Amateur radio stations onboard?

I am considering putting a HAM radio (W5JAI) on my navigation desk. Is there anyone running a Ham station aboard. (Salt water) How do they stand up to the humidity?

I would love to run the old 1958 Collins KWM2 but I fear it would not hold up so I will probably try something more modern like an ICOM 724.

725, per qrz? Yes, ham radio on board is great fun. I did a lot on my 32' motorboat.
I have the drake twins, but no, they won't see salt air. Most of my contacts aboard were with the icom M710, but your 725 would be far easier to use. Autotuners work great, as do manual. But, a tuner is near mandatory. 73.

A don’t think you can wrong with an ICOM. We have an ICOM M802 on Hobo and had a SGC2000 before. Both worked well but the SGC had an over heating issue on high power.

I’m sorry to say we don’t use the ham frequecies much anymore. We do listen to some of the SSB frequencies for weather, news and nets but not like we use to when away from the dock.

When we were doing passages, the radio was important from a head standpoint. Being able to talk to other boats, lurk on others and to check in on nets was part of the day.

Lena has her general class license. I remember when she was studying for the test. At the time, there was a 13 word per minute Morse code requirement. Yikes! KC7YWW

Yes, 725, the 4 and the 5 are too close together for my fat hand.

I fell Monday and hit my head on the concrete porch. No damage to the head but cracked the porch. But my index finger was bent back till it was pointing straight UP with my palm flat on the floor. I grabbed it with my other hand and pulled it back into place but my hand swelled up double size. so hitting any particular key can be problematic.

"Its OK, Its OK, I am fine".....I said......

The Collins will keep you warm on chilly nights, and you’ll have old tube smell mixed with boat smell. Better than an old leather jacket.

73 de W8VCK

SeaMoose said:

The Collins will keep you warm on chilly nights, and you’ll have old tube smell mixed with boat smell. Better than an old leather jacket.

73 de W8VCK

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Now if I could just get the 1947 Simplex motorcycle into the salon without the danger of the gasoline fumes. That with a Rum and Coke and some Lobster would make heaven.

You could always go with a TYT TH-9800 which won't break the bank and if it does die due to the salt air, you won't lose too much sleep over it.

It does, 6M, 10M, 2M and 70cm bands.The only thing you can't get is the SSB.

I drag a TYT MD-2017 with me on the boat as well as a little UV5R.

You guys got any recs for a decent receiver only? I would like to explore the SW frequencies with something semi-portable without having to run an exterior antenna. Would like knob tuning and SSB capability.

I find it entertaining to explore the frequencies. On some boats they had an SSB, but frequency had to be input via keypad which was super tedious. Knob tuning with digital readout would be cool.

I doubt I would find the need to transmit, so that makes the antenna way less critical, I think.

I did some searching but got overloaded with all the options..

This list WILL overload your search, and includes classic (old) stuff:

eHam.net Reviews - Receivers: General Coverage

This one should not overload your search (modern, portables only):

https://www.twowayradiotalk.com/best-shortwave-radio/

You really will want some sort of outside antenna, even if it is a thin wire on a kite or helium balloon; Or a temp. dipole strung between two trolling outriggers.

k9medic said:

You could always go with a TYT TH-9800 which won't break the bank and if it does die due to the salt air, you won't lose too much sleep over it.

It does, 6M, 10M, 2M and 70cm bands.The only thing you can't get is the SSB.

I drag a TYT MD-2017 with me on the boat as well as a little UV5R.

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I want 20 and 40 meters for world wide coverage. Ten and above are only good for local coverage except in special solar conditions.

You have a 47 Simplex? Wow, I have an 11 Buick. Hope we meet on the water someday.

I dont drive the Simplex on the water.....LOL and I would not want to "meet" your Buick on land......We would both prefer our vehicles dont "meet"

But yeah, we need to get together.

My oldest vehicle is the 47 Simplex. But I do have a Replica 1936 SS100 Jaguar.

This week I sold an 85 Rolls Silver Spur and a 84 El Camino. Trying to thin out the herd so I have some time for the new boat. Down to just 8 cars and one motorcycle now. Gives me some room in my garage and pleases my wife.