Swivel Arm for Raymarine C80 Chartplotter - Ideas?

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Wandering Star

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I’m sure this or similar topic will have been discussed before but I can’t find any previous posts.

I have a Sadler 25 and would like to mount my chartplotter which is fairly bulky somewhere I can view it from the cockpit, unfortunately the coachroof by way of the companionway, is littered with winches & deck organisers so it can’t go there. I’d like to use some type of sturdy swivelling arm to Securely hold the chartplotter in the centre of the companionway but which would swing away and stow neatly inside the cabin against the inside of the companionway bulkhead. Any other suggestions warmly welcomed.

Happy to shell out for a good tough & reliable solution. Anyone doing this already? Any suggestions? Pictures of your own solutions?

attaching a picture of my cockpit - I’m looking for a way of having the chartplotter on view in the area of the washboards.

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Had the same issue with a Sadler 32 years ago. I made a new centre washboard out of mahogany, bit of an old wardrobe, and put a mount on it. The plotter could sit on a mount at the chart table, or the spare washboard could be fitted and the plotter mounted there. Just needed cables long enough. Worked well.
 
I saw a boat the other day, it had the plotter on a double swivel arm, a bit like a Wall Mount for a TV?
The plotter could be indoors or out.
I've seen industrial monitor mounts with plastic arms rather than the usual metal.
 
I bought a cheap tv swing mount and quite happy with it. Like being able to turn it around and view it when below at anchor etc to make sure not dragging.
 
In the days of yore the Westerly centaur had a depth sounder on a bracket which was hinged on frame of the entrance to cabin where the washboards slotted down . I’m sure a look at a few photos of centaur wil show idea but basically a bracket with a wooden board to which sounder brackets were attached. This sounds like post 4 above but there might be pictures of use showing centaurs in an original state which might be a source of further ideas.
 
northwind said:
Depends on how much you want to spend.. Ram mounts make one for this job ...
Click to expand...

I've a ball-jointed RAM mount for a laptop near the chart table, but not in this application. Those swing arm mounts can be 'doubled' for longer reach - and have horizontal or bulkhead bases - but their ball-jointed arm systems also allow movement in more planes if that is needed, which is perhaps unlikely here. As you say, relatively expensive but versatile and of good quality.
 
If you want to avoid the swing arm type maybe just have a plotter which can show info on you iPad or android device by Bluetooth so the plotter stays below and you can place the repeater device wherever you like eg by the helm or under spray hood in a suitable waterproof case.
 
ashtead said:
If you want to avoid the swing arm type maybe just have a plotter which can show info on you iPad or android device by Bluetooth so the plotter stays below and you can place the repeater device wherever you like eg by the helm or under spray hood in a suitable waterproof case.
Click to expand...

Took the words out of my mouth.

Tablet - WiFi - can be used anywhere on the boat (in your berth, aka bed) - but you obviously need a tablet, WiFi and water proof case for the tablet.

We have Simrad kit and invested in their WiFi unit and I can make porridge in the galley with the iPad on the galley work surface and monitor the split screen radar and chart. I can also switch the plotter screen to full radar using the iPad etc. Our Simrad plotter is 'only' 7" but I have the iPad Pro - and would not bother with a big screen plotter again - the iPad is so much more versatile (and mobile).

Jonathan
 
Wandering Star said:
I’m sure this or similar topic will have been discussed before but I can’t find any previous posts.

I have a Sadler 25 and would like to mount my chartplotter which is fairly bulky somewhere I can view it from the cockpit, unfortunately the coachroof by way of the companionway, is littered with winches & deck organisers so it can’t go there. I’d like to use some type of sturdy swivelling arm to Securely hold the chartplotter in the centre of the companionway but which would swing away and stow neatly inside the cabin against the inside of the companionway bulkhead. Any other suggestions warmly welcomed.

Happy to shell out for a good tough & reliable solution. Anyone doing this already? Any suggestions? Pictures of your own solutions?

attaching a picture of my cockpit - I’m looking for a way of having the chartplotter on view in the area of the washboards.

7312CDD1-F828-49B5-9AEA-CF77C5D01838.jpeg
Click to expand...

I don't have any answers to your query, but it's nice looking boat you've got there. (y)
 
I think your intent is to have the swing arm device at our near the companionway/washboards. If you sail single handed then unless your have really good eyesight and a very large screen you will not be able to see the detail, from the tiller, where the navigation needs to be fairly precise. You similarly will be too far from the screen to make adjustments to the screen without releasing the tiller - unless you have very long arms. Much of this does not matter if you are using a tiller pilot - but then if you are using a tiller pilot you could simply move forward in the cockpit stick your head inside the yacht and see a large screen suitably mounted within the saloon and it be near enough (especially if you have those long arms) to alter the display.

Jonathan
 
Mine is simply a mounted on a base that is swivel mounted to a Curved arm. Its not obvious here, but can be swivelled to be further out and also angled so that it can be read from either side of the cockpit. It is out right out of the way when swung inboard.
The holes in the arm were for transducer cables, but i found it better to leave them free. I can easily dismount this unit from its cradle and sit it on the cabin table to program new routes or whatever from a comfortable position.


1633925550866.jpeg
 
John the kiwi said:
Mine is simply a mounted on a base that is swivel mounted to a Curved arm. Its not obvious here, but can be swivelled to be further out and also angled so that it can be read from either side of the cockpit. It is out right out of the way when swung inboard.
The holes in the arm were for transducer cables, but i found it better to leave them free. I can easily dismount this unit from its cradle and sit it on the cabin table to program new routes or whatever from a comfortable position.


View attachment 123905
Click to expand...
That looks a neat solution and what I was thinking of but looking at the RAM mounts, ready made is the way to go for me what ch you’d understand if you saw examples of my carpentry skills! I think Northwinds solution is the most practical & doable.
Re using a tablet, I have crossed the Atlantic (several times) using an iPad bit my experiences have relegated it to a backup role rather than as the primary one.

Thanks for all the comments & suggestions.

Brian.
 
Our C80 is mounted on a small VESA TV arm. Despite being therefore in the companionway when in use, we find it neither an especial obstruction to access nor difficult to read from the helm although it's a slight PITA if you want to push any buttons (but then I mostly sail / motor with the autohelm on anyway). That's on a Westerly W33 ketch

I should confess though that my ultimate plan is to replace the C80 with an Axiom in a custom pod on the side of the mizzen mast
 
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