where do I install a vhf radio on 1997 271 Fastech?


L

larry1954

New member
This is maybe a stupid question, but where is the best place to install a vhf radio and aerial on a 271 Fastech? Where do people usually mount the radio and where do they usually mount the aerial? There is not much room on the driver's side of my 1997 Formula 271 Fastech and cannot quite work out from pictures of boats for sale in the US, that say they have a vhf radio, exactly where they mount them (often they just do not give a very good picture of the driver's side dash or of the aerial).

This boat is in Australia and it is a very rare boat here so I have nothing to compare it with. Any help much appreciated.
 
larry1954 said:
This is maybe a stupid question, but where is the best place to install a vhf radio and aerial on a 271 Fastech? Where do people usually mount the radio and where do they usually mount the aerial? There is not much room on the driver's side of my 1997 Formula 271 Fastech and cannot quite work out from pictures of boats for sale in the US, that say they have a vhf radio, exactly where they mount them (often they just do not give a very good picture of the driver's side dash or of the aerial).

This boat is in Australia and it is a very rare boat here so I have nothing to compare it with. Any help much appreciated.
Click to expand...

Most folks with your style boat won't install a VHF mainly because of the antenna mount. But I maybe like you prefer safety over looks. That said, the ones I have seen of your style will install the radio where my 27PC is. Located behind the throttle controls, facing straight up so when you look down you see the face of the radio. The mike is located along the inside of the throttle control, try to find a spot where locating the holder without drilling a hole. The antenna is on the starboard side across from the helm.

Being in Australia you probably do offshore boating and the higher the antenna the better. A good stainless fold down antenna mount with access by the helm will allow for raising and lowering when needed.
 
Many thanks for the help. I will try to fit it somewhere over there near the throttle control and facing upwards. There is really not much other option. I do not like to spoil the appearance of the boat either, but I would rather have the radio than be in need of it.

We have not used the boat as yet, since there have been quite a few things to sort out. We intended to start with freshwater use at the river nearby and graduate from there to offshore. We live in central Queensland which has a very pleasant climate all year round, though it can be hot at times in the summer. There are a number of islands offshore (part of the Great Barrier Reef) near where we live and boating is very pleasant and popular in this part of the country.
 
larry1954 said:
Many thanks for the help. I will try to fit it somewhere over there near the throttle control and facing upwards. There is really not much other option. I do not like to spoil the appearance of the boat either, but I would rather have the radio than be in need of it.

We have not used the boat as yet, since there have been quite a few things to sort out. We intended to start with freshwater use at the river nearby and graduate from there to offshore. We live in central Queensland which has a very pleasant climate all year round, though it can be hot at times in the summer. There are a number of islands offshore (part of the Great Barrier Reef) near where we live and boating is very pleasant and popular in this part of the country.
Click to expand...

Man, try to be nice then has to rub your nose in the fact he has year round nice weather, all the while it is 10 degrees outside. :( Then tells a scuba diver that he is also next to the Great Barrier Reef :p :'(

Been to Australia one time, hey can I come live you ::)
 
If you feel around on the top of the vinyl panel located next to the driver's bolster/seat you will feel the factory cut out for a VHF radio. You would simply cut the vinyl in that area to flush mount the VHF radio. The antennae is mounted on the starboard side gunwale within easy reach of the driver's seat for ease of use.
 
Many thanks for everyone's help. Eventually, as I had the boat at a marine shop for other work, I asked them where they thought was the best place to install the radio and they installed a GME compact marine radio (GX600A) on the shelf beside the driver's seat (just near the hand rail) and the antenna just outside on the gunwale. Looks a fairly neat fit and everything is easily accessible to the driver.

The boat is finally ready for use (after replacing water pump, fuel pump, cleaning 3 injectors, replacing fuel filter, etc.) and equipped with necessary equipment (radio, depth finder and GPS). We hope that we will soon have opportunity to launch it for the first time. It will be the first time for me to drive a real power boat (all my past experience is sailing), so I be careful not to do any damage. We will go freshwater first, just to get used to the boat, and then we hope to be able to go offshore to some of the islands off the coast here.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top