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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

GPS on the tiller

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JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/08/2008 : 14:54:00

Took off the Tiller Tamer & used the 2 screw holes to attach a new custom adapter (from a 1-1/2" oak board) to hold the swivel-tilt base for my little Garmin handheld GPS.

On windy days I would otherwise be balancing the handheld on the curve of the opposite seat cushion edge depending on heel, so this keeps it from bouncing around in the cockpit.

The screen is small and the charts are best viewed from about a foot away, so this is just right. Lately, I prefer to have the GPS swiveled fore-and-aft, so that it doesn't require loosening, rotating, and tightening with each tack.

Thought I'd share this mod.

JohnP
1978 C25 SR/FK "Gypsy"
Mill Creek off the Magothy River, Chesapeake Bay
Port Captain, northern Chesapeake Bay

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britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 07/08/2008 : 15:53:24

John, can you put up a pic of the adaptor (the bit between the block and the garmin).
We have the Garmin 76cx as our 2nd gps and love it. But at present we keep it in one of the line bags stbd side of the cabin entrance in the cockpit.

Paul

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GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 07/08/2008 : 20:41:30

This is exactly what I've been planning on doing with my GPSMAP378. I just haven't had time to do it yet.

Great job!

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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 07/08/2008 : 22:15:04

Nicely done.

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dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 07/08/2008 : 23:11:09

I use round Velcro pads, one on the adapter and one on the cabin bulkhead. Keeps it in front of me.

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3464 Posts

Response Posted - 07/09/2008 : 05:32:07

Much better than laying the GPS on the seat/seat cushion.

Nice work !

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JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 07/09/2008 : 08:00:34

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by britinusa
 John, can you put up a pic of the adaptor (the bit between the block and the garmin).
We have the Garmin 76cx as our 2nd gps and love it. But at present we keep it in one of the line bags stbd side of the cabin entrance in the cockpit.

Paul
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I call the wooden block the adaptor, but this is the Garmin marine mount for this GPS series, available as an accessory:

Without having planned it, I was relieved that the swivel holder and adaptor fit under the tiller cover, after stowing the GPS.

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 07/09/2008 : 12:06:18

Just be careful of the mainsheet when tacking/gybing, especially the accidental types, so it doesn't snag the GPS.

On another note, two weeks ago, the tiller snapped in half on a Balboa 26 at my marina. Although the tiller looked good on the outside, it snapped at the screws for the tiller tamer.

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aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 07/09/2008 : 12:08:13

John,

Super idea.

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jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1484 Posts

Response Posted - 07/09/2008 : 12:14:51

Interesting about the snapped tiller - wonder what kind of conditions created that much stress?

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 07/09/2008 : 12:19:18

I thought about doing this with our GPSMap 276C, but decided not to for several reasons. I wanted to be able to provide DSC data to the radio and wasn't sure how I'd route the data cable. I also wanted to provide external battery power to the GPS so I wouldn't have to rely on it's internal battery. Neither of these were insurmountable with it mounted on the tiller, but I didn't like the idea of the cord dangling there, and getting in the way or snagged. The thing I was most worried about was getting anomalous readings on the GPS due to tiller movement. I've noticed with all my GPS that a short quick movement will register dozens of MPH and I've seen as much as 100MPH by simply whipping the GPS at arm's length (try it). This may not be much of an issue, but it changed the way I planned to mount it.

I decided to go with a RAM mount with a giant suction cup, it sticks to the vertical wall of the footwell very well, and I can put it wherever I want. I made up a cord from CAT-5 cable that provides power & data exchange with triple protection, the cable's sheath, and two layers of hot melt glue shrinkwrap. It's about 12' long and exits from the light fixture just to starboard of the cabin stairs. It's long enough that I can place the GPS wherever I want, as well as take it into the aft or V berth for use as anchor watch. I think this is relatively versatile, and the cord fits between the top of the drop board & hatch on the starboard side. It can then be run underneath the cockpit cushions to keep it out of the way until it exits to the RAM mount.

My $0.02...

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JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 07/09/2008 : 15:23:42

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dlucier
 Just be careful of the mainsheet when tacking/gybing, especially the accidental types, so it doesn't snag the GPS.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Don,
Good point. That is my main concern about adding an "expensive lump" to the tiller, and I now will be more vigilant about accidental gybes. Of course, the same situation could occur with the tiller tamer.

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ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 07/09/2008 : 20:51:57

IMHO: Better armor that sucker.

If things get a bit hectic... I don't think a GPS will last long on the tiller.
Way too much action around those parts.

Time will tell.

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