Association Forum - Suitable GPS Antenna Locations

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 250 Specific Forum

Suitable GPS Antenna Locations

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

britinusa
Web Editor

Member Avatar

USA
5404 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/10/2005 : 13:07:51

We purchased the Garmin GPSMAP 192C (it has charts for the entire US)(we'll have to buy a $100 chip for the Bahamas).
The GPS has an external Antenna.
So I purchased a stainless still mount for it (flange with threaded pole about 5" tall)
Now, where to mount it?

So far I have figured I could mount it on the Stbd Side under the guardrail that spans between the cockpit and the cabin roof or on the cabin roof fwd of the same guardrail.

(As you can see., its hissing down outside!)

Gamin says don't mount it on the mast, and I don't want it to become a rope snagger or toe breaker.

Any ideas?

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

Moved up to C34 Eximius

Updated August 2015

Edited by - on

Capt. Kurt
Navigator

Members Avatar

185 Posts

Response Posted - 06/10/2005 : 13:39:01

You may want to consider a RAM antenna mount that attaches to the rail. http://www.ram-mount.com/pdf/ramcatalogmarine20022.pdf (lower right corner)

That way you can move it easily if needed. Can you please post pics of whatever you decide, I am trying to decide where to install one also and would be curious to see your installation.

Thanks,
Kurt
#818 C250WK 'Tortuga'

Edited by - Capt. Kurt on 06/10/2005 13:41:57

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 06/10/2005 : 17:19:12

One idea would be to return the flange mount in trade for a stanchion or push pit mount. The idea being flexibility as a stanchion mount can be moved elsewhere easier than patching up screw holes for a flange mount.

What I'm driving at is that both locations you outlined, might be problematic if coaming winches are ever wanted... as they require leading the sheets fair to the winch very near both those locations.

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

Members Avatar

USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 06/10/2005 : 21:31:17

Kurt, thanks for the link to the RAM Mounts site, that helped a lot.

The Admiral and I reviewed the places we could put the Antenna and where to put the GPS display.

Conclusion is that the gps unit is best near the helm on a mount that allows it to be swivelled to one side. This would allow the helm clear view and control of the unit, and give the option for the crew to review the gps by just swivelling it around.
Now that the unit is to be placed on the Pedestal Guard, it would seem a waste to use the remote antenna! So I'm considering returning the unit and exchanging it for the same unit with the internal antenna.

Putting the unit on the pedestal guard will require the cable harness to be run down inside the stainless steel pedestal guard. (there is already a pair of cables for the ST40 BiData display mounted in the pod in the pedestal guard.) I would have to extend the harness power supply cables and run them to the panel along side the compass light cable.

Anyone see any problems, challenges, nasties with this setup?

TIA.

Edited by - on

mday
Navigator

Members Avatar

197 Posts

Response Posted - 06/13/2005 : 02:20:15

While discussing your pedestal, I wanted to ask about your wheel.
It looks a might smaller than mine in your launch pictures and I was wondering if this was the way your system was installed. I've actually wanted a smaller wheel to scramble in and out of the helm area and not get tangled up in the backstays.

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

Members Avatar

USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 06/13/2005 : 05:46:16

Hi Max,
yep, it is the original wheel.
I agree about the backstay. I find it odd that catalina has it attached to the port side in the access well. When we saw the boat at the show, the backstay was not apparent and it was easy to get on and off via the stern cutout.

I've seen pics of other boats on this forum and they have a different backstay arrangement.

Jerry Butz (the dealer we bought our 250 from) has modified his backstay. He replaced the turnbuckle with a block-n-tackle arrangement. If we needed to use the stern ladder at sea, (snorkling etc.) then the sails would be down and it would seem reasonable to unhitch the backstay and temporarily connect it to another point, perhaps the observation seats. The block and tackle would make that easy as well as making it easy to connect/disconnect the backstay during our frequent (planned) trailering. If the block and tackle extended to above the bimini that would be even better! I'll ask Jerry for details on his block-n-tackle.

Edited by - on

Capt. Kurt
Navigator

Members Avatar

185 Posts

Response Posted - 06/13/2005 : 16:45:02

Those of you C250 owners that I've seen with split backstays, did your boats come that way or did you modify the backstay yourself? Does the split backstay allow you to ease the tension on your uppers by shifting more tension to the backstay?

Thanks,
Kurt
#88 C25WK 'Tortuga'

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.