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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/13/2005 : 10:15:22

Outfitting a new runabout. (wife and kid not liking sailing that much :>( May have to hang up sailing until the kid gets out of high school and heads off to college. (supporting two holes in the water = $$$)

At any rate, here's a couple things I've found and really like (some due to advice from this board) ;>)

The 'gunk' from Wax Bowl Seal rings (as sold in hardware stores for toilets) does work really well for mounting tranducers to the inside of the hull. Removable so you can re-position and/or replace easily.

RAM 'ball-mounts' for instruments. From the photos, I was skeptical about their robustness and stability... but they are pretty skookum. Easily removed, easily adjusted, have rail-mount options etc. Saved lots of time and trouble. Imagine their line of swing-out mounts is just as good.

Lowrance combo GPS/Depth Sounder. For my purposes, I got the monochrome model with the built-in basemaps (M56 S/Map). Plenty of detail on the maps for coastal navigation and finding my way back through the bar on foggy days. Impressed with both the GPS and depth sounder Performance. Half the price of comparable Garmins.

ICOM hand-held VHF. (M-88) Simple operation, robust and 14 hour battery life! After being disappointed with the last couple hand-helds (cheap ones) I spent the $ to get the top-rated unit. (I don't mind spending money on safety-related items)

WOTAM - '77 Catalina 25 SK/SR Sail Number 158

Edited by - on

ilnadi
Captain

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452 Posts

Response Posted - 06/13/2005 : 11:51:26

We are looking at the ICOM M32, Standrd Horizon 270 and WM VHF200. Any opinions?
<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by ClamBeach
 ICOM hand-held VHF. (M-88) Simple operation, robust and 14 hour battery life! After being disappointed with the last couple hand-helds (cheap ones) I spent the $ to get the top-rated unit. (I don't mind spending money on safety-related items)
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

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Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 06/13/2005 : 12:47:57

I'll second the "Wax Bowl Seal rings " idea for the transducers. No problems with mine. Just make sure you use a new one

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5932 Posts

Response Posted - 06/13/2005 : 14:14:43

Thanks for the recommendation on the Icom M88. I was trying to decide whether to go the extra $ for it. Good news! I just found out that Icom currently is offering a $50.00 rebate on the M88.

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thacket3
Navigator

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USA
101 Posts

Response Posted - 06/13/2005 : 15:00:17

Does the M88 have the Lithium Ion battery? I have the M1V (i think) and use it most weekends, just for listening mostly (I have the fixed mount that I typically use for comunications) and I have only re-charged the battery twice since this last christmas. I keep looking at the power meter and expecting it to say low power, but it just keeps reading full charges. (and it works too)

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 06/13/2005 : 20:31:40

"...Icom currently is offering a $50.00 rebate on the M88..."
Indeed... that's what really made the choice easy for me. It has the LiO battery technology.

"We are looking at the ICOM M32, Standrd Horizon 270 and WM VHF200. Any opinions?"
Both Icom and SH use 'commercial grade' components and should be fine radios. When I was choosing a radio, I read as many user reviews as I could find. Icom was (almost always) was the highest rated radio by the users.

Edited by - on

Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 06/13/2005 : 20:40:22

I have the Icom M-88. It is Da Kine.

Military spec housing, and submersible. Perfect for backup.

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ilnadi
Captain

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452 Posts

Response Posted - 06/13/2005 : 21:21:55

And to top it off WM has a LiIon version of ICOM-M32 for $149.99 next week.
<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by ClamBeach
 "...Icom currently is offering a $50.00 rebate on the M88..."
Indeed... that's what really made the choice easy for me. It has the LiO battery technology.

"We are looking at the ICOM M32, Standrd Horizon 270 and WM VHF200. Any opinions?"
Both Icom and SH use 'commercial grade' components and should be fine radios. When I was choosing a radio, I read as many user reviews as I could find. Icom was (almost always) was the highest rated radio by the users.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Edited by - on

Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 06/14/2005 : 09:47:41

Lithium ion batteries are definitely the way to go, as they don't have any battery memory.

Edited by - on

ilnadi
Captain

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452 Posts

Response Posted - 06/14/2005 : 10:57:25

I have not found any info on te rebate (it is not in ICOM's web page). Without that, the M88 i sout of our price range.

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by ClamBeach
 "...Icom currently is offering a $50.00 rebate on the M88..."
Indeed... that's what really made the choice easy for me. It has the LiO battery technology.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5932 Posts

Response Posted - 06/14/2005 : 11:43:49

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I have not found any info on te rebate (it is not in ICOM's web page)<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"> The rebate form can be downloaded from the westmarine.com or from the defender.com websites. I've also found it on the websites of other marine merchandisers. All the websites use the same form, so you don't have to get the form from the website where you buy the radio.

Edited by - on

Ed Montague
Captain

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USA
499 Posts

Response Posted - 06/14/2005 : 14:18:47

Bruce, I have been looking at the Ram mounts web page and would like to order a system to mount my laptop. My question is where did you order from? There is a boat shop near by that is listed as a dealer, but they don't carry anything and don't have a catalog to order from. Did you order on line? Thanks for your help.

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 06/14/2005 : 20:32:40

Ed, I got my RAM mounts from BassProShops...

Edited by - on

gnorgan
Admiral

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USA
563 Posts

Response Posted - 06/15/2005 : 00:20:49

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">
The 'gunk' from Wax Bowl Seal rings (as sold in hardware stores for toilets) does work really well for mounting tranducers to the inside of the hull. Removable so you can re-position and/or replace easily.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Great idea!!! I've been using Vaseline (it works well, too) but it will melt easily in the heat someday this summer. I will replace ASAP with your fix. Thanks

Edited by - on

thacket3
Navigator

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USA
101 Posts

Response Posted - 06/15/2005 : 10:32:50

So you put the transducer into the wax and then against the hull?

Edited by - on

gnorgan
Admiral

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USA
563 Posts

Response Posted - 06/15/2005 : 21:48:41

Yes, I just used the transom mount that came with the Matrix 17 I bought to attach the transducer under the sink unit. Blobbed a bunch of Vaseline (now I will replace with the wax) on the hull and swung the transducer/mount down and into the mess, being sure that I got no gaps or air pockets. The transducer had a temperature probe and that works fairly well, too. I chose not to use epoxy like Jim Baumgart did with his. The wax sounds like it might work better as I have had some erratic readings until I redid the blobbing of Vaseline (added more). Wax should be better.....

Edited by - on

Gambit
Navigator

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USA
160 Posts

Response Posted - 06/21/2005 : 18:17:31

That sounds like a great idea. To what extent does the transducer need to be covered? Is planting it in a big pile of toilet wax sufficient?

Under the sink seems like a good spot too.

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 06/21/2005 : 21:34:28

Yep, ball up the wax and plant it on the hull where you want it, then press the transducer down into the wax. Try to get any air pockets out of the wax first. It just needs to cover the bottom and a little on the sides of the transducer. No need to cover the entire transducer.

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Lee T
1st Mate

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26 Posts

Response Posted - 06/24/2005 : 04:11:54

I have had a Raytheon handheld VHF for years and it works great, very reliable with great reception. I can't speak to it's ability to take heavy outdoor usage though, I keep mine out of the weather usually - it's pretty pampered.

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Lee T
1st Mate

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26 Posts

Response Posted - 06/24/2005 : 04:15:01

Although I have to add that my Raytheon ST2000 autopilot (it's on a C27) has taken some rough weather and tons of usage and is just overall an awesome piece of equipment - it changes your whole sailing experience for the better, in my opinion. But I'm pretty lazy so take that for what it's worth.

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