moveable chartplotter mount (or fear of overcomplication)

[EddBee]

I have recently purchased a Raymarine dragonfly chartplotter (much reduced at Force4) with the intention of fitting it to a fairly tatty pandora 700. Ideally I would be able to use it in the cabin and also have sight of it when sailing so I am trying to come up with a way of moving the unit from one place to another. I have an existing wooden panel where something seems to have been removed which would be a suitable location on the outside but the mounting is causing me to overthink. I don't want to buy an aftermarket mount from RAymarine or Ram-mount (budget), and nor do I want to cut or drill more holes than necessary (there is little enough boat to start with).

What I have come up with is using tee-nuts on each panel and a corresponding set of male threaded thumb screws so the entire mounting unit can be moved. It won't be quick to change them but it should be solid when in place.

What am I missing?

 

[Daydream believer]

Money to afford the proper alternative mounting ???:nonchalance:

 

[EddBee]

you're not wrong. I may bite the bullet and spend the cash, but there are so many places it needs to be spent at the moment over-engineering seems preferable.

 

[Daydream believer]

only joking

 

[bitbaltic]

Lots of people go for a swinging bracket solution for this sort of thing, so you fold the bracket back to use the plotter when down below and then fold it out so you can see it down/in the companionway when sailing. Is some similar arrangement not suitable? (perhaps someone who has one can post some pictures)

 

[Houleaux]

How about mounting it on a fitting in the companionway, hinged so that it can be viewed from the cockpit and also from inside the boat? I had instruments mounted in this way on my old Konsort:



This has the additional advantage that the instruments are hidden when you're away from the boat.

Disadvantages are that it restricts the companionway a little when hinged for viewing from the cockpit, and you can't use it with the washboards in!

 

[EddBee]

looks good, thanks. I thought about a hinged panel but it will hinge into a position not very near to the navigation table. And someone has already cut a great stinking hole for the world's biggest, oldest depth sounder so there's not a lot of space on the inside.
On the plus side i just remembered the existence of velcro which may offer a solution if combined with some kind of speaker mount like system.

 

[johnalison]

On the plus side i just remembered the existence of velcro which may offer a solution if combined with some kind of speaker mount like system.

I think that if it were me I would mount it on a panel and then construct slots in the companionway and near the navigation table as alternative sites. This would be more robust than velcro (though might need modification if a knockdown is expected )

 

[sailorman]

I think that if it were me I would mount it on a panel and then construct slots in the companionway and near the navigation table as alternative sites. This would be more robust than velcro (though might need modification if a knockdown is expected )

I think the 700 has a slide out table ie not a permanent fixture

 

[pvb]

(though might need modification if a knockdown is expected )

A knockdown is like the Spanish Inquisition, nobody expects it!

 

[Daydream believer]

Why not buy one of those plastic electric boxes that look like tupperware boxes. Mount the unit in the face of it so the gubbins behind is sealed inside the box& can be accessed by unscrewing 4 screws. then have a wandering lead from the box. Place a socket on deck & a socket down below. On the back of the box put some hooks to mount it so it hooks on a backboard. When on deck- hook it just behind the tiller against the combing & down below hang it over the chart table. If it is just behind the tiller the helmsman can see it & work the buttons whilst helming. Nobody gets in the way of it. If it is in the hatchway it is out of reach of the helm so when the LED backlight turns off the helm cannot turn it back on. Neither can he zoom in in an emergency) When planning a route unhook it from its hook down below & if the lead is long enough sit in the bunk planning the following days route

 

[MarcJ]

I used something like this when faced with that situation - had a ball on the top of the cabin and a ball inside. They are a bit pricey, but do the job!
http://www.ram-mount.co.uk/garmin-250-fishfinder-mount-p-1201-c-450_369.html

 

[Halo]

I used the swinging mount system on my Westerly 25. It worked well but I never managed to get Velcro to hold it in position when swung in or out. In the end I had a peg and a thin shock cord for this. Mine was no where near the chart table so I learned to memorise the lat and long or get someone to shout it down to me. Seeing the plotter screen from the helm is a major advantage I M H O.

 

[Halo]

I should also have said that the twisting resistance of plotter wiring is quite high so make sure the cables have some scope.

 

[doug748]

Great bargain that Dragonfly, you arguably get the whole thing for less than the price of the included charts.

I would just put the thing beside the hatch/companion so it is easily visible from the helm. I see it comes with a good adjustable bracket and you can easily remove it. Route the power lead to emerge in a handy position and leave it at that. You could, if you have a mind, leave it on an extra long lead (or make an extension up) so it could be brought below for planning. I can use my plotter at the chart table but I have never, ever done it, so you may be making a lot of effort to achieve little.

All my early efforts at swinging brackets and removable washboards drove me nuts in the end and I abolished them.

 

[EddBee]

Thanks for the responses all. I'm still looking at the kit that came with it and all I would actually need is the base, the rest can screw on or off and move with the plotter (i have half a mind to hit a plumbing supply store to find something similar)

interesting to hear that potter by chart table is not a prerequisite. that could solve a lot of problems!

 

[Moonbeam]

Thanks for the responses all. I'm still looking at the kit that came with it and all I would actually need is the base, the rest can screw on or off and move with the plotter (i have half a mind to hit a plumbing supply store to find something similar)
View attachment 61464
interesting to hear that potter by chart table is not a prerequisite. that could solve a lot of problems!

Raymarine seem to hint that you can perhaps use other mounting sockets, cheap ones from pound shops for car sat navs etc? From their website... "The Dragonfly 4, 5 and 7's compact ball-and-socket mounting system makes installation simple. The mount is easy to upgrade to after market ball-and-socket mounting systems."

 

[EddBee]

true, telstar! I may walk around a few shops with the fitting in my pocket and see what I can come up with.

..they'll think I'm pleased to see them!

 

[Moonbeam]

true, telstar! I may walk around a few shops with the fitting in my pocket and see what I can come up with.

..they'll think I'm pleased to see them!

I often find it hard to hide my excitement when entering a pound shop

 

[Clydewanderer]

Lots of people go for a swinging bracket solution for this sort of thing, so you fold the bracket back to use the plotter when down below and then fold it out so you can see it down/in the companionway when sailing. Is some similar arrangement not suitable? (perhaps someone who has one can post some pictures)

A hard wood swinging bracket is what i have. It is mounted inside main bulkhead port side of companionway and swings out to line up with companionway while sailing, has worked well this last 9yrs. I used two pieces of hardwood with a bar counter flap hinge as the pivot. It allows me to go down below to cook or right up my daily log etc while been able to moniter my course, having firstly checked the horizon for any immediate dangers etc. I wd post a foto of it but havent mastered posting from mobile fone, (dont have a pc or wifi/broadband etc)
I fitted a finger/trigger latch to teak trim on edge of companionway to hold the mounting in the opened out position so it doesent swing about.
Cost very little and very usefull indeed. If u want to pm me an emain address i will email u a foto of it.
Cw