1 x radar/plotter - surface mounting in 2 different places?

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homa

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I have one radar/plotter display to install this winter- surface mounted (not flush mount).

It will live below most of the time, but I want to have the option to mount it on the coachroof next to the companionway under the spray hood.
Has anyone a neat idea of how to do this?
One thought is to have 2 separate brackets permanently fitted, one below and one above. But I don't like the idea of an empty bracket permanently fixed above deck.

There must be a neater solution?

Cheers
Homa
 
Depends on how big it is.

Mine (a Garmin 3005C) is surface mounted on a block of marine ply which is hinged to the side of the companionway. Folded out it is visbible to the helm, folded in I can see it from the Nav table.

It doesn't get in the way, but a larger one would be a problem.

John
 
I saw a boat last year where plotter (C70 ?) was flush mounted through spare bottom washboard. This also fitted slots fitted to outboard side of chart table. Downside looked as though it would entry and exit more difficult than just leaping over a single washboard.
 
If you want it in two very different places you will have trouble with cables. For example, the radome will only accomodate one cable - so how will you have one cable for it at the chart table and one on deck?

Would it not be easier to have two plotters networked together (Raymarine E Series)?

Or mount below decks somewhere where you can see it from the cockpit? Or on a hinged bracket as suggested above.

Jonny
 
I have the same problem i am thinking about mounting a 2nd in the cockpit connected to the first. In which case is there a cheap unit that i could buy that would connect to my Ray C70?
 
I have a Ray C70 - the C series doesn't allow networking - you need the more expensive E series for this.

The only output you can get from the C series is NMEA - so you can have a GPS repeater (NASA / Ray Seatalk Multi etc) which will give you all the GPS data you need, but not Radar etc.

Jonny
 
As Jonny has pointed out, cabling is a potential hurdle to overcome. To have cabling in 2 locations, you'd need to buy a second set of radar, power, GPS and NMEA cables and splice them into the first set. This isn't a major job, although you'd need to be very careful with the connections and ideally use a waterproof junction box. You'd also need to be able to waterproof the plugs at the sprayhood location when the plotter is being used below.

I have a C-series radar/plotter mounted under the sprayhood, and find that this is an ideal location. The display should ideally always be visible from the helm. It hasn't been a problem to program waypoints/routes in the cockpit.
 
In the washboard installation described above, the single permanently connected set of cables were secured by velcro strips to the headlining. Not the neatest solution but it worked.
From memory there were three cables, power, seatalk and radar. However they looked to be fairly vulnerable to damage where they came out of back of C70.
 
The plugs on the back of the C70 are fairly robust - certainly the radar and power have a twist collar to lock them on place (Seatalk is a push fit).
There would most likely be a NMEA out cable too for connection to DSC VHF etc.

This is the cable with joins in it - my NMEA has VHF, SSB, and GPS Repeater coming out of it - all very thin cables - would not like to be moving that very often.

Jonny
 
There may well have been a 4th (NMEA) cable. Either way the bundle was tie wrapped together and then kept in place with velcro. When the C70 was at the chart table I suspect the excess cable was coiled up behind the unit.

In this case the real problem was that the bundled cable stuck out some way behind the C70 and would be easily caught by feet entering and exiting the cabin. 90 degree connectors, if they existed, would be much better.
 
swing bracket

As regards a swing bracket, it would have to be substantial as the unit is quite heavy. Plus it would have to swing upwards really as my mainsheet track runs quite close to the companionway entrance - and there is a high risk of catching the display with the main sheet on a gybe or tack.
I like the simple idea of mounting it in a washboard, but unfortunately my companionway is quite tight and climbing over the unit would be a hazard, plus I would risk damaging the conectors behind.
Only place is really on top of the coach house.
I'm happy to have a wandering cables, these can be tied up with velcro or removable clips as required.
Networking is an idea but I really want a simple single solution and not have to integrate even more displays.
 
Bare studs - prefer threaded ?

I was thinking of studs, but that leaves the problem of exposed studs on deck when the unit is below or vice-versa.

Preferably I would like some kind of countersunk threaded nut set into a block of wood fixed to the coach roof.

Thus when the unit down below, the deck is flush and nothing protruding.

Are there threaded brass or SS fixings that I can buy - for engines they use helicoils I am told? is there anything I can use for wood/fibreglass ?

Cheers
Homa
 
Re: Bare studs - prefer threaded ?

[ QUOTE ]
Are there threaded brass or SS fixings that I can buy - for engines they use helicoils I am told? is there anything I can use for wood/fibreglass ?

[/ QUOTE ]Yes, you can use captive nuts on a wooden base, such as these. Then you can use handwheel bolts, such as these to fasten the bracket down on to the surface.
 
[ QUOTE ]

The only output you can get from the C series is NMEA - so you can have a GPS repeater (NASA / Ray Seatalk Multi etc) which will give you all the GPS data you need, but not Radar etc.


[/ QUOTE ]

I have made the concious decision to keep radar & plotter away from the helm position. Just a NASA GPS repeater by the helm.
All the toys and gadgets at the helm and you risk turning the helm position into a giant Playstation. Helmsman becomes so engrossed in the gadgets that he can end up unaware of what's happening around him.

If I really want to control the helm from the navstation where radar & plotter live, I use a second autopilot control unit down below.
 
I have done this, mounting my Radar screen and plotter (2 units) on a double-jointed arm sold for flat-screen tvs. each of the arms is about 200mm and the screens can swing out into the companionway, or back against the bulkhead inside the cabin, or anywhere inbetween. The cables are bundled together and left long enough to allow for the maximum movement of the arms. The bracket is made from aluminium, it is anodised and cost about 15 pounds. My boat is only 25 feet and mounting instruments and electronics is always difficult, there is never enough room!

Peter
 
Thanks for the suggestion of a swing arm Peter, I had thought of that but they are a bit cumbersome and I can see my display getting caught by the mainsheet which runs on a track accross the bridgedeck just in front of the companionway.
 
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