Vhf Location?
 

i want to mount my vhf inside the cuddy to starboard. just behind the dash.
i have heard this will interfere with the compass.
is this true?
you see, at some point i plan to get a compass.

Yes, depends on how close to the compass though.

keep the antenna cable away from the compass also, anything with a speaker in it will alter a compass. I've seen flashlights, binoculars, stereos, cameras, and even a box of oil filters alter the reading on a compass.

As said, it will interfere, but most compasses have compensators that you can adjust to calibrate the compass back. I would suggest just getting a a hand held berring compass. That way you can hold it up away from any metal and get a true magnetic north reading. I have a handheld anyway just to double check my mounted compass. I think they're about 12 dollars at West.

Years back i saw a steel beer can screw your compass reading up! Put us about 20 miles from our destination.:beer:

Install all you want to the boat, then take it to a boat yard and have them adjust the compass for you, now you have all and it works great!!

I have not had a compass in 8 years at least!! what you need it for any how??

what if your gps fails and you get stuck in the fog?:nut:

You drop the hook, grab a beer, cast a line and wait...

I get your point but at some point you have to trust your electronics not to crap out on you randomly. And for the cost of a good mounted compass you can pick up a cheapo handheld GPS as a back up to keep on board. I have a GPSmap 60 that goes with me on bigger trips and is also great for land excursions, double duty.

-Svence

Vhf...
 

Charlie, I mounted my AM/FM/CD inside the CC, behind the dash, and it gets wet, ?????, plus all the humidity that condenses inside the cabin, the radio lasted only a couple of months. I will mount a new one later, but not inside the CC. I have water leaks from the screws/holes which support the long black rubber guard that runs around the boat.

Look at the picture to see how I installed my VHF, and believe me, this corners behind the windshield, are the two dryest places on my V20, is like majic, stuff does NOT get wet here, dont ask me why, and I do get rough seas when sailing to Culebra Island.

I made an extension "table" for the VHF using 1/4" starboard, and that way managed to sit all three gadgets in the dash top. As far as the wet-compass, really do not know how acurate it is because I pay little attention to it, but it matches the GPS fairly OK when naving, I see errors, but only a couple of degrees.
I asked myself the same question, but when I mount the gear ( I keep it in the house when not in use ) I see no movement on the Card, I can assure you of that. The VHF mount is aluminum Icom OEM, and the mounting screws are all SS of course.
By the way, the wood "table" in the instrument panel is a cover plate for the holes that the black panel had, I mounted the Voltmeter and Fuel Gauge somewhere else. The table serves well for the Cell, Glasses, Binoculars, food, etc.

JT

Picture of VHF location....
 

JT