The subject of where to put communications gear comes up often. With its formal office area the FPB 64 has the option of mounting this gear other than at the bridge where space is always at a premium. But does this make sense?

From our perspective as short-handed cruisers, with just one person normally on watch, we prefer to have anything that is likely to be used during our trick at the helm close by. This includes:

• Two VHFs (one usually on channel 16 and the other on the local bridge to bridge or traffic control channel).
• SSB (although mostly used for e-mail and as a weather fax, both of which are computer controlled, there are some situations where the SSB radio is used to chat with other yachts and reporting nets).
• Sat Com (again mostly used for e-mail with computer control, but in an emergency would be used for voice).

The photo above is of the first FPB 64. She has two VHF control heads and the ICOM 802 SSB head mounted in line across the top. The BGAN Sat Com phone has yet to be installed, but there is room here for a handset.

Some of the FPB owners will be installing their SSB and SatCom control heads in the office, with a wireless phone from the SatCom at the bridge. Their thinking on the SSB is that this is mainly an e-mail system and back up to the SatCom for voice communications.

Both approaches are logical.