RAM Universal Finger Grip Mount

Author: Daemon

Category: Gear reviews

Created on Saturday, 21 January 2012 10:30

Written by Daemon

A few months back I purchased a RAM Universal finger grip mount which I intended to use on my kayak to secure and stow my VHS marine radio. I chose this mount because it boasted a wide range of adjustment which I thought would stop me having to throw the mount out when the radio eventually died, and I’m very partial to the flexibility and quality of RAM products in general.

This is an unusual contraption that arrives in a daunting bag of mixed parts. Fortunately, it’s very easy to assemble, and total time including pondering and interpreting the easy to follow instruction leaflet was probably less than ten minutes. All components are composite with stainless steel bolts and nylock nuts, which lead me to expect it to be durable enough to withstand life on a yak. It has a regular pattern of bolt holes across the entire surface, many of which are superfluous and allow reasonable degree of latitude when deciding how you want to fit it up.

The mount does not come with ball bases or socket arms, so you need to consider this when thinking about your purchase. This adds to the cost of course, but on the positive it allows a high degree of flexibility in the fit out. I ordered two B diamond based ball mounts and B variable socket arm, with advice and assistance of the Maclean Outdoors team. That’s a B ball for the back of the finger grip mount, a B ball for the yak mount and a socket arm with a swivel in the middle to join it all together.

All in all I’m not completely happy with it for my intended purpose. The finger grip concept does not hold the radio securely enough to withstand a slap from even a small wave, without letting the radio be pushed out forwards, and I have no confidence that it would hold on to the radio if the yak turned over.

If the way you want to fit your gear up just suits this device and you want to use it anyway, the security problem could be easily fixed by using a pair of the spare holes to tie in some bungee as a retainer, but off the shelf I can’t recommend it for salt water yak fishing unless you have a plan to implement a DIY to increase its holding security. It would be fairly suitable for someone who sticks to river and lake fishing, as long as you used some type of retractable lanyard or gear keeper to keep track of your mounted equipment if you flip the yak.