How to Install Marine Radio
Installing a marine radio on your boat is one of the most intelligent things that you, as a boater, can do to enhance your safety on the water. The VHF marine radio is used in bridge-to-bridge communication to let other boaters in a congested area know what your are going to do, much like you would use the turn signal on your car. The radio can also be used to call for help or just request local information on docking, restaurants or fuel when in an unfamiliar area.
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Instructions
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Drill two 1/2-inch holes in your boat's dashboard, one for the power cord and one for the coaxial cable from the antenna. Set the mounting bracket on the dashboard at the location where you want the radio. This location should be within arms reach of your control position -- where you stand or sit at the wheel -- but at least 36 inches away from your boat's magnetic compass. Using the mounting bracket as a template to mark the location for the mounting bracket's bolts.
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Remove the mounting bracket from the dash and drill the holes for the mounting bracket. Set the mounting bracket in place, drop the mounting bolts in place and put the washers and nuts on the bolts to secure the mounting bracket.
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3
Push the ends of the power wire and ground wire down through one of the holes you drilled in the dashboard. Attach the power cord to your boat's power bus, located beneath your dashboard and which looks like a strip of screws with wires attached to it. Make the connection by loosening a screw with a screwdriver, wrapping the uninsulated end of the power cord (which is red and has an in-line fuse holder already built into it) clockwise around the screw, then tightening the screw. Connect the white ground wire to the boat's common ground, which looks similar to the power bus, but has no red wires connected to it, in the same way you connected the power cord to the power bus.
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Mount the antenna at the highest point possible on your boat, according to the directions provided with the antenna. Connect the coaxial cable to the antenna and run the coaxial cable to your boat's dashboard. Push the coaxial cable up through the remaining hole in the dashboard and connect the coaxial cable to the radio. Turn on the radio and test it.
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Tips & Warnings
Learn proper radio procedures before using your radio. The Coast Guard website has a wealth of information on the proper use of your VHF radio.
Never call the Coast Guard for a radio check. You will incur a fine.
