Our 'classic' Beneteau 381 has the vhf installed in a small wall between the nav and the seating area - it forms the back panel to the nav for mounting of certain instruments etc and it forms the backrest for part of the seat.
I should say 'did' because I removed the vhf at the weekend (Standard Horizon ECLIPSE+) because I want to replace it for two reasons :
1. I want a RAM mic in the cockpit, I have gotten used to one on my older boat and I like it and a handheld vhf (which I have) seems clumsy in comparison.
2. I would like a DSC radio
and the Eclipse+ doesn't support either.
Now my challenge is mounting depth - I have slightly less than 5.25" in mounting depth in that location - most of the sets on the market these days are at least 6", sometimes more.
Worst Marines website is not great for set dimensions (though the catalog is better) so I am on my own to some degree with research. Before I go off into the great yonder doing my research I wondered if anyone here had experience of a similar challenge and what they had chosen.
Thanks
Mark
"Shallow mount" VHF radios
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Mark.Wilme
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Figment
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The large-face units like the icom M502 tend to be shallower, though you still might want to pad-out the mounting surface 1/2" or so to give the connections a bit more elbow-room in the back.
I'm moving from the pencil-sketch phase to the cad-drawing phase of my new instrument panel project, and I must say that I feel your pain. some of these units are VERY deep. If I didn't already own a 502 I'd probably be in the market for one for this reason alone.
I'm moving from the pencil-sketch phase to the cad-drawing phase of my new instrument panel project, and I must say that I feel your pain. some of these units are VERY deep. If I didn't already own a 502 I'd probably be in the market for one for this reason alone.
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Ceasar Choppy
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ICOM's new 504 is deeper than the old 502.
502's dimensions are 6 1/2(W) x 4 11/32(H) x 3 5/32(D) in. http://www.icomamerica.com/products/mar ... /specs.asp
504's dimensions are 6 1⁄2 ? 4 11⁄32 ? 4 27⁄32 in. http://www.icomamerica.com/products/mar ... /specs.asp
You can probably pick up the older 502s for pretty cheap because they are discontinued. Apparently they aren't "Class D" compliant, which, from what I can gather, means that they do not have dual receivers when in DSC mode. Not sure on that though. It seemed pretty minor when I looked into it. I've been thinking of upgrading to the 504 since the GPS function on my 502 has never worked properly.
One other important note: the RAM mics for the new 504s are compatable with the 502s (and the larger 602s), but the RAM mic for the 502 (and 602) is not compatible with the 504.
502's dimensions are 6 1/2(W) x 4 11/32(H) x 3 5/32(D) in. http://www.icomamerica.com/products/mar ... /specs.asp
504's dimensions are 6 1⁄2 ? 4 11⁄32 ? 4 27⁄32 in. http://www.icomamerica.com/products/mar ... /specs.asp
You can probably pick up the older 502s for pretty cheap because they are discontinued. Apparently they aren't "Class D" compliant, which, from what I can gather, means that they do not have dual receivers when in DSC mode. Not sure on that though. It seemed pretty minor when I looked into it. I've been thinking of upgrading to the 504 since the GPS function on my 502 has never worked properly.
One other important note: the RAM mics for the new 504s are compatable with the 502s (and the larger 602s), but the RAM mic for the 502 (and 602) is not compatible with the 504.
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Mark.Wilme
- Candidate for Boat-Obsession Medal
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- Joined: Tue Jun 20, 2006 8:35 pm
- Location: MA and RI
