36i External VHF Speaker

[Geoff]

Hi all

I have soon realised that I require an external VHF speaker as I cannot hear the radio when sailing or under way.

I have the two cabin version.

I kept putting this off because I thought that it would be a nightmare tracing the wire in. Thanks to Jeanneau design it was very easy.

Unscrew the radio panel and loosely tie one end of the wire to the rope holding up the panel. You will see the main cables running into this panel in the bottom left.
This then leads to the cupboard under the sink in the head. The cable is then run along the cable already there (inside the zip ties) and behind the waste tank.
They have even put a plastic type inspection hatch in the bottom of the cupboard in the shower. Take a big blade screwdriver and gently ease this off.
The next bit is a bit of a stretch but once the wire is through then it is an easy run through to the port hand rear locker (where the shore power cable is).
All that I have to do now is cut the hole and put the speaker in.
A very (to me) daunting job that took me about 30 minutes to do.

Happy sailing.

Geoff. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[Don Reaves]

I have a VHF radio with a remote wireless mic. I would not go back to a wired-only system. I keep the mic attached to my harness and it's always with me.

[MalcolmP]

Geoff

Great minds think alike ;D

Have come to exactly the same conclusion, so glad for your installation description, I think it will be similar on the 39i I will put it in the table so will wire via the big conduit that is there for the chart plotter

Have you the 54E? I have yest to get to like it, don't like the rotary knob - seems to take ages to change channels, with hindsight I wish the 55E had been optional upgrade

Hope to meet up yet somewhere on the East Coast this season, we called into Mersea for an excellent lunch at the company shed last week

very best

Malcolm

[MartyB]

I like the option Geoff did too, BUT, when I replaced my 20 yr old radio, I went with one that uses wireless addition too. Keep on hand in the cockpit to radio out etc or one on a person if rough and going forward, These will work up to a mile or two, or 3-5 KM for you metric folks from the boat.

Did you take pics for us to see?!?!?!?!?

Marty

[Geoff]

Guys

We thought about the wireless option but decided that a handheld might be the way to go.

The twisting knob does take a bit of getting used to though.

I have yet to cut the hole for the speaker. That should be happening next week. I will post pictures then.

Good sailing.

BRGDS.

Geoff.

[Trevor]

Hi Geoff,

I bought the Navpod with the pre-cut holes thinking I would have the two ST60s that come with the boat, fit the autopilot and then have one hole left to put in a small extension speaker. Have you thought of putting the speaker in the Navpod? It requires the wires being threaded up through the aluminium arch and into the pod. Perhaps a variable resistor (volume control) could be put in series so that you may vary the volume a little bit if required.

I am curious if you have gone through this thought because there may be a good reason why this is not the best idea and I haven't done it yet. Having said that, I am always reluctant to cut holes in the "real" part of the boat because I lack the confidence to be sure it is the right thing to do.

Regards,

Trevor

[Geoff]

Trevor

I did think about the navpod option as I, like you have a "spare" section.

After looking at the interweb and trying to source a speaker that would not die after a few weeks, I decided to put it in the port side rear locker.

The other reason for putting it here is that I did not want the speaker in my face and also down in the boat I feel that it will be better protected against rain. I will be fitting it tomorrow and I will post pictures after we have done it.

Happy sailing.

Geoff.