I HAVE PURCHASED A STANDARD HORIZON RAM MIKE WOULD LIKE ADVISE ON BEST WIRING ROUTING
Bob,
I installed mine on the port side under the engine controls. Routed the wire down behind the head and to the radio mounted above the nav table. It was pretty simple and straightforward.
Buddy
I have always had my VHF radio mounted in the coaming on the starboard side so when I installed a new DSC capable radio with a ram mike, I mounted it at the nav station. I routed the wiring over the stern water tank, behind the fuel tank and followed the hull through the hull into the hanging locker.
Jim Kane
I have my VHF mounted at the nav station and the Ram Mike outlet located inside the Port coaming box. This leaves the jack out of site when not in use and you have a place to put the mike when it's hooked up.
Good Luck,
Dave
Original Owner installed Ram Mike. Port side of Binnacle/guages compartment...wiring is down the Binnacle, comes up via underside, accessable by removing the cover in the aft cabin. When I added a remote hour meter last year (didnt want to replace the tach as it was operating OK,) I found there was no room for any wiring in the stainless tube that houses all the other wiring, so fished the wire via the binnacle and remember looking at the Ram wiring while I was in there. I love that Ram Mike. I can listen to weather and communicate from the helm. It's GREAT!
I have mine installed with the plug inside the LPG compartment. It's handy so I lock it up in the compartment rather than unhooking it every time I go out. The bracket just outside makes it handy for sailing.
It's not a "power" device so no safety problem.
I have a 16 inch wide Navpod instrument panel mounted above the compass on the binnacle. It holds 3 Raytheon ST-60 instruments. There is enough room on the face of the instrument panel for the RAM microphone connector and the clip. The wiring is fished down through the 1" stainless steel tube to a crawl space immediately behind the bulkhead in the aft cabin. The RAM microphone cable needed a splice once the wire was fished through. Note that some of the strands inside the cable bundle are co-axial and are not individual leads.
Enjoy. The RAM mike is a great product.
Victor. :cool:
Bob-
Also mounted mine similar to Buddy's installation on port side near engine controls and routed wire the same. Intercom comes in handy for communication with nav table.
Have many of you used handhelds for cockpit use? Seems an attractive alternative $$$-wise to a RAM mike or a new base unit.
The handheld battery would die just at the wrong time.
Jan & Liz Rupinski
s/v La Vie Dansante
r/v Southwind 35S "Moose"
C34mkII #1311
Cape May, NJ
I have old handheld I use in the cockpit with permant mount VHF at nav station. Works fine for every day use and recharges when at slip so it is always ready to go. Great for land excursion on common channel when anchoring out or in dingy. Cna't so that with a RAM mike. I would recommed spending money on one of the new hi-tech handhelds that can be dropped in the water and still work. The smaller size WITH the belt clip attachment can work great. Ever tried to use the VHF when forward????
Don't forget the RAM feature also doubles as an intercom.
Mark