My new marine VHF radio arrived yesterday. I was surprised how quickly it was delivered, so a big positive to Force 4 Chadlery.
I spent a few hours today installing the new VHF radio and sorting out the wiring. The radio installation wasn't as bad as I expected. I have mounted it on the port side of the top shell. I have taken the live feed to the radio, direct from the newly installed isolator switch, so even if the ignition switch is turned off it has power to the radio while the isolator is in the on position.
I have also fitted new 170 amp cable from the battery to isolator switch to the starter motor and the battery to engine earth cable in place of the 110 amp cables originally fitted. The engine now turns over very quickly. The battery cables were a right pain to replace as not a lot space it slide the new cables in. The old cables were also covered in sludge/algae due to them being submerged in water. Really poor design where the electric cables route.
I still have the antenna to mount, but this is proving to be more difficult than it should be, due to the outer thrust duct cover being bonded on with something extremely hard, so I either have to cut an access hole in the duct cover or rethink how to mount the antenna.