Remote speaker location

[Neil Gordon]

We are the opposite: we hardly ever listen unless we have initiated the conversation, or are expecting traffic.

What Joe said.

I monitor 16, 9 and 13. I (mostly) don't mind the chatter and quite often there's meaningful traffic. Some examples:

For LNG tankers in particular, the Coast Guard establishes a moving safety zone around the tanker. Entering the zone subjects you to all sorts of really bad outcomes.

Weather alerts, especially severe thunderstorms and tornados.

Requests for assistance. (Sometimes someone really needs your help and you're the closest vessel.)

Securite alerts, especially reports of hazards to navigation.

Invites from other Cape Dory owners for beer or single malt.

[Dean Abramson]

n/m

[Bill Goldsmith]

I solved this issue by installing a remote mic/speaker for my ICOM (it is wired, so it's a lot of work to install).

How about putting the remote speaker near the instrument panel? There are already lots of dials and switches there, so it would blend in. Plus, it is quite close to you while under sail.

Don't worry about the length of the supplied lead. For a couple of bucks you can add a length of tinned speaker wire to make it longer if needed. Just be sure to use good quality butt/crimp connectors (the kind that has built-in heat shrink tubing).

[Joe Myerson]

Bill,

Thanks for your suggestion. I did some measuring yesterday while I was removing the shrinkwrap and prepping the teak for this year's coats of Cetol, and now I'm thinking about doing just what you suggested.

The speaker would fit nicely just above the opening for my manual bilge pump, just to the port of the instrument panel on the aft cockpit bulkhead. I'm pondering mounting the speaker bracket by drilling into the edge of the teak molding that runs across the back of the cockpit. Then I'd only have to make a tiny hole in the bulkhead to thread the speaker wire.

Even thought the speaker comes with a plug, my radio, a Standard Horizon Quest 1255S, also uses a wire lead. Since there are only two wires, I think even I could get it right after cutting off the 3.55-mm plug.

My only concern would be leaving the speaker exposed to the elements -- it seems to have been designed so it could be set up and removed daily, but that could be an anti-theft option. Any thoughts?


Best,

--Joe

[Bill Goldsmith]

The installation guide for the Poly-Planar MB-41 VHF extension speaker (link below) says it is designed for "permanent outdoor mounting in a saltwater environment." I love my Poly-Planar cockpit stereo speakers. They sound better than Bose and they have lasted outdoors for several seasons. I would not worry about exposing their VHF extension speaker to the elements. It's not a huge investment either. Nor do I think it would attract thieves since it is so small.


http://www.polyplanar.com/pdf/Wiring_Co ... 0Guide.pdf

[Joe Myerson]

Thanks again, Bill.

--Joe

[Emil Maurer]

I constructed a companionway board with an extension to the side for my GPS MAP 76. Since it is cantilevered out of the way of the companionway passage, to the side, it does not get bounced by traffic to the cabin. I cut a groove on the interior side to hold the power cord securely out of the way of traffic.. The poor design of Garmin's mount leaves a littltle to be desired in the wobble category. However it works. I think you could mount the speaker on the bottom of the extended angled board, under the GPS.
It would be a little awkward to store.
I have a Nav board which sits over the stove and the companionway panel stores behind it, running, fore and aft on the hatch cover.

I solved the radio problem by running a line to a connector for a remote ram mike which is positioned aft of the throttle. It has enough amplification and can also reinforce the sound from the radio which is reachable just inside the cabin overehead. The radio is a Standard Horizon.

I have to hail a bridge tender coming and going and it got to be awkward reaching into the cabin to grab the mike and trying to listen while holding the tiller and looking out for large vessels trying to swamp me in the narrow passage under the draw bridge. The nearness of the microphone/speaker is very comfortable and convenient to tiller and throttle. I can keep a good watch while I'm negotiating what can be a busy bridge instead of sticking my head into the companionway. I find it one of the better additions to my boat. All of the radio controls operate from the remote mike (except, I think, the DSC CH 70 emergency button.)