We are in the early stages of planning a trip across the Pacific in 2019 and I think I ought to install an SSB radio in addition to the satellite phone we currently have on board. Our sailing tends to be very unsophisticated in terms of electronics: in many ways I would almost rather turn the whole lot off and get on with the real task in hand…

The boat is currently in Croatia and we are planning to winter this year in Sicily and I was going to get the yard to install it. If at all possible, I want to avoid putting any more holes in the hull. We currently have rod rigging (which is quite old) and a split backstay, but shows no sign of wear and so I am reluctant to replace it. We are just replacing the batteries on board and that will give us something like 500Ah and an alternator that throws out 130A – so that ought to be plenty of power.

I have heard all sorts of stories about what radio to buy (Is it true that ones bought in US have more channels?) and how to install. I wondered if someone might might be able to point me in the right direction – may be just about the ups and downs of SSB. and what I should and should not do!

I hope that there are members of the club who can help a raw novice in this field. many thanks

Stephen Foot
Water Music

Hi Nigel,
Congratulations on achieving your Ham ticket. I am sure you will find both pleasure and usefulness from using your rig.
For a couple of decades, I used (and still use) a venerable and almost bulletproof ICOM M710. I have also put in a ICOM IC 7000 (Ham). Both use the same tuner, an AT 130 and the same backstay antenna.
Most ICOMs can be “clipped” for use on Ham freqs., although my knowledge in this area is 15-20 yrs. Old. A Ham Pactor installer clipped my M710 and for 15 years, I used it for all the hf and mf Ham work I did. That said, all the safeguards built into marine SSBs, made it cumbersome to use on Ham freqs.
In the day, it was quite easy to get the marine SSB clipped in the US. ICOM would not do it but they seemed not to care if it was done and would service clipped transceivers without comment. Some dealers would clip upon initial purchase as would many installers. Call around and ask at local Ham radio clubs.
I would recommend seeing if you can get your ICOM clipped for Ham freqs and see how much you use it before getting and installing a dedicated Ham radio. I used mine for Winlink and Ham nets for many years without problem. Using a dedicated Ham radio on a boat is (largely) if you wish to “surf” the freqs and make many contacts. My interest was more pragmatic so the marine SSB, clipped as it was, checked those pragmatic boxes: still does.
Come back with questions/comments or if your wish to proceed with buying a Ham dedicated radio.
My best, Dick Stevenson, KC2HKW, s/v Alchemy
PS. Casual look at Googling clipping seems to indicate that ICOM will do the clipping now. And check your antenna input: that might be different on 802s for a clipped unit working Ham freqs