Instrument clusters

MM5AHO

MM5AHO

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This winter I want to rationalise the instrumentation on Contender, a Rival 32.
Currently a GPS readout (NASA Clipper, position and SOG mainly displayed) sits inside the cabin on a bulkhead wall, where its easily visible on Port tack, but not on starboard.
A Raymarine Tridata unit serves depth and speed / log, and is mounted in the cockpit alongside the companionway into the saloon.

I'd like them all visible in the cockpit, and all looking the same (rationalise manufacturers).
I'm thinking to mount three displays, (speed / log; depth ; GPS) in a panel that sits above the sliding top hatch that covers the companionway. Mounted in such a way such that the sliding hatch slides underneath the instrument pod which would straddle the sliding hatch, being mounted to saloon roof either side of the sliding hatch.

NASA depth and Raymarine depth are not compatible, using different frequency of depth transducer, so I'll probably replace both the hull fittings, (speed paddlewheel and depth transducer), and change the instrument to NASA Clipper to get them all matching.

I'd probably make in teak / marine ply, with bolted connection to fibreglass roof. Cables through a gland so that its all waterproof when / if the canvass spray hood is down or off.


Does anyone make a sensible priced pod suitable for adaption to this use?
If I have to make my own are there any traps to fall into?
 
What do you do with a position (presumably lat/long) display in the cockpit? Do you have a chart and rule/dividers up there?

Pete
 
This is the setup that I made from a GF IP67 enclosure from RS. Plugs into a bulgin bulkhead socket via lead on RHS with feeds from battery,Sounder, log and vhf speaker. Mount for basic HH gps on lhs. fits ontop of sliding hatch only reducing opening by about 3 inches.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/rkvfhc5dpqgnr5p/IMAG0387.jpg?dl=0

The nasa gps repeater not only gives the usual digital info but will display on a much larger screen the road way display.
 
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For what it's worth, I made two instrument pods for Ariam last winter, to go on the deck either side of the hatch (we already have space for a row of instruments moulded into the hatch garage from new). I moulded the shape from clay, painted it with a kind of plastic floor coating recommended for the purpose by E C Fibreglass, then laid up a mould over that with some hardboard stiffening ribs on the outside. Then I laid up the pods inside the moulds.

Because I made them I can see the inevitable small imperfections, but my parents insist they look as if part of the original boat.

Pete
 
MM5AHO said:
Does anyone make a sensible priced pod suitable for adaption to this use?
If I have to make my own are there any traps to fall into?
Click to expand...

IMHO the prices are high but understandable as each is effectively a one-off! I believe there is a curve to the garage on a Rival 32, most off the shelf units are straight and would need you to make a curved base plinth for it to stand on. Otherwise a pair of sort of short stanchions can be used to mount them and possibly also provide a weatherproof route for the wiring. Starting from scratch with wood will be cheaper and with careful design may well look far better than another bit of plastic. The only thing that came to mind is to consider carefully how the wiring is to be routed. Most pods are mounted at the aft end of the garage to keep them as close as possible to the cockpit, so the instruments remain readable. This means that the wiring must be squeezed between the garage and the sliding hatch - I forgot this and the cable ties make horrid scratching nioses whenever the hatch is opened or closed. The closer to the edge you can take the wires through, the less likely they are to get chafed. It might suit you to design the pod so that it is hinged for access to the instrument connections with minimal use of screwdrivers. Better than having to completely disassemble it to check a connection. It is also good practice to have some ventilation and drainage if the box is not to continually fog up the instruments. Unfortunately the cheapest pod is from NASA, but it only accomodates two instruments.

I notice you are not planning to use a NASA wind instrument... !

Rob.
 
Rob,

There's no "garage" as such, just a sliding lid. It slots into two brass runners along the coachroof, and the hatch doesn't slide into anything. When fully open its just further forward, and when closed is pulled aft. I'd thought to make a bridge over, such that it doesn't impede entry through the open hatch.
Current wind instrumentation is a hawk antenna (with integral telltale). That gives direction, and windspeed is estimated by wave height!. If the toe rail is always under the water, we put a reef (or another) in. I've not seen a need to put a number to windspeed much, and for the few times when it'd be interesting, the small handheld anemometer does that. That's often only to brag afterward about what we endured!
I considered an ordinary cable gland on the coach roof.
I see now the NASA pods, but I'd like three instruments. There are some pods from USA, quite expensive, mostly for mounting on stainless tubing rails.
 
This is what I did on a similar size boat. I think it seems much like your plan:

View attachment 45259

The teak was probably 50 quid, but I had a few lumps left over. The bracket on the right is for a 5in chart plotter which has a similar perch down below. On the left is an Echopilot Tridata which can show speed and/or depth and may also use your existing transducers - it did mine.

Thing I really like about the Tridata is that is can also present basic stuff from the chart plotter and show depth at the same time. So I can have the plotter going full screen, with no clutter, and see the COG, SOG and Distance to Waypoint next door. Have to admit I don't use the speed transducer although it is there if I want to.
 
I built an instrument console for Jissel from bwp ply and "mahogany" trim. It fits on to clips on the companionway hatch, and lifts off for storage below when we go ashore. It also unplugs (colour coded phono plugs inside a little door) and comes home with us when the boat's left on the mooring. I made the top overhang the instruments so they're out of the rain & spray. It's worked well for about 8 years now. The wood probably cost about £20, but there was enough left over for several other projects, including a draining board.
 
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