VHF at helm (possibly hands free)

[patagoniadave]

I am only months into this sailing lifestyle, so please forgive any blatantly ignorant questions.

I am singlehanding a 34' Irwin Citation. My radio is down in the cabin. I have found this to be pretty much useless to me while sailing, especially in heavy weather. Even in fair conditions, I have to set autopilot, un tether, remove hatch boards, rotate gps screen, explain to dogs why they cannot come out yet, crawl down rocking steps, and then I forgot what I wanted to say.

I'd like an option at the helm, and am trying to sort out what is best. Handheld is lowest on my list, because it can get lost, and does not take advantage of my antenae.

It actually looks like the boat used to have a radio mike thing hardwired to the pedestal from below, but that was on an older radio.

I have heard some talk about bluetooth wireless hands free. This is where I am going to put my research time in initially.

Thanks for any advice.

 

[kappykaplan]

I have Simrad HS35 that connects to the Simrad RS35 radio in the cabin via Bluetooth.

 

[mikeracca]

Yaesu/Standard Horizon has remote options for you with many of their models. I’m not sure if they are BT or simply wired. Honestly I would prefer wired as it would be a much simpler setup with one less variable.

 

[dlochner]

We have a B&G H60 with 2 BT remote mics Because the mics need recharging every 7 or 8. Hours. Wired remotes don’t have this issue.

Remote mics, wired or wireless, are specific to brand and model.

We added an external speaker and placed it in the cockpit. Much easier to hear the radio.

 

[Davidasailor26]

+1 for the Simrad or B&G VHF with the wireless handset. A battery powered device with wireless connectivity is a little more risk. But for anything less than blue water cruising I find the trade off acceptable, given the extra convenience of having the radio anywhere you want it on the boat, without needing to run more wires.

 

[FastOlson]

We have been quite happy with a Simrad VHF inside, with their remote handheld remote at the helm. It lives in a snap-in charging cradle inside when not in use. Seems to 'last' all day outside.

Probably considered a "belt and suspenders" approach.... but I also have a good handheld VHF that I keep handy, since we have bridges and commercial traffic to contend with in our sailing area. Channels 13 and 14 are used/monitored a lot.

It's great not having the cord to trip over or otherwise pull loose like so many other boats I have been on.
Be aware, that like all little electronic devices- especially with speakers- , there is a powerful magnet inside the remote unit, and you have to keep it 3 feet away from your compass (at least any time you are relying on the compass for information -- but you knew that already).

 

[patagoniadave]

We have been quite happy with a Simrad VHF inside, with their remote handheld remote at the helm. It lives in a snap-in charging cradle inside when not in use. Seems to 'last' all day outside.

Probably considered a "belt and suspenders" approach.... but I also have a good handheld VHF that I keep handy, since we have bridges and commercial traffic to contend with in our sailing area. Channels 13 and 14 are used/monitored a lot.

It's great not having the cord to trip over or otherwise pull loose like so many other boats I have been on.
Be aware, that like all little electronic devices- especially with speakers- , there is a powerful magnet inside the remote unit, and you have to keep it 3 feet away from your compass (at least any time you are relying on the compass for information -- but you knew that already).

ha, no, I did not know that (or at least I did not remember that I knew that), so thank you.

 

[kappykaplan]

but I also have a good handheld VHF that I keep handy

 

[patagoniadave]

Yeah, I was going to do that as well, just as a backup instead of primary. Also, side benefit of having two channels monitored especially when buddy boating.

 

[kappykaplan]

You got it!

 

[BarryL]

Hello,

Over the years I have had fixed mount VHF down below with
No handset at the wheel (bad)
Corded handset at the wheel (good)
Remote handset at the wheel (best)
hand held handset (also best).

The nice thing about the corded remote handset is that you don't need to worry about the wireless connection or the onboard battery. On my Simrad unit on occasion the handset would lose the connection to the base, or would refuse to connect. You do need a charging cradle, so there isn't that much benefit of the wireless, but you can move around the boat and still have access to the radio. On my boat I installed the charging cradle by the wheel. So when I was out sailing the handset was getting charged. My current boat has Standard Horizon remote mic at the wheel, which works well and is easy to use.

I also have a small, cheap ($100) Standard Horizon hand held radio. To be honest, I use that radio more than the fixed mount. Most of my VHF use is either when docking at a new marina, to call and get a slip assignment, or during racing for monitoring the committee boat, check in, etc. So I don't need 25watts of power. The hand held is easier to use, and is connected to my PFD so I have it in case I go over the side by accident.

