaker? Here is a picture of the cockpit. The pedestal now has a Plotter on top.
 

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Rich Stidger

Rich Stidger

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Feb 10, 2004
4,234
Hunter 40.5 Warwick, RI
My RAM mike is the older style not like the one in the picture posted by woodster. The sound quality is just fine- and I use hearing aids. Depending upon which model of radio you have the style may vary.
 
Skipper

Skipper

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Oct 9, 2008
1,742
Bristol 29.9 Dana Point
An external speaker is not needed on a sailboat with a ram mic. They're more for powerboats at speed. The sh ram is more than enough volume, especially with the main unit echoing in the cabin. Exception might be in high winds, but you can always hold it up to your ear when listening back. Ditto on the short cord.
 
Ken13559

Ken13559

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Oct 29, 2005
2,366
Hunter Marine 326 303 Singapore
My RAM mic works great. No ext speakers required. It's mounted on port side of my pedestal instrument pod. One thing though is when speaking into RAM mic mouth has to be pretty close to the mic like 1/2".
 
NYSail

NYSail

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Jan 6, 2006
3,178
Beneteau 423 Mt. Sinai, NY
The internal mic is just fine..... Mine is at the Helm and hear everything I need to. Anyway if it's an emergency the mic is in your hand and you're talking
 
rbringle

rbringle

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Jan 22, 2008
80
Gulf 29 Little Current, ON
Thanks for all of the feedback. I'll start with the RAM mic only and see how it works. We added a complete cockpit enclosure last summer, so I expect the RAM mic's speaker will be sufficient.
 
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