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I searched some of the old VHF radio threads and most of the recommended radios were discontinued models.
Can you guys help me decide which radio and antena to buy for my Outrage 20?
I plan to mount the radio inside the console.

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The Standard Horizon PS 1000 is ideal for center console boats but I've heard it may be discontinued now so the PS 2000 is the next model.

http://www.standardhorizon.com

Peter

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Thanks Peter.

That would be this - PS2000

If I buy a PS2000, I need a mic and antena. Any suggestions about those?

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I second the Standard Horizon. I have the PS 1000 and it is great.

This is how I mounted the mic and I could not be happier.

18' Outrage VHF Mic

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arthureld,
Buy the mic they list on the website. I mounted the mic right beside my shifter on the console top because on 1984 22 outrage console it slopes so the mic, which is also the speaker, is pointing right at my face. A friend made something for me so I can mount it on the rail much like Over the LINE has done so I may move it. Initially I just let it sit on the console until I found a spot I liked.

EDIT: I just checked your personal page and discovered you have a 1984 Outrage as well and the console looks the same as mine. So on the left side of the binnacle (shifter) is where I placed mine.

There are lots of opinions around about antennas. Depends on how you use your boat I think as for placement. We don't fish very much and I travel with my bimini up most of the time since I dislike hats and my head has become very naked these past few years so I have a Shakespeare 5225-XT mounted on the starboard gunwale back at the stern.

http://shakespeare-marine.com/specs.a...ick=galaxy

Avid fishermen find this gets in the way so some like to mount the antenna on their console. It's easier to play the fish all around the boat. But if it's on the console the bimini could be in the way.

BTW. I'm 6ft 2in and I can just stand up under my canvas. I can hardly wait to see what they do for you at 6ft 4in.

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Keep in mind that the higher you get the antenna, the more range the V.H.F radio will have, I use the solid core shakespear Ant., it folds down and won't break if stepped on.
mw

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I need to decide where to mount the antena. I expect my bimini top and the rest of the canvas will spend a lot of time down. But, I'll want it to be easy to put up.
I use my boat for fishing more than anything else. But, I'm having a hard time picturing the top going up and down with the antena in the way.

Maybe the fold down gunwale mount would work best for me.

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You can get a rail mount for you antenna and then raise and lower it as needed

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Thanks ioptfm,

I need to find a pic. I found the rail type mounts, but I'm wondering if I put it on my console if I will be able to adjust it in a way that it will fit between the pieces of my canvas. I'll be talking to Bob at Mills to see if he has ideas.

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On my Outrage 17, the prior owner installed a Shakespeare 8' antenna on a ratchet mount on the starboard side, forward of the rear grab rail. I found this is not a good location since people boarding tend to grab it. Photo of old location

I got a ratcheted rail mount and moved it to the rear of the stern grab rail, before the bend. This is better but not perfect.

I have seen many boats with the antenna installed on the stern corner (opposite side of the stern light.

Hope this helps.

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Arthur,

One of the good things about a rail mount is that you can slide it to different locations. You may be able to locate a rail mount on the console rail in such a way that it can exit from the canvas enclosure through the windscreen/flying top intersection, between two snaps.

Doug

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Yea Doug, that sounds like a good plan. I should be able to swing the antena down toward the bow. Then swing up the Flytop. Then swing the antena back up and attach the windshield to the forward shelter and flytop with the antena between the snaps. But, I will talk to Bob at Mills and ask him if there is a custom way to reduce the chance of rain coming in where the antena goes thru.

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Well, I spoke with Bob at Mills and he said that it won't work to try to use the antena on the console because there is a zipper that goes accross the top not snaps.
He has a Outrage 19 and mounts the antenna on the gunwhale so He can swing it down out of the way.
Since my radio will only be used for emergencies when I have no cell signal, I guess out of the way would be the best place for it.

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Thank you for the discussion on VHF radios and mounts.

This might be a newbee question - but if you are just using the VHF for emergencies only and staying within 5 miles of shore - wouldn't a handheld unit work?

The prior owner of my boat took the antenna mount off and I have the mount and radio. I stopped at West Marine to look into a rail mount option and was told that a 5w handheld would serve the purpose I was looking for (5 miles from shore for emergency use only).

Does this sound correct?

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I have been told that handhelds aren't as dependable as the regular ones. Last time I went out without my cell phone, I had trouble. I made it back, but it got me thinking. Cell phones aren't dependable enough either.
Thouble at sea seems like a bad way to go.

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Handhelds are no substitute for a mounted VHF radio which are typically 25W, not 5W. A handheld is okay in a ditch bag in an emergency or as boat to boat communication if you take a dingy with you.

The main improvement to VHF communcation is the antenna height as MW mentions as well as the quality of the antenna. On small boats like ours an 8ft antenna is usually considered max because our small boats rock around so much a taller antenna won't withstand the flexing unless supported mid way. Which on a center console boat can't be done. I've heard some people say they could hear boats from many miles away on their handheld. Sure, but could they hear you?

A VHF is your primary lifeline to the CG and surviving. Do it right and don't go cheap.

Apologies arthureld for not coming back to your thread earlier. I could have told you there's no snaps on the flytop to shelter or to windscreen connection. It's all zippers.

Peter

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Mid-land makes a Hand held unit (5w) thats great for the "Ditch bag", but, as "CD" points out a fixed mount VHF is the BEST communications on the water. The "Mid-land" Hand held costs about $50, is a bit difficult to navigate the screens but, it goes right to channel 16 when turned on, so it's perfect for the "Ditch bag". Fixed mount V.H.F. has more punch for transmission, as mentioned by "CD" the Ant. is the most important part. V.H.F radio's work on what is called "Line of sight" (one ant. has to see another ant.) so the higher up you can get the ant. the further the range will be, about 20 miles is max for V.H.F, then the curvature of the Earth starts to get in the way EX: My 15' Whaler has an 8' ant., a sail boat with the same ant. up on top of the mast will have a much farther range (Tx and Recieve) than I will. DO NOT DEPEND ON CELL PHONES OUT THERE ! I did once with almost disasterous results while trying to hold "Comms" with the U.S.C.G. after a boating accident with nobody but ME out on the bay at dusk (the call dropped twice, then the battery went dead, I switched to mrs. Mw's cell phone), I then installed the VHF perminently on my boat (if it gets stolen, so what, I'm never gonna get caught in that type of situation again, too dangerous).
mw