What does it cost to install a VHF radio on a boat?

Budget about £400 to £800 for a basic fixed VHF radio professionally installed using a sound existing aerial and cable, or £800 to £1,500 for a yacht needing a new masthead aerial and cable. Difficult cable routes, mast access, AIS functions and additional cockpit handsets can push the total beyond £2,000; these are UK budgeting figures, including VAT where applicable, rather than fixed quotations.

Check the existing installation

Start with the aerial, coaxial cable and power supply. Their condition determines whether the job is a straightforward replacement or a complete installation. A new radio connected to waterlogged coax can receive nearby traffic yet transmit poorly.

Ask the installer to inspect the aerial mounting, cable jacket, deck connection and PL-259 plugs, then test the aerial system with a suitable marine VHF antenna analyser or SWR meter. Green corrosion, cracked insulation and water inside connectors justify replacement. A continuity check alone cannot establish that an aerial system works properly.

On a motorboat, an accessible cabin-roof aerial usually makes the job cheaper. On a sailing yacht, running cable through the mast and headlining can cost more than the radio itself. Check whether the mast is already down and whether the old radio's cut-out suits the replacement.

Equipment costs

For most cruising boats, choose a 25W fixed radio with DSC and built-in GNSS/GPS. DSC sends a digital distress alert with your programmed identity and, when a valid position is available, your location.

• Basic fixed DSC radio with internal GPS: £180 to £350. The Standard Horizon GX1400GPS and Icom IC-M330GE are examples; check the exact regional model and included features.
• Radio with an AIS receiver: £350 to £650. This can show other vessels' AIS information, but an AIS receiver does not broadcast your own position.
• Marine VHF aerial and mounting hardware: £60 to £180. Masthead yacht aerials and longer motorboat whip aerials use different mounting arrangements.
• Coax, plugs, deck fittings and electrical materials: £70 to £200. Cable length, quality and connector arrangements make a substantial difference to the bill.
• Optional cockpit microphone or handset: £120 to £250. Only compatible radios support these, and routing the additional cable adds labour.

For a long mast run, specify low-loss 50-ohm marine coax that fits the available space, commonly RG-8X or a better-performing cable. Thin RG-58 loses more signal over long runs. Do not substitute 75-ohm television coax.

Labour and extra charges

Allow about £60 to £100 an hour for marine electrical labour. Local rates and VAT treatment vary. A straightforward replacement often takes two to four hours, including connections, programming and testing. A new installation with awkward cable routes can take six to ten hours or more.