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gosenbach
1st Mate

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USA
30 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/12/2015 : 12:17:41

Hello, we are thinking of installing a small TV on the boat. just in case the kids get bored on a longer trip. Has anyone done this before? what was your experience? anything we should watch out for?

We were thinking of mounting it on the bulkhead/bathroom wall, facing towards the v-berth.

Thanks!
Gregory

Gregory
(Catalina 250 MkII WK #971)

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 06/12/2015 : 12:26:49

Yep. I installed a 19in 12v Flat Screen on a folding arm on the foreward face of the head.

From there it can swing out so that we can watch if from the Galley, Stbd seat, or even while in the V-berth (feet aft :)

I connected it to the lamp above it.

We purchased an external mulitpolar (???) antenna that is mounted on an SS pole that is attached to the Port side catbird seat.
The pole is 7/8" and is telescoped inside a 1" piece of ss tube that is clamped to the catbird seat rails.

The antenna cable passes though the inner tube, down to a wire lead in the round-down under the cat bird seat. The cable then passes into the trunk, then forwards behind the outside head liner, and into the cabin above the port seat.

Works great except most of the freebie channels down here are either religious, Spanish or both. There's one News channel and one entertainment channel in English.

Luckily the TV has a built in DVD player! So we carry a pack of them.

Paul

Joint Decision. (Sold)
PO C250WB 2005 Sail # 841.

Moved up to C34 Eximius

Updated August 2015

zeil
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1314 Posts

Response Posted - 06/12/2015 : 13:37:19

TV, DVD, SD slot, analog with digital converter, closed circuit... rabbit-less antenna receiver with 6 ft cable in cabin or with 50 ft cable hook-up where available in RV parks or marina's

Henk & Johanna
"Floating", a few off your "barnacles".
"Someday Lady" '95 C250WB #151 ('03 - 2016)
"Sea ya" 30ft Bayliner (04-2018 - 09-2018)
"Mariah" '96 C250WB #191 (05-2019 - 15-05-2023)
"Lady J" '00 C250WK #499 (05-2021 - 09-2022)

Edited by - zeil on 06/12/2015 13:49:10

Davy J
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1511 Posts

Response Posted - 06/12/2015 : 15:19:59

Here's a tip that I seem to remember finding on this forum:

Insignia TV's 28" and less, sold at Best Buy, run on 12v. The AC adapter they're sold with puts out 12v. If you can find the right size adapter tip, you can then just plug it into a 12v outlet.

I just added a 19" TV to the berth on the Gemini and can power it with the AC adapter at the marina or the 12v plug on the hook.

Davy J

2005 Gemini 105Mc
PO 1987 C25 #5509 SR/SK
Tampa Bay

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 06/12/2015 : 15:30:32

Here's my advice (always playing devil's advocate):

I once almost bought a (larger) boat, but I crossed it off my list because it had a "redneck flat screen TV." What's that? It's an old-fashioned CRT TV, with a big hole in the bulkhead so the back of the set stuck into the V-berth.

I know that's not what you're doing, but it is a reminder that technology changes fast, and you should think carefully before cutting holes in your (very thin) head wall for any electronic device that could be severely dated in a few years.

Are you sure you can't keep the kids occupied with a nice laptop or tablet? The one I bought recently has a nice "kiosk mode" that we use for watching movies on the boat. The keyboard comes completely off if you want just a tablet:

And like most tablets, it runs off of 12v, so adapters are readily available and consume very little amperage.

Rick S., Swarthmore, PA
PO of Take Five, 1998 Catalina 250WK #348 (relocated to Baltimore's Inner Harbor)
New owner of 2001 Catalina 34MkII #1535 Breakin' Away (at Rock Hall Landing Marina)

Edited by - TakeFive on 06/12/2015 17:14:07

NautiC25
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
957 Posts

Response Posted - 06/12/2015 : 16:52:36

quote:
Originally posted by Davy J

Here's a tip that I seem to remember finding on this forum:

Insignia TV's 28" and less, sold at Best Buy, run on 12v. The AC adapter they're sold with puts out 12v. If you can find the right size adapter tip, you can then just plug it into a 12v outlet.

I just added a 19" TV to the berth on the Gemini and can power it with the AC adapter at the marina or the 12v plug on the hook.

I did the same to a 22" Vizio smart LED. You don't need to find an adapter, just cut the wire past the invertor and hard wire +/- to the battery. Make sure to use a properly rated fuse.
Check the specifications on the tv. They normally tell you whether they're ac or dc powered.

Also, if you're dock has wifi, or your phone is unlimited data, you can stream Netflix on a smart tv.

1989 C-25 TR/WK #5894
Miss Behavin'
Sittin' in LCYC on Canyon Lake, Texas

Edited by - NautiC25 on 06/12/2015 16:54:13

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 06/12/2015 : 17:13:29

quote:
Originally posted by NautiC25

quote:
Originally posted by Davy J

Here's a tip that I seem to remember finding on this forum:

Insignia TV's 28" and less, sold at Best Buy, run on 12v. The AC adapter they're sold with puts out 12v. If you can find the right size adapter tip, you can then just plug it into a 12v outlet.

I just added a 19" TV to the berth on the Gemini and can power it with the AC adapter at the marina or the 12v plug on the hook.

I did the same to a 22" Vizio smart LED. You don't need to find an adapter, just cut the wire past the invertor and hard wire +/- to the battery. Make sure to use a properly rated fuse.
Check the specifications on the tv. They normally tell you whether they're ac or dc powered.

