Thanks. I don't talk as much as I used to on the Ham radio. And yes, it's been modified to talk out of the Ham bands, including the VHF marine band. I hang with a lot of people who make a living on and around boats, so it has been handy.

I think the two fuel tank thing might be for diesels. Mine has the standard 31 gal tank. It does go. It likes 70. It is a bit stiff, but I'm looking at some Bilstein shocks to smooth things out.

 

I'm in the process of spruceing up my 23.5' ocean crusier which includes a new VHS

yet to install it but when I connect it up to power ground and it's antenna how close to the ocean do I have to be (my antenna is 20' off the waters horizon,

I have been told that to test the marine VHS you have to be on or very close to the coast? or maybe use the VHS to another closeby VHS kindof of like CB radios if folks still use CDs?

 

Marine radio is different than CB. Marine VHF is FM, and CB is AM. AM "bounces" between the ground and the ionosphere, and with enough power(or just the right conditions) you can talk great distances (hundreds of miles) FM does not bounce, and therefore does not follow the curvature of the earth like AM. So among other factors, antenna height is key, the higher the better.

 

I have been told that to test the marine VHS you have to be on or very close to the coast? or maybe use the VHS to another closeby VHS kindof of like CB radios if folks still use CDs?

 

Depends on your definition of close. Obstructions will affect an FM signal, but the only obstructions on the water are other boats, and the curvature of the earth. As far as testing goes,the best test is done with an SWR meter , or a watt meter. Commercial boats are required to have one of these meters inline at all times, to monitor output. On the air tests are fine, but a bad antenna isn't going to show bad at close range.

 

Like this;

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Digital-SWR....c100507.m3226

It says for HAM, but it covers marine band because the frequencies are close.

 

I just went back and reread your first post about the radio, and yes you need to be at the water. It's actually illegal to use a marine radio on land, unless you are a marina.

 

heres mine https://www.westmarine.com/buy/stand...yABEgLXr_D_BwE

 

Nice. Make sure and get a compatible GPS to hook to it. With that, and proper registration programed in, it has a feature so when an emergency happens, responding Coast Guard knows where and who you are at the touch of a button.

 

yes eventualley I will have a fulley networked helm station including auto pilot. for right now I'm connecting the VHS I will have to manuelly enter my corrodenits if there is an emergency.
heres the radio it will be mounted to the starboard side gunwhale just next to my right knee area.

my fiberglass antennas tips is a tad cracked I hope my expoxy won't interfer w/ recieving signals

I'm hopping to clean the large coax terminater w/ fine 400 grit sand paper.