Association Forum - Garmin 172C GPS chartplotter Installation

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Garmin 172C GPS chartplotter Installation

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

Jmurfy
Navigator

Member Avatar

USA
176 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/17/2007 : 11:03:07

Does anyone have a suggestion on the best place to mount a Garmin Chartplotter? ( http://www.garmin.com/products/gpsmap172c/ ) I have a 1985 C25, standard rig, fin keel. I dont know if my GPS has an internal or external antenna yet.

My problem is I dont want the mount protruding from the starboard cabin bulk head (where the knot meter and depth gage is located) since my wife usually is using that position as a back rest when we are sailing. (The mount stays fixed and the unit comes off when I'm docked.) Unfortunately thats the best place I can think of because power is already located at that position and I'm usually facing that way when sailing.

Edited by - on

Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 03/17/2007 : 17:13:45

In placing navigation instruments, my suggestion is to plan on installing them where they will help the helmsman best (on both tacks and downwind or motoring). Then deal with other issues such as wiring, physical attachment, crew inconvenience, asthetics, etc. About the only other high priority consideration would be interference with sail controls or high risk of damaging the instrument.

As to interfering with using the bulkhead as a backrest, my intruments are mounted as high as practical to put them closer to the helmsman's line of sight. This leaves room below them for one of those square type IV PFDs against the bulkhead. The thickness of the PFD spaces the lounger out enough to keep the instruments from poking them in the back. (This does not however, prevent the lounging crew from blocking the helmsman's view of the intruments.

)

-- Leon S.

Edited by - on

djn
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 03/17/2007 : 19:20:28

This is what I did and it was great. After tightening the arm and loctighting it, I never had to adjust it, just push it out of the way if I was trying to get in the cabin or out. I bought the arm from West Marine. Cheers,

Edited by - on

Jmurfy
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
176 Posts

Response Posted - 03/17/2007 : 20:29:27

Wow, great idea Dennis!

Edited by - on

djn
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1561 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2007 : 11:56:53

It works great in that location. My hatch boards were smoked plexiglas so when I was in heavy downpours, I'd swing the GPS/Fishfinder back a bit, put the hatch boards in and I could read it all through the smoked plexi. Cheers.

Edited by - on

Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2007 : 19:15:32

Dennis,

That's a great installation! The tranparent hatch board addresses one of my only reservations about swing mount instruments. Good job!

-- Leon Sisson

Edited by - on

ct95949
Captain

Members Avatar

Aruba
300 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2007 : 20:47:49

I just bought a Garmin 492 and was about to ask the same question. I had seen the mount that Dennis installed (and others) but it seems like the unit should be a little closer for the helmsman to see and operate. Because of the location of the moter, mainsheet and bimini I usually sit at the aft end or middle of the cockpit.
I've been toying with the idea of mounting a 2' piece of T track horizontally on the port locker just below the corner of the seat, then fastening the GPS mount to an old genoa car. Wiring would be easy into the side of the locker, the unit could be adjusted forward and aft and removed from the track when not in use. I don't think the track would be too obtrusive permanantly mounted in the cockpit. Any thoughts ?

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
3521 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2007 : 21:35:26

Dennis - Nice hatch board ! What is the thickness of it and curious as to what you used to cut it ? Looks to be one piece - Where do you store it when sailing ?

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 03/19/2007 : 13:50:03

BTW, it's not uncommon to make just the top hatchboard of plexiglass (or even better, Lexan) and leave the lower ones teak for a combination of light and privacy. A thick piece of Lexan can be routed to match the shape and overlap of an original teak hatchboard. There's a shop that does that kind of work in Norwalk, CT--probably others elsewhere.

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.