Installing a VHF set is one of the best upgrades that you can do to your boat. A lot of boaters think that the use of a VHF set is now obsolete as they will just use their cell phones. This is very misguided as you may be out of cell range and you may not be able to call for help in an emergency. You will also be able to call a marina or another boat even if you don't know their name as most vessels and other radio stations maintain a listening watch on channel 16 which is the International distress and calling channel.
I installed a Uniden 525 similar to the one shown below.
You don't need a whole lot of tools but you do need to take your time and be through and precise. In addition to the tools and the actual radio you will also need an antenna and some cable to connect the radio to the power supply. You should follow any instructions that come with the radio with respect to cable sizing and fuses but these are pretty standard across the board. The step by step below should give you a good understanding of what is involved even if it does not match your particular application exactly.
1. Start by reading and fully understanding the instructions that come with the radio set. Then make a list of components that you will need which you can gather together before you start so that you will not have to run back and forth to the store once you actually get going.
2. Work out the position of the radio set and cable runs and affix the clips to hold the cables neatly out of the way. I have seen so many boats where the owner, in a hurry to get the radio working has just temporarily connected everything up and the wiring is mess. With the clips mounted screw the radio in position. The radio will either be mounted in a bracket, called a trunnion mount or will be flush mounted in a panel, usually close to the helm position.
3. Connect the power connection at the back of the radio to the black and red power lead. As shown here this is often a waterproof snap together connector. Starting at the back of the radio and working back towards the power supply enables excess cable to be removed. Avoid curled up excess cabling at the back of the radio at all costs which can lead to eddy currents causing interference to transmissions and mysterious compass deviations.
4. Strap down the cables so that they lie flat and neat.
5. Cut the cables to the correct length. They should be not too tight nor have too much slack in them, aim for a graceful loop when the wires terminate. The red wire will connect to the fused distribution panel just visible top left and the black to the negative bus bar on the right side.
6. Make neat and proper connections using crimped terminals and heat shrink. Never just simply wind a cable around a screw. The connection to the bus bar is a captive ring type while a spade connector was required for making the proper connection to the back of the distribution panel. For more on how to make proper electrical connections you can read my earlier post by clicking here.
7. Ensure that the correct size fuse is used to protect the equipment. A fuse that is too large will fail to blow if a fault develops and either the radio could be fried or a fire could start. The handbook that comes with the radio will tell you what size fuse is required.

8.The final step is to connect up the antenna which nearly always means that you have to put a plug onto the end of the coaxial cable from the antenna. Follow the instructions that come with the plug but ensure that the outer shield wire does not make contact with the central conductor as the plug is assembled. Doing so will seriously degrade the performance of the radio.
9. Screw the antenna plug onto the socket onto the back of the radio. You are now ready to turn the set on and make sure that it works properly. If there is a problem recheck all your connections.
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