Also, if you're dock has wifi, or your phone is unlimited data, you can stream Netflix on a smart tv.

I never realized you were on Canyon? Which marina? Canyon Lake Marina, LCYC..?

Association Member

GaryB
Andiamo
'89 SR/WK #5862
Kemah,TX

Edited by - GaryB on 06/12/2015 17:14:39

NautiC25
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
957 Posts

Response Posted - 06/13/2015 : 12:59:04

Gary, we talked here a few years ago. I haven't been on here in probably 2 years, but not because I haven't been sailing. In fact, I've been busy racing every month at LCYC on a Cal24. And ever since Derek lost his C25, we've been taking all the wins. lol Hope to see him back out soon.

My C25 hasn't been getting a lot of action since I've been racing on other's boats. All I do now is race, and the family is too busy to join me for overnight cruising. I'm seriously debating selling Miss Behavin and getting something PHRF ~100. In the meantime, I'm getting her in prime condition.

If you're in the area, let me know.

1989 C-25 TR/WK #5894
Miss Behavin'
Sittin' in LCYC on Canyon Lake, Texas

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 06/13/2015 : 14:27:44

quote:
Originally posted by NautiC25

Gary, we talked here a few years ago. I haven't been on here in probably 2 years, but not because I haven't been sailing. In fact, I've been busy racing every month at LCYC on a Cal24. And ever since Derek lost his C25, we've been taking all the wins. lol Hope to see him back out soon.

My C25 hasn't been getting a lot of action since I've been racing on other's boats. All I do now is race, and the family is too busy to join me for overnight cruising. I'm seriously debating selling Miss Behavin and getting something PHRF ~100. In the meantime, I'm getting her in prime condition.

If you're in the area, let me know.

Association Member

GaryB
Andiamo
'89 SR/WK #5862
Kemah,TX

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 06/13/2015 : 14:30:08

quote:
Originally posted by NautiC25

Gary, we talked here a few years ago. I haven't been on here in probably 2 years, but not because I haven't been sailing. In fact, I've been busy racing every month at LCYC on a Cal24. And ever since Derek lost his C25, we've been taking all the wins. lol Hope to see him back out soon.

My C25 hasn't been getting a lot of action since I've been racing on other's boats. All I do now is race, and the family is too busy to join me for overnight cruising. I'm seriously debating selling Miss Behavin and getting something PHRF ~100. In the meantime, I'm getting her in prime condition.

If you're in the area, let me know.

I'll be in New Braunfels a week from tomorrow thru that Wednesday and again the week of July 26th.

Want to rent your boat in July? LOL

Association Member

GaryB
Andiamo
'89 SR/WK #5862
Kemah,TX

NautiC25
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
957 Posts

Response Posted - 06/15/2015 : 09:00:34

I'm planning to be back out on the lake this Saturday to do some work to my and my father's boat. Need to climb both masts unfortunately.

Haha, not sure about the rental. Like I said, I'm getting her in pristine condition to put her on the market. I'll let you buy her though. ;)

1989 C-25 TR/WK #5894
Miss Behavin'
Sittin' in LCYC on Canyon Lake, Texas

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 06/16/2015 : 20:30:09

quote:
Originally posted by NautiC25

I'm planning to be back out on the lake this Saturday to do some work to my and my father's boat. Need to climb both masts unfortunately.

Haha, not sure about the rental. Like I said, I'm getting her in pristine condition to put her on the market. I'll let you buy her though. ;)

Association Member

GaryB
Andiamo
'89 SR/WK #5862
Kemah,TX

gosenbach
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
30 Posts

Response Posted - 06/27/2015 : 08:38:01

We picked up a wall mount bracket. I am going to try installing it this weekend and we will see how it goes. Any suggestions on how best to access the 12v wiring for the light to splice into?

Gregory
(Catalina 250 MkII WK #971)

DavidCrosby
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
240 Posts

Response Posted - 06/27/2015 : 10:34:29

I have friends that were docked at a marina in Maryland. They had told me that one evening they were walking down the dock to their boat. They passed a Catalina 22 that had a blue glow radiating from the windows and companion way. As they passed, they looked in. There was a couple sitting inside watching their 60"+ TV that was mounted on the post under the mast and spanned from one side of the boat to the other.

If there is a will, there is a way.

David Crosby "Small World"
'02 C250 WK #614

gosenbach
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
30 Posts

Response Posted - 06/27/2015 : 20:15:45

Success!

Gregory
(Catalina 250 MkII WK #971)

zeil
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1314 Posts

Response Posted - 06/27/2015 : 22:24:36

Nice job and looks great...
Did you bolt-through the bulkhead
How did you run the wires, antenna, etc.

gosenbach
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
30 Posts

Response Posted - 06/28/2015 : 06:53:07

I drilled thru holes in the bulkhead and secured with fender washers and nylocks on the otherside. I was going to use a backing plate but the bulkhead is thick enough the fender washers should do alright. For the wiring, i ran them to the right and routed them behind that round foam stuff up to the light. There I spliced into the cabin circuit and ticked the splices in behind the light fixture. In the picture you can see (barely) where the wires from the TV run from the tv to behind the trim. There is enough slack that we can swing the tv out and face it towards the gally. I didnt put an antena on as we are only planning on using it with dvds. We also have the option of plugging iphone/ipod/ipad into it directly (apple hdmi adaptor) so we can play/stream digial shows from itunes, amazon prime, netflix, etc.

Gregory
(Catalina 250 MkII WK #971)

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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.