Installing a fixed mount VHF in O'Day 22

[George Chamberlain]

I originally posted this (by mistake, oops) under "bigger boats", before I read the caveat about 37ft and larger. Sorry about that...I am installing a Standard Horizon Intrepid VHF with RAM mic in my O'Day 22. I would appreciate any feedback or lessons learned from others who have had difficulties (or success!) in doing the same thing. Here is my plan of attack...1. The VHF will reside under the starboard side aft berth, essentially right next to the companionway. If you were lying in the berh, it would be just above your knees. May get in the way of a person sleeping there, but (1) it will be removable if it's a real burden and (2) we probably won't have anyone sleeping in that berth anyway. This location is convenient to the companionway and the cabin, and it's also out of direct sight. This also leaves lots of room for a stereo and depthfinder/GPS which I hope to eventually add in the same general area. This area seems like a good shoice because it's above/ behind the cabin table, so will not crowd/ be blocked by someone sitting in the cabin. Finally, and most important, the holes for mounting won't be obvious, so the radio can go with us when we move up to a bigger boat without requiring a "perfect" repair. In fact, there are holes down there now that the owner before last probably used for the same purpose, and which he did not bother to fill. The boat already has a fixed antenna which the previous owner used with a handheld VHF. I have the RG-8 connector to convert the antenna lead to fit the new radio, and the cable is already routed to reach this location.2. The radio will be wired directly to the battery, comes with an in-line waterproof fuse and enough wiring to reach. I have a multi-connection bus bar terminal on the battery already, so installation will be very easy (I hope).3. The RAM mic will be installed under the tiller on the transom. The previous owner installed a round (approx 8 inch dia) plastic deck plate about 3 inches above the cockpit floor. I plan to drill thru the center of this for the RAM mic wiring. The deck plate is a standard item that I can replace for about $10, so once again I won't have to worry about fiberglass repair when I sell the boat. The RAM is waterproof, and would only be mounted when the cockpit is occupied. I know the 22 is small enough that the fixed VHF is probably enough, but I read one guy's "lessons learned" where he said that when it's rough/ hectic and you have to make a call, it's hard to leave the tiller. Besides I got a good price, so I splurged. THe RAM has a built in speaker, so I did not get an external speaker for the fixed VHF. I can always get one later if I need it.Congratulations, you reached the end - sorry for the long post. I would appreciate any feedback or other info that might be of help...Regards,GAC

 

[Harry P]

VHF In O'Day 22

It should work well enough where you suggest. I thought I would offer my $0.02.The VHF in my O'22 is also mounted to starboard above the same berth, but up under the deck against the hull rather than on the companionway bulkhead. The VHF mounting bracket is secured with four short (1/4"?) SS sheet metal screws so it does not penetrate the deck, but only the interior fiberglass cabin sheathing. This maintains plenty of room for crew to use the starboard berth. The mic bracket is secured to the companionway bulkhead adjacent to the electrical panel... the mic cord stays up and out of the weay of the berth and is accessable by reaching in from the cockpit. Also, everthing is out of the weather.Like I said, it should work where you suggest, just thought I would offer what works for me. Enjoy.

 

[Dave Clark]

Port side under side deck

I recently added a VHF to my O'Day 222. Since the electrical panel is on the port side, I wanted to mount it under the port side deck, but didn't want to drill into the fiberglass. I obtained a piece of 1/4 inch scrap aluminum and cut it to 5.5 x 13 inch. I removed the original backing plate on the port-side aft stantion (which was 1/8th inch aluminum) and attached the new backing plate. I got some longer screws and rebedded the stantion and then attached the radio to the extended backing plate. All in all, it worked great, and I didn't have to mount it on the back side of the bulkhead where I figured it would always be in the way.The wiring was easy. I simply attached it to an empty breaker switch (10 minute job). Wiring the mast was a little more work, (I slid a piece of PVC pipe into the mast, and then put pipe-wrap around it to avoid cable-slap problems) but it doesn't sound like you need to do that. All in all, it was a pretty easy installation. Good luck with yours.Dave"Hakuna Matata"

 

[Stu Timm]

VHF Radio

Hey GAC;I just installed a VHF radio in my 22 on Long Island. The unit was a Horizon Eclipse gimballed unit. I mounted it on the port side of the companionway, hung from the cabin ceiling right at the aft end of the companionway. the mic is hung from the aft bulkhead of the cabin. I have visual and reach to the unit from the cockpit.I located it there because of two reasons; ONE, the antenna cable I ran from the mast (to a three foot Shakespeare antenna) was too short to reach to the originally intended location (by the fuse panel) and TWO, the new compass I also got (also located in the bulkead that holds the electrical panels) would have gone through fits with a radio in close proximity.SO,,,, A little fate and a bit of time located the radio to the port side, away from the compass and still within reach of the helm.I can also operate the radio while shut in the cabin during foul weather.Hope this helps! Happy sailing.Stu Timm"Karakahl"1979 O'Day 22 CBCenterport, LI, NY

 

[George Chamberlain]

Thanks guys...

I am hoping to do the install tomorrow, or at least this week. I honestly do appreciate your insights but I am think I will stick with where I was originally going to mount it:- there are already holes there- it's accessible to the battery for wiring, close to the existing antenna cable, and close to where I want to put the GPS (for NMEA input purposes) when I get it- RAM mic will make visibility/accessibility fom the cockpit a moot pointI will post pics if I remember to bring the camera!