Nav station

[glynnffc]

I'm sure they'll be a few differing opinions on here, but I am just about to fit a new nav station and wondered whether shelves,false bulkheads or some other system is the way to go.
I only want room for the switch panel, VHF, and TackTick display, but don't know where to start. I am sure that in the future I'll probably get a plotter and heaven only knows what else, so some degree of flexibility might be useful.
Any pictures of pleasing/workable set ups would be a great help.
Thanks in Advance.

 

[alan]

Ideally you would want to know the final configuration before you start (i.e. all the instruments), then you can plan a layout on paper or full size in cardboard. However, if you are not sure what you may install in the future then it best to be parsimonous with the space available and the stuff that you install now; it may not look good at the moment but it will leave you maximum pssibilites for the future.
If you look at production boats, they usually put the radio/CD in the middle of the panel and take up what would have been an ideal space for the plotter/radar.

I would mount the instruments on a swinging panel which opens vertically or horizontally, and allows you good access in behind for wiring; this is a good time to consider how far you can open the panel with a radar/plotter mounted on the front (e.g. Raymarine C70/80s are quite deep); also leave sufficient space behind the panel to enable flush mounting of instruments later.

Just a few thoughts .................

Alan.

 

[glynnffc]

Thanks Alan,
That's a good start.
I was only thinking 2D, and forgetting about the depth of some later additions.
Steve Dashew suggests putting most things on shelves, but I think it wll look untidy, and if I break up the panel into two, I can always replace one side later.
The usual problem is knowing just what will be deemed essential in a few years time.

 

[sailorman]

Nav station /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

we have a "Chart Table " /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Anthony]

When I rebuilt mine I first took lots of digital pics at teh boat show, and also went around the boat manufacturers websites and saved their interior pics to give me some design ideas (seeing somthing you dont like can be as useful as seeing somthing you do).

Then took some digital pics of current nav space and printed them out, and drew over them in different designes to see how it looks.

Good access is essential, so either a door at the back if that practical, or just put each panel on hinges with a popout catch. That way even if you really decided to change the layout later it might only invovev making a new door to cut all new holes in.

Also think about security, instruments mounted on surface mounts are easy to remove; good if u take them home with you, bad if you leave them there. Panel mounted presents a bit more of a challange to quickly remove them to those that shouldnt be. That said they can do alot of damage to the woodwork in the process.


Anthony

 

[onenyala]

On my knee in the cockpit !

 

[ean_p]

Hi Glynn
this was our go that we did a couple of seasons ago . as you can see all the 'doors' are hinged at the bottom and drop when the thumb screws are removed to hang on rope stays in the horizontal. this gives very good access to the wiring etc and stops strain on the hinges. The instrument are mounted in a traffolite/ aluminium sandwich. This is fairly cheap , allows engraving and can be changed at a future date to accomodate changes in instruments etc . The little 'door' in the bottom right is to be fitted with computer comms ports etc so that we can 'plug' in an external computer or gps or what ever to the system which includes a fixed built in comp and /or take or give feeds to and from the gps and plotter etc. there are things that we would change now but hindsite is a great thing and what we've got will do us for the now and will probably 'evolve' over time.

 

[whipper_snapper]

That looks very nice.

Where did you get the traffolite/ aluminium sandwich, and how did you get the engraving and cutouts made ?


I would like to do something similar.

 

[Strathglass]

I faced my Nav Station using fireplace hearth laminate. It is very easy to cut and work with using hand tools and was not affected when I left a bit in a bucket of water all night. It is also readily available from DIY outlets.

The large upper panel hinges at the bottom and all the fused bussbars are accessable when it is down. It is just held up with brass bolts.

The two smaller panels are each held on with two screws.

The laptop, which is not shown, is on a bulkhead on the right. It is removable and well sheltered.

I have one of those modern dymo type gadgets which can print black or coloured letering on a clear substrate. I will be using this to identify the controls.

The funny red switch is to call in a 7Ah sealed back up battery for the VHF/GPS in the event of swamping of the main batteries. There is also a digital voltmeter monitoring the domestic battery voltage.

A lot really depends on how much space you have and how much 'toys' you wish to fit.

Iain

 

[Jonny_H]

We re-hatched ours after we bought the boat as we fitted new electronics:

Here's the old nav station:

And here's how it now looks:

(Although we have since also replaced the stereo and put an 'iPod' holder above the switch panel.

The switch panel comes out for access to all the wiring and the panel the instruments are mounted on is just 5mm ply with stained varnish to match the interior. This is easy to cut and work with for adding new instruments (we replaced the whole piece when installing the chart plotter new VHF SSB etc). Although our panel is now quite full, with a plotter/radar, VHF, SSB, Stereo, Navtex, Battery monitor, fuel guages and iPod holder. However, just behind the nav station we have the companion way (under which the batteries are stored) and so other electrical bits are on here (battery switches, second DC panel, solar regulator etc) - all within reach of the chart table:

Jonny

 

[ean_p]

Its standerd fare for a local signmakers. We used 2(?)mm Traffolite stuck to 3mm ally to give it strength. The signmakers engraved it all and did the cut outs on a little cnc engraver, we just gave them a sketch and a sample of the switches. A friend used the same lads and had a panel reverse printed on a transperent material and sandwiched to a coloured backing for his Fisher. Apperently its all to military spec in terms of endurance and it looked far far better then the original Fisher one