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We have a '72 C&C that we would like to equip with a VHF radio. At our club, we have seen other boats with a "swing arm" mount that allows the radio to swing out into the companion way while under way, and then swing back into the cabin for use in there. It seemed like a really good idea so I ordered a mounting arm. It is made by Ram. If this link works, you should be able to see it. <A href="http://www.prairie.mb.ca/ram_vertdoubleswing.htm">http://www.prairie.mb.ca/ram_vertdoubleswing.htm</A>
My plan was to mount it on the port side bulkhead. From there it could be safely stored inside away from the stove and it can swing out into the companion way. I planned on drilling 4 holes and using stainless steel carriage bolts. Now that I have it here on my kitchen table and have the radio mounted to it, I am concerned about how much it weighs. Will that bulkhead take the strain? What have other C&C owners done to mount their radios?
Sorry if this question has already been asked and answered, but I could not find it.
Thanks,
The bulkhead will certainly take the weight of the arm and radio. If not, you have more serious problems than where to mount a radio <img src="emoticons/icon_wink.gif"> The bigger question is whether or not you want to put holes in the bulkhead. It is, I assume, the fibreglass bulkhead around the companionway you are referring to. We always try to minimize any new holes that lead through the shell of the boat anywhere, either above or below the waterline. That said, if a good sealant or perhaps some rubber grommets are used around the bolts then a few holes of this nature shouldn't really be an issue.
good luck...
Personally, I have reservations about the notion of running 4 large carriage bolts through the structure just to hold a VHF. You could probably mount that bracket to the liner (not through the structural coachroof/bulkhead itself) using fairly large-diameter self-tapping screws. Alternatively, you could use an adhesive. I have found that silicon bathtub sealant makes an excellent bonding agent. The nice thing about it is that when and if you decide you want to move something, you simply have to warm up the item in question (if it's metal) or soak the area in silicon-remover (if it's not) and you can move the thing without leaving holes.
That gizmo looks like an ideal candidate for this treatment because you can strip it down to just the lightweight mounting base. Clean the area thoroughly then put tape over the area you want to bond it to, trace the outline of the base on the tape and carefully razor out the base outline. Glue your base down, then while holding it immobile, clean away as much goop as possible. Tape the base in position so it cannot move at all. Clean up next day.
BTW - my radio is under the companionway. It's a bit awkward to get at, but it's out of the way.
David Weatherston
Towser, Toronto
C&C 27 Mk IV
David Weatherston
Towser, Toronto
C&C 27 Mk IV
Offline
thanks for your responses. i too am having reservations about putting bolts and holes in that bulkhead. my fear is that it may be ugly and as mentioned it is another spot that can develop a leak. the idea of using an adhesive is interesting, but i don't know if it would work. the arm itself is quite beefy. together with the radio, it weighs over 5 pounds. that doesn't sound like much, but holding a 5 lb bag of potatoes straight out from your body will give you an idea of how much stress will be exerted on the bulkhead. it certainly is worthwhile trying as it will do no permenant damage if the sealant fails.
could you describe in more detail your idea of screwing it to the liner? where exactly do you mean?
>could you describe in more detail your idea of screwing it to the liner? where exactly do you mean?
I mean wherever you feel is appropriate. I may be wrong, but I sense you're talking about the vertical fibreglass entity that separates the interior from the cockpit as though it were a monolithic piece of fibreglass, rather than a structural moulding (which is what you see outside) and the liner (which is what you see from the inside).
Typically, when people mount things on the inside of the boat, they use short self-tapping screws and screw them only through the liner. Therefore, there are no holes penetrating into the wet world outside, a quality that takes on added importance when attaching things below the waterline (I have a great story about this, but it's too long to tell).
If the adhesive alone doesn't work, you might get away with a combination of adhesive and screws. Alternatively, you might simply run the screws into the teak surrounding the companion. My boat, when I bought it, had the depth sounder mounted this way. I couldn't see a future for it there and removed it, but it was secure.
David Weatherston
Towser, Toronto
C&C 27 Mk IV
David Weatherston
Towser, Toronto
C&C 27 Mk IV
Offline
Why exactly do you want to put the VHF in the middle of the companionway? This will give it considerable exposure to sun, spray and rain, none of which are particularly good for electronics (even those which claim to be waterproof). Based on my experience with other devices mounted this way, it will present an impediment to every person going through the companionway. This will simply result in having the mount swung back and forth until you finally give up and leave it tucked away against the bulkhead.
One option you might consider is using a remote command mic. I just purchased an ICom M502 and a HM157 command mic for the grand total of $250 US (the radio is a close-out, but an excellent radio nun the less). I will be mounting the radio in the cabin and the command mic in the cockpit, it can perform all of the operations remotely except DSC.
Dave Green
"Bart" MKII #245
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