Barry

 

[Joe]

Geez... a hand held is basic survival equipment. For $100 or so, c'mon man. I have a couple of 'em. Plus I have the B&G combo with AIS also. But seriously, You need a handheld.... if only to take in the dinghy, or give to your crew, or if the big one blows a fuse. As far as range.... don't worry about it... anything that happens is gonna happen well within hand held range. You will not lose it, make a pocket for it at the helm. You're over thinking this..... now if you just want to spend more money.. go for it.. but all you need is the hand held.

 

[Davidasailor26]

The Simrad / B&G (and many other options) also support multi-channel scanning. I usually set mine to scan 09, 13, 16, and whatever one other channel I’m interested in. That’s one less reason to keep a second radio at the helm (though there are still other perfectly good reasons, like redundancy when it’s needed).

 

[patagoniadave]

Geez... a hand held is basic survival equipment. For $100 or so, c'mon man. I have a couple of 'em. Plus I have the B&G combo with AIS also. But seriously, You need a handheld.... if only to take in the dinghy, or give to your crew, or if the big one blows a fuse. As far as range.... don't worry about it... anything that happens is gonna happen well within hand held range. You will not lose it, make a pocket for it at the helm. You're over thinking this..... now if you just want to spend more money.. go for it.. but all you need is the hand held.

I intend to get a handheld, but I also want access to the large radio at the helm. You are wrong about things happening within handheld range. I am often in locations where a handheld does not have the range I need. I also want to be able to easily monitor two channels.

 

[patagoniadave]

The Simrad / B&G (and many other options) also support multi-channel scanning. I usually set mine to scan 09, 13, 16, and whatever one other channel I’m interested in. That’s one less reason to keep a second radio at the helm (though there are still other perfectly good reasons, like redundancy when it’s needed).

Cool, I did not know that was an option. Thank you!

 

[Parsons]

I looked at the B&G wireless, and just do not see the advantage for the added cost and charging. I rigged a RAM3 mike to our Standard Horizon 2200 down below, and it works great, even AIS and emergency button. Volume from the mike is plenty without rigging a separate external speaker. I can't imagine needing to talk to anyone from the deck, so having it near the helm is fine.

@BarryL you keep your charger at the helm? How does it stand up to the salt and weather?

 

[patagoniadave]

I rigged a RAM3 mike to our Standard Horizon 2200 down below, and it works great, even AIS and emergency button.

@BarryL you keep your charger at the helm? How does it stand up to the salt and weather?

Can you tell me more about that process? I currently have a Standard Horizon, although I can't check the model number until I am on the boat later

 

[AaronD]

Can you tell me more about that process? I currently have a Standard Horizon, although I can't check the model number until I am on the boat later

My notes on adding a RAM3 remote mic to our GX-2200. RAM3 Remote Microphone and Speaker

The other end of the cable plugs into a dedicated port on the main VHF. I know more recent S-H models support different remote mics, including wireless options. You can find the manual online for your current model and figure out what options you have.

 

[patagoniadave]

My notes on adding a RAM3 remote mic to our GX-2200. RAM3 Remote Microphone and Speaker

The other end of the cable plugs into a dedicated port on the main VHF. I know more recent S-H models support different remote mics, including wireless options. You can find the manual online for your current model and figure out what options you have.

Thank you so much!

 

[Parsons]

Honestly, I think I read @AaronD 's write-up before I did mine, but the instructions are pretty clear. Installation is plug-and-play with no splicing needed for my installation, if you run it in the right direction and remember to put the stuff on before fitting together. On my Cat 36, I could not figure a place on the binnacle to mount it that kept the curly wire off the deck but was still a couple feet away from the magnetic compass. I had just pulled an old GPS antenna off the stern coming, so I enlarged that hole and installed there, mounting the mike holder on the stern rail. It took some boat yoga to run the wires up front. They give you about 20-feet of wire with the mike, so usually not a problem, but you can buy an extension cord as well. Plug one end into the back of most SH radios, and the other end into the bottom/back of the mike mount which was mounted over the hole with a bead of LifeCaulk to avoid leaks. The mike unplugs from a 9-pin connector, and you should have the radio powered down before connecting or disconnecting it. Best photo I can find of location: