need some ideas

[mess_85_1]

okay, first off, I am not sure if this goes here, but I'll give it a try.


I am looking for a way to get NOAA weather radio in my bass boat. There is little room for DIN mounting. I already have an am/fm/cassette installed and a fish/depth finder; Therefore, I have limited room. I am wanting something that will draw little power and can be eaisly turned off or on. So far, the ideas that I have come up with all seem to involve a scanner. I was thinking of getting a remote head to use with my BCD396, buy either a bct15 or bcd996 and use with a remote head, or mount under seat and intergrate a speaker. If anybody has any suggestions, please let me know. I would look into a marine radio, but I am limited for mounting options and antenna space/good ground. thanks

 

[hill]

Any vessel operating on the waters should have a mounted 25 watt VHF-FM marine radio for safety of the persons onboard. Think about how you would contact help without a VHF radio onboard, since cell service is very limited on the water. Many boating deaths could be avoided if they would have had a radio to call mayday. Help takes longer on the water, than calling 911 on land and the fire department coming in three minutes. When a distress call is broadcast on Channel 16 boaters in the area many be able to rescue the distressed boaters, before the U.S. Coast Guard or local public safety can reach you.
Also most new VHF-FM marine radios have a weather alert function.

Larry Hill
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
Assistant District Staff Officer Communications
Fifth District Southern Region

 

[mess_85_1]

This is something I am totally unfamilar with. I understand the basics, but am unsure of how to instal a mount for an antenna, due to the lack of good ground. I will definately look into this more. thanks for the idea

Any vessel operating on the waters should have a mounted 25 watt VHF-FM marine radio for safety of the persons onboard. Think about how you would contact help without a VHF radio onboard, since cell service is very limited on the water. Many boating deaths could be avoided if they would have had a radio to call mayday. Help takes longer on the water, than calling 911 on land and the fire department coming in three minutes. When a distress call is broadcast on Channel 16 boaters in the area many be able to rescue the distressed boaters, before the U.S. Coast Guard or local public safety can reach you.
Also most new VHF-FM marine radios have a weather alert function.

Larry Hill
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
Assistant District Staff Officer Communications
Fifth District Southern Region

 

[Don_Burke]

I have to go along with Larry.

Suck it up and figure out a place to put a marine VHF rig.

For marine VHF, there are antennas that need no ground.

 

[SAR923]

You don't even need to mount a marine band radio. There are many good marine band portables that have all the weather functions and will serve you well if you get in trouble. How big a lake do you fish? If it's less than 5 square miles, a portable is all you really need. You could always add a no-gound marine band antenna to the boat to extend the range of the portable as well. West Marine has a good selection of marine band radios and antennas.

 

[mess_85_1]

maybe i am looking in the wrong place, but I am having a little trouble finding no ground marine antennas. or do they not need to be grounded. sorry for all the questions, i just want to do this right.

 

[Don_Burke]

maybe i am looking in the wrong place, but I am having a little trouble finding no ground marine antennas. or do they not need to be grounded. sorry for all the questions, i just want to do this right.

http://shakespeare-marine.com/antennas.asp?antenna=396-1

 

[hill]

All VHF-FM marine radio antennas work without needing grounding, since the most boats are made out of fiberglass today. HF-SSB need grounding, but that is another story. You should be able to purchase a good antenna at marine retailer like BOAT US, West Marine, or Boaters World.

Larry

 

[sirsmiley]

in a bass boat id say youre sticking to smaller lakes and rivers and such and could probably get by on a cell phone ( where ive been i get max signal on a cell phone).

If you have a big bass boat, you would need a marine radio if youre out on larger lakes (if youre out on some big bays and lakes like the great lakes then youre truly crazy on a bass boat)

 

[Lightning-Rod]

If your just looking to receive The NOAA weather alerts and reports, OREGON SCIENTIFIC makes a very nice portable radio that sells for about $50.00. That way you could take it on the boat and also use it in the house. Look online or Ace Hardware use to carry them. I have one and it works great. Fishing rule #5-- You can never have to much equipment. Hope this helps

 

[mess_85_1]

Thanks for all of your input. I am looking into several handheld and several fixed mount radios. Do any of you have experience with Raymarine? I was looking at the Raymarine 48. It seems to have the basic functions and is somewhat small.

 

[hoser147]

Some of the FRS/GMRS radios also have NWS recievers in them. I keep one in my tackle bag it works great for this............Hoser147

 

[hill]

For all you on this forum is two links for why I recommend a fixed mount VHF-FM to any boat.

https://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/651/169772/

https://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/651/169782/

Larry Hill
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
Assistant District Staff Officer Communications
Fifth District Southern